Dear Editor,

I write to your esteemed newspaper to highlight an apparent fault with Belize’s three-branch form of government.

Were the Judiciary to take its members from the Legislature and Senate, it would be very obvious our three-branch system is rigged against the prosecuted. Similarly, it has become apparent that Cabinet, taking its members exclusively from the Legislature and Senate makes plain our system of government is rigged against taxpayers and residents.

This cannibalization of the Legislature and Senate by the Executive, disables the house committees because, Ministers who must be questioned in public hearings about decisions their Ministries make, sit on those house committee(s) that must hold those hearings on behalf of taxpayers.

This Belize constitutional fault mutes taxpayers’ representatives. Stops them cold from asking national and local questions their electors want answered, be those questions about crime, our borders and foreign affairs, health, education, housing, protected areas, arts and culture,
sports or other.

This cannibalization of the House and Senate by the Cabinet must be stopped, for the better.

The findings and recommendations of a Belize Political Reform Commission chaired by Dylan Vernon are available online. Published in January 2000, I was pointed to the document about a year ago by a friend. I haven’t read the entire document but, two of its recommendations I strongly disagree with: one is the continued muting of elected representatives by simply reducing the number who become Ministers during a term in office. The other is that Belize retains a foreign head of state because, that’s what Belizeans are used to and, the nation might break apart if a national were appointed or, elected head of state.

My problem with a monarchy is this: monarchs must have subjects. That makes everyone else unequal before the law because, the monarch has immunities his/her subjects are barred from.

In any case, my current problem is with the Belize Constitution giving area reps and senators two jobs. Right now, you must be an area rep or a senator to become a Belize Government Minister.

I want area reps to make the existing and, future House and Senate Committees work for taxpayers and residents. I want public hearings on every facet of Belizean life. Ministers must be made to report to the House and or Senate Committees in public hearings at specific intervals and or, as required.

Belize Constitution online Chapter 4. Part 5 The Executive. Section 40 Ministers of Government. Subsection 2 says the Governor General appoints Ministers on the advice of the Prime Minister from among members of the House and Senate, except the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate. Subsection 2 should be revised to: the Governor General appoints Ministers on the advice of the Prime Minister from among citizens of Belize, except members of the House and Senate.

Best regards,
J.C. Arzu
[email protected]