If you’re going to make it on the voters list for the next election, tomorrow is the last day to register. That list will be court approved by the 25t of this month and ready for the February 7th elections. And that’s why many believe there’s been a mad rush by the ruling party to swear in new citizens in before Friday. We told you about the scene yesterday where over a thousand new citizens were sworn in at the George Price Center in Belmopan. There are reports that the number was up to 1,800, while other reports say it was 1,300. We have to go with those reports because we have been absolutely unable to reach the Department of Immigration and Nationality in Belmopan. The scene at their office has been crazy for the past two days and for contrast we compared yesterday’s mad-house event to a swearing in that happened in march of last year.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
This is what the swearing in of citizens usually looks like at the George Price Center in Belmopan – a formal ceremony officiated by Commissioner of the Supreme Court Winston Smiling. But yesterday throngs crowded the center and the entrance was crammed with new citizens and their relatives – many of them leaving with their nationality certificates. In fact the crowd was so
great that coordinator Elsie Alpuche had to restrain them.
Elsie Alpuche,
“Only those that are getting their nationality can come in. You have to stay outside. Only those that are receiving their nationality certificates can come inside.”
Upstairs in the main hall it was packed with these new citizens, full to capacity and the man in charge of swearing in Winston Smiling told Luis Wade from Plus TV that he was not welcome.
Winston Smiling,Commissioner of the Supreme Court
“Excuse me, media. Young man, please excuse us. Please take…” [Smiling Grasps Camera]
Wade retreated to the outside while Smiling kept watch at the door. The famous hand on the camera for a swearing in? Of Belizean citizens? What could the secret be? The team from Plus TV went to the Immigration and Nationality Department where it was swarming with new citizens all around the office, right up to the door. They spoke with some of the hopeful new citizens. Ana Pineda has been in Belize for ten years.
Ana Pineda: She is here to bring her nationality. She
believes that she is going to get her nationality today. She applied for it in March.
Lewis Wade: What area of Belize she comes from?
Ana Pineda: She is from Belize but she doesn’t know the name of the street.
Lewis Wade: What about the upcoming elections?
Ana Pineda She is going to vote for the elections.
Marisel Castillo: I came for my nationality.
Plus TV: Do you think you are going to receive it?
Marisel Castillo: Well I hope so.
Plus TV: How old are you?
Marisel Castillo: 19.
Plus TV: Are you planning to vote?
Marisel Castillo: Yes.
Plus TV: How long have you lived in Belize?
Marisel Castillo: I have 12 years living here in Belize.
Lewis Wade: What part of Belize do you come from?
Marisel Castillo: Orange Walk.
Lewis Wade: What area
representatives are in that division?
Marisel Castillo: Marcel Cardona and Dr. Mendez.
Lewis Wade: Does the upcoming elections have anything to do with trying to get it now?
Marisel Castillo: Kind of yes but I am not in political things right but right now I have been here from seven o’clock waiting for my paper and I see it as a kind of political thing right now because people are just coming in and we are just waiting so long out here.
Woman #1: She is getting her nationality.
Plus TV: How long ago she applied for it?
Woman #1: She doesn’t remember. She comes from Santa Familia. She is doing this for her personal life, not politically.
Plus TV: Ask her if it would be easier if she applied now or after the elections.
Woman #1: It is better now.
Man #1: My name’s Phil.
Plus TV: What’s your purpose being here?
Man #1: I am here as part of the nationality process to become a Belizean.
Plus TV: Do you think you are going to receive it?
Man #1: I hope so but they are a lot of people here.
Lewis Wade: What is your impression when you arrived this morning and you saw the amount of people waiting?
Man #1: Well there was a lot of people. I don’t know if that is because of the elections that is about to come and people want to get their nationality or voting rights or if it is just always this busy. I am told there twice as many people here today than normal.
Many people, all with a different story on this day of days to get citizenship.
Again, there are no official reports coming form Belmopan on the numbers, but all first hand estimates place it at over a thousand. Before election season the standard practice has been that citizens are sworn in groups not more than 130.
