In the AMANDALA issue of February 28, this writer suggested to Hon. John Saldivar how he truly might or could, become a hero of the constituents that he represents. Admit failure; promise reform.

Even the great George Price was not impeccable; he had his faults. He was not above using deceptive tricks, like having two phones on his desk — one connected, the other not. To get your immediate assistance he used No. 1. To trick you, he would use No. 2, but would actually put on a convincing show to make you believe he was helping.

For a few years after both of us had retired, we used to attend early Mass at Holy Redeemer. One morning he actually tapped me on the shoulder respectfully, indicating some acceptance. Although I had opposed him on account of his policy of victimization (reward friends and punish enemies). I still admired him and sort of did as he did, walking the streets, making contact with anyone and everyone. I wish more politicians would follow this good example.

It may be very interesting to start tracing how the different tricks in political behaviour started and have grown to the sophistication they have reached today. Interesting questions should be asked, like, who started the plantation system? Is Queen’s Square the only political plantation? It is most likely a corruption of democracy and especially democratic voting. How can we stop it? Can a campaign financing law stop this practice?

There is much talk on the local media (fuelled by NGO’s?). Would a good law eradicate this corrupting abuse of the “will of the people”?

To deny that my personal political career was unblemished, I must confess that on one or two election dates, I raised one or two of the dead. That was easy: pick out a little-known dead person who was registered and get an enthusiastic party supporter to vote in his or her place. Today, this is difficult because of ID cards.

Buying votes did not start in 2008. In the early days of the UDP, a smart candidate would give a check to a potential supporter — no, no, not the whole check, only half of it. He or she would be assured, “if I win, come for the other half.” However, this could be mere apocrypha; I never saw any of those half-checks.

Gerrymandering has been in vogue for a few decades. It is believed that Caribbean Shores was created for the first UDP prime minister and Queen’s Square for the present one. Is it possible that these favour-one-candidate divisions had the help of Election and Boundaries officials, who were made compliant by gifts?

Popular media chatter gives the impression that one law will cure all the ills. Not likely! A whole network of legislation has to be revised, or be written anew to protect the integrity and honesty of election officials. Most of all, no politician may choose the Electoral Commission; this body must be insulated by instituting the severest penalties for any violation of the integrity of the system. Maybe even jail time! Perhaps the commission should be appointed by an Elected Senate.

Also, why is it, and what makes it possible for tens of voters to be registered as residents of an empty space? This means, among other things, that registering officers are using the loosest interpretation of what “residence” means. And those ghosts get to pass through the lower courts easily. Time to change this!

Furthermore, the Commission must be independent of any and every politician. It must be appointed by a body that is itself elected by the people — like a Senate. In an earlier article, I have emphasized that our Prime Minister is an elected dictator. Not his doing. The Constitution empowers him to appoint all the good governance offices. Consequently, those checks and balances are “fake” — only a show, a pretence of democracy.

May we pause a minute?

Actually, I got side-tracked. My brief review of the corruption of politics shows that it is not new and invented solely by the present practitioners. What I have said was partly to assure Mr. Saldivar that his best days may be ahead.

Even now there are colleagues who have done more to corrupt our system than he has. It may be that all his colleagues are responsible for the corruption of our whole society, and its worst manifestation took place when we lost four men of our security forces whose final moments were very violent, and maybe even treacherous. For now, I move on…

Actually, in my assessment the worst corruption has taken place in the Ministry of Education. A few years ago, a program called the HFLE was introduced into our schools throughout Belize to re-educate our whole society, beginning with innocent children, to accept the foreign liberal agenda of the LGBTQ. A “new science” would teach our children that the mouth and anus are of the sexual system, not the digestive.

But worse, this Ministry of Education started and carried out a program to destroy the Church- State system. They passed a new teacher service law — taking away management of church schools from the churches and giving the responsibility to a Teachers Service Commission appointed by the Minister.

Today, the churches do not, as in the past, decide who teaches in our denominational schools; the Minister does this through the Teacher Services Commission. Do you think he understands the values of Western civilization better than the Christian Church? Mr. Faber does NOT! Do you remember what the Lord of Western civilization said about a millstone and who should wear it?

It is increasingly obvious that we cannot, should not vote for politicians who neither know nor understand the Judeo-Christian values of Western civilization which are enshrined in the Preamble of our Belizean Constitution. Heretofore, we must refuse to vote for any candidate, no matter what colour, who does not comprehend the impact these values should have on his or her behaviour.

This upcoming election, we must line up all the candidates (blue, red, yellow, whatever) at the same starting line, no matter what baggage they carry. Those who will reach the finish line first, would come with the vision of a truly great Belize, shining brightly on account of their commitment to the Judeo-Christian principles of our Constitution. No matter what baggage they carry on their backs.

A reminder: These values are Supremacy of God, God-given rights, Social Justice, the Common Good, the Will of the People, Freedom based upon respect for moral values, respect for unity, freedom, sovereignty, and integrity.

No matter what colour shirt they wear, we want political leaders who are dedicated to serving THE COMMON GOOD!

NOT SELF!!!