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Well, as we told you, the PUP made a failed attempt to recall Penner in January because they couldn't meet the referendum threshold by getting the required number of signatures belonging to voters of the Cayo Northeast Constituency. Well, that move to unseat Penner has emerged again because the PUP are challenging the decision of the Chief Elections Officer reject over 300 signatures. They filed the application for judicial proceedings today at the Supreme Court, and 7News spoke with them outside.

Lisa Shoman, Attorney
"I am filing the application on behalf of Orlando Habet and 4 other applicants for judicial review of the decision by the chief elections officer to reject 337 signatures and therefore report to the Governor General that there were not enough signatures for the referendum recall to be held. At this stage what we are asking for is application for leave for judicial review, so this is the leave stage. It's the first step towards getting judicial review."

Mike Rudon, Ch5
"In terms of timing, what happens next?"

Lisa Shoman, Attorney
"We will be waiting for a date to be set and the leave application to be heard before a judge, so as yet no one has been assigned."

Daniel Ortiz
"Can we ask you about the timing? Why did it take so long to bring the application for leave?"

Lisa Shoman, Attorney
"It takes as long as it takes because it is a technical issue, but more than that it also speaks to the fact that people in Belize by and large don't want necessarily to enter into a legal process especially when it's the government of Belize, but we were able to find, of course Mr. Landy Habet is the chief applicant in the matter. We were also able to find 4 other Belizeans who were willing to be litigants."

Daniel Ortiz
"Let's talk straight. We have the criminal charging of Mr. Elvin Penner and this issue went dormant for months. There are those who may say (your critics) that you are bringing this just to raise the issue in terms of the public awareness. Is that a political move? or do you guys really and truly want this issue to be reviewed before the counts."

Orlando Habet
"We really and truly want this before the courts. We took some time, as a matter of fact it isn't actually an easy process because we have to look out for the people who will be the people taking this issue to court because the PUP as a party can't take it to court. It has to be individuals and so we identify those people who were willing to come up. There are several other, but the attorneys advised us that we did not need 40 or 50, 4 or 5 would be sufficient."

Today was only the filing of the documents, and no court date has been set for this application.