Last night we told you about the OAS observer team which is here in Belize. The team will meet with the political parties and observe the electoral process. Although they wont be directly involved, they play a key role in highlighting major issues that need to be addressed. The Chief of Mission told me yesterday that they are taking a keen interest in women and youth involvement.
Courtney Weatherburne
"One of the major highlights about an election is the financing. To be more specific campaign financing. It's all about which party can generate more money to fuel their machine, to bring people out on election day. But that also brings about many issues or concerns and questions. Because many people wonder or question if that money is being generate through any illegal or deceptive means, or any under table deals. How involve is the OAS in this process?"
Jacinth Henry-Martin, Chief of Mission
"In our conversation so far, part of the questioning that we do is on areas that have been highlighted for example, in the past report and the issue of campaign financing has come up. When you ask what do we do. We ask the questions of all of the entities with whom we interact and we get the answers and that would form part of the report. So I am sure you would imagine that you may not get the same response from all of the parties, but certainly we take onboard all of the responses that have been given to the questions ask. The OAS itself does not set the limits and enforce rules. It makes recommendations."
Courtney Weatherburne
"Now I like you to draw from the 2012 report, some of the issues or challenges that Belize faces. In terms of the electoral process."
Jacinth Henry-Martin, Chief of Mission
"The participation of young people, the participation of women beyond their role in the planning of the electoral process and serving as officers on the day. I think it is clear, this wouldn't be used that there is not a vast number of women participating in elective politics at the level of offering themselves and that is something that had been recommended somehow - how can that be achieved. Campaign financing was one, not just in Belize I would add. Generally speaking an issues that had been raised in many countries. So that's not unique to Belize."
The mission leaves on the 6th and past experience says that they file an immediate post election report, and then produce a full report later on.
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