A strange thing happened today: the PUP and the VIP issued a joint press release.  Strange because the VIP is an independent party and it doesn't usually team up with the main mass parties.  But they have a common cause, and that's re-registration.  

The joint release says, quote,  “leaders of the political parties inclusive of the PUP and the VIP met last week to call on the Government to comply with the rule of law and immediately begin the legally overdue re-registration of electors.â€￾  Now, the PUP is as much a part of the overdue re-registraiton because they failed to do it when it first due in 2007. But now, it’s a different issue.  The release says, quote, “in light of the revelation that a number of persons were given fraudulent nationality certificates, which allowed these individuals to register and vote in elections in Belize…a proper re-registration exercise (is) the only way to ensure that future elections are free and fair. The leaders agreed that the current voter register is compromised and as a result illegal.â€￾ End quote.  

So, the leaders are insisting that re-registration occur before the planned re-districting.  They are also calling on trade unions, civil society and religious organizations to support the request for re-registration this year. The BNTU had already released a statement calling for the same.