Village council elections are upon us and today the Teacher's Union accused government of trying to steal those elections. It's one heck of an accusation, but the unions say they have proof in a statutory instrument gazetted into law on February third. That S.I. sets out the regulations for the conduct of village council elections. The unions are angry because they say the S.I. repeals the standing regulation and they claim it broadens the list of those eligible to vote in the elections. BNTU General Secretary George Frazer points to a condition that he interprets to permit voting by persons who've lived in the village for two months, regardless of nationality. Frazer vented.
George Frazer, NTUCB
"This SI here where you could go to vote with, flirting what the constitution requires, should be in the country five years, have your permanent residence and other thing but you could be here now in two months and you could have any kind of ID, including a driver's license. What is happening? Do they want to steal the elections from under our eyes? This is what's happening."
According to Hugh O'Brien, the CEO in the Ministry of National Development, the union has completely misunderstood the statutory instrument. He says all voters must meet all the qualifications: that is, they must be a citizen or a permanent resident, and a resident of the community for two months. He stresses that anyone who is not a citizen or a permanent resident in Belize is unable to vote in the village council elections, by law. He says that NTUCB is out of order to make a statement without asking a question and not even discussing the matter with the Ministry. He says that the SI was passed after consultation with the National Association of Village Councils.
