7 News Belize

Should Guate-Born B’zeans Vote In An ICJ Referendum?
posted (February 27, 2018)
The press also asked Briceno about a referendum on the Belize Guatemala issue. One is supposed to be held later this year, but there's been some issue raised about whether Guatemalans who have been naturalized should be allowed to vote. They are fully Belizeans with all the rights of any citizens - but some suggest that their place of birth could sway their vote.

The opposition leader wasn't deaf to that argument:...

Reporter
"Should Belizeans with Guatemalan citizenship or parentage be allowed to participate in the referendum given the obvious divided loyalties we would have?"

Hon. John Briceno, Leader of the Opposition
"I believe that a lot of these formal Guatemalans living in Belize, I believe that they truly love Belize and they are Belizeans and they are here because they love this place. But when it comes to addressing the very issue that has to do with the as you the sovereignty of our nation when it comes to people that were former citizens of Guatemala, it may be something that may require more discussion to whether we decide whether they should participate or not."

We note that in the last general election, at least two PUP candidates and one UDP candidate was born in Guatemala. One other UDP candidate had acquired Guatemalan nationality.

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