By: Omar Silva

Editor/ Publisher: national Perspective Bz – Digital 2025

www.nationalperspectivebz.com

Belize City: Tuesday 11th February 2025

Legal Crisis Looms: The Government’s Failure to Implement Redistricting Could Derail Belize’s Democracy

Belize’s Prime Minister John Briceño has officially confirmed that the general elections will be held on March 12, 2025. Briceño stated that he had just left the Governor General’s residence, where he instructed the GG to dissolve Parliament, officially setting the stage for what could be Belize’s most contentious election in recent history.

With the United Democratic Party (UDP) facing internal fractures and the People’s United Party (PUP) attempting to capitalize on relative stability, the political battle ahead is expected to be fierce. However, this election call comes amid ongoing legal disputes over redistricting—a constitutional issue that remains unresolved and could escalate into a full-blown legal showdown.

A Breach of Constitutional Duty

The call for elections comes at a time when the Belize Peace Movement (BPM) and other advocacy groups have raised alarms about the constitutional requirement for redistricting. The government had acknowledged in a 2019 consent order the need to redefine electoral boundaries to ensure compliance with Section 90 of the Constitution, which mandates that electoral divisions must have near-equal numbers of voters. Despite submitting a redistricting proposal in July 2023, the government has failed to debate or pass the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2024, effectively leaving the current, outdated districting system in place.

Senior Counsel Anand Ramlogan, representing claimants including Jeremy Enriquez, had sent a pre-action letter to the Attorney General and other officials, requesting that the government provide at least five days’ notice before dissolving Parliament and setting an election date. The government, through Courtenay Coye LLP, dismissed the demand for a legal undertaking, asserting that they had fulfilled their constitutional obligations. However, Ramlogan has announced plans to file for an injunction, which could potentially delay or even nullify the elections if upheld by the courts.

The Political Manipulation Behind Electoral Stagnation

Prime Minister Briceño’s decision to proceed with elections despite the pending legal challenge raises several pressing concerns:

• Why is the government rushing to hold elections despite knowingly failing to implement redistricting?
• Is Briceño’s administration deliberately derailing Belize’s democracy by ignoring constitutional safeguards?
• Is the government banking on judicial delays to sidestep legal accountability?

Legal analysts suggest that by forcing an election without addressing the redistricting issue, the PUP government is weaponizing the timing of the election to its advantage. Without redistricting, Belize’s electoral map remains unbalanced, effectively disenfranchising thousands of voters. This, in turn, raises serious questions about the legitimacy of the upcoming elections and whether they will truly reflect the will of the people.

The Risk of a Constitutional Crisis

With the legal battle looming, the government faces a serious dilemma:

• If the injunction is granted, the election date could be delayed, leading to uncertainty and instability.
• If the elections proceed, they could be legally challenged and potentially overturned, leading to a constitutional crisis.
• If the courts rule in favor of the government, Belizeans risk heading to the polls under an unfair system that has already been declared in need of urgent reform.

Briceño’s confidence in calling elections despite these unresolved issues suggests that he believes the legal challenge will either be dismissed or delayed long enough for elections to proceed as planned. However, this is a high-stakes gamble that could backfire spectacularly if voters demand accountability at the ballot box.

A Call for Electoral Justice

At this critical juncture, Belizeans must recognize that their democratic rights are at stake. The government’s failure to address redistricting before calling elections is a blatant disregard for constitutional responsibility and a dangerous precedent for the future. This moment calls for action:

• Voters must demand transparency and fairness in the electoral process.
• Legal advocacy groups must persist in their efforts to hold the government accountable.
• The Courts must ensure that elections are conducted in line with constitutional principles, rather than political expediency.

The Belizean people must also recognize that this election is not just about choosing a leader—it is about preserving democracy itself. If electoral fairness is sacrificed for political gain, the consequences could reverberate for generations. Now more than ever, Belizeans must stand up and assert their rights, ensuring that future elections are built on equity, justice, and accountability rather than manipulation and broken promises.

Will Belizeans Stand Against Electoral Manipulation?

Prime Minister Briceño has indicated that this election will be his last if his administration secures another term. But if his government’s actions now are any indication, Belize’s democracy remains in jeopardy. Will the people of Belize allow political manipulation and legal loopholes to dictate their future, or will they demand true electoral justice?

The answer to that question will define the future of Belizean democracy for generations to come.

The time to act is now.