Last night we told you about the so-called national People's Referendum being organized by the Belize Coalition to Save our Natural Heritage. It's their Plan B after the formal referendum effort on offshore drilling failed.
But is it just a stunt, and what are their parameters for success? We asked Coalition coordinator Tanya Williams today:
Tanya Williams - Coordinator, Coalition to Save Our Natural Heritage
"It's going to be similar to an election, or if we actually had the referendum on March 7. We will have polling nationally. We are not going to use all the polling stations because - of course, the resources - we don't have the resources. You have to be a registered voter to be able to vote in the people's referendum, and all you have to do is mark your x where you believe position lies on the matter of drilling in the offshore. It's legitimate because it is the voice of the people - voice of registered Belizeans - who will be able to vote. We may not be using the same polling areas, but we will use the general facilities of those areas."
Jules Vasquez
"What is the tipping point that you all are hoping to reach - the point of critical mass that any government you hope will have to say, 'Wow, this has x% of the registered population . We might need to take heed.'"
Tanya Williams
"Well for us, we are looking at 10% of the registered voters, looking at the people who actually signed on the petition, who were unable to vote because we did not get the referendum under the referendum act."
Jules Vasquez
"It's not real. It's just like an expensive, time-consuming simulation."
Tanya Williams
"I would not take it like that, Jules. I think that this is a response to people who were not able to vote when the referendum did not go through under the referendum act. People were calling us and asking us, 'How do we get the opportunity to voice our opinion. We weren't given that opportunity.' This is that opportunity. It's not a stunt."
Jules Vasquez
"Are you all trying to have it for effect at that time to send the Barrow Administration, which you all believe rejected your referendum application - to send that administration a message?"
Tanya Williams
"Again, this is not a political issue - a party political issue for us. It's is an issue about a policy change. And this will give any new government -whether it is the incumbent or a new government - that there is a mandate from the people."
The vote will be held next week Friday February 24th...
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