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BPM Attorney Bashes PM For Constitutional Ignorance
Tue, April 30, 2024
Saldivar is also the attorney for the Belize Peace Movement. That group has been frustrated by government's refusal to initiate a re-districting exercise - which would create proportionality between the country's 31 constituencies.

The Prime Minister recently dodged the issue and said it is in the hands of the Minister in charge of Elections and Boundaries, Henry Charles Usher.

Saldivar said he's not buying that:

Reporter
"Do you have any observation or comment to make in relation to the response of the Prime Minister when he was asked about the redistricting and the fact that it's not happening, another election is upon us in some months, I'd say, and he said it's the Minister of Elections and Boundaries who's responsible for that, Mr. Henry Usher, but it isn't really, it's whoever decides what the agenda will be in the National Assembly. To your understanding, who is that person?"

Arthur Saldivar
"Well, first and foremost, what behooves me is that the Prime Minister himself has no knowledge of the Constitution. Above that, once the election and boundaries submits its report, that is submitted to Parliament, not to the Minister responsible, to Parliament. Once it goes to Parliament, there's a responsibility on the part of the parliamentary clerk to make it known that this has been done, and then it is for the leader, the Speaker, to make her submissions in terms of putting it on the table, tabling it for consideration at whatever caucus meetings they are going to have before a special meeting at a house would take place."

"Now, this is cause for a special sitting because we're in a constitutional crisis. Before now, there was the luxury of the administrations doing piecemeal work with addressing the issue of equality in the electorate, but where the court has decided and there is an order in place that no longer exists, there's no luxury for you to kick the can down the road, there is a requirement for it to be addressed, and addressed comprehensively."

"Otherwise, now, we'll have a situation where the court, by virtue of its inherent jurisdiction, in interpreting the Constitution, would have to act."

Reporter
"There are pressures that can be put by the leader of government for that not to get on to...What's happening?"

Arthur Saldivar
"Well, what is happening is that there is some level of comfort in having an unconstitutional state of affairs continue to exist, and it seems that the administration is hellbent on having the court having to dictate, but not only them."

"It seems that both political parties have forgotten their responsibility under the Constitution in terms of upholding it and ensuring that it is given full effect and preeminence in the conduct of public affairs."

"This is shameful because it shows the world that... Not only do we have an administration that does not understand or appreciate its role, but we have an opposition that is equally culpable in the same corruption that the administration is involving itself with."

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