The House of Representatives held a special Wednesday meeting today. And no, the Prime Minister did not dissolve the house and announce a date for election. But he did do something that will prove consequential on election day. He introduced a motion to have a referendum on an elected Senate. The motion has no fixed date - but our sources say the Prime Minister will advise the Governor General to set it for general election day - whenever that is. Observers agree that politically, it's a clever move because it associates the election Senate with a PUP victory and puts the UDP in a position where it almost has to not support what seems to a be a progressive reform. And that's what the two sides debated over today. 7NEWS was front row.
Rt. Hon. Said Musa, Prime Minister
"Be it therefore resolved that the issue of an elected senate is a matter of sufficient national importance that it should be submitted to the electors for their approval through a referendum. Let the people decide in a referendum whether they want an elected Senate which would have strong oversight responsibilities in addition to its legislative functions. There are many good reasons Madam Speaker why the Senate should be elected by the people.
The first is the issue of the sharing of power. All over the world there is a growing feeling of the need for more people power. We believe the time has come for the people themselves to directly elect the Senate. Secondly, if the Senate is to perform a more meaningful role in our system, it must have its own legitimacy; an election rather than a selection. Thirdly there is a healthy dissatisfaction with the present system of governance. People want more oversight on the executive, a greater check and balance between the Cabinet and the legislature. An elected Senate would have representation from all six districts. The numbers would be derived at by using the population figures for each district, ensuring that the countrywide representation is as fair as possible."
Hon. Dean Barrow, UDP Leader
"No referendum can alter the constitution of Belize and he should make that absolutely clear when he talks to the people of this country. The referendum, it doesn't matter how people vote, cannot in and of itself, cannot by itself, produce an elected Senate. Only the National Assembly with
the requisite voting by way of the requisite majority can fundamentally alter the constitution in the way that would be required to introduce an elected Senate.
Madam Speaker if the Prime Minister were serious about putting the notion of an elected Senate to the people, there would have been consultation with us before the introduction of the motion, there would have been consultation with the independent parties, with the third parties in this country, there would have been consultation with the constituency that is supporting an elected Senate. No, he doesn't do that. He comes here and acts as though he is pulling some rabbit out of a hat. Does he want a referendum to be held on the same day as the general election? Is that the idea? To try and distract attention from the real issues, to try and divert the people's focus on the corruption and mismanagement and dishonesty and the flagrant lying of this government.
Government is doing a disservice to those who genuinely believe in an elected Senate. Keep this above the partisan fray. You know what's going to happen Madam Speaker? Especially if you put this on the ballot on the same day of the general election, because the people of this country are going to reject the PUP and all its work - an elected Senate that appears to be supportive by the PUP will go down to defeat, will crash and burn and that is not fair."
Hon. John Saldivar, Cayo South Area Rep.
"We are saying let's do it in the right manner. Let the people know what they are going to be voting for. Don't just come to me with
this crap about an elected Senate. There are many different forms of an elected Senate and the people need to know what they are voting for."
Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
"We've been squeezing them, we've pushed them into a corner and they didn't know how to wiggle themselves out. That is exactly what has happened today. What I am saying Madam Speaker is that the member for Collet, he is such a frightened little rabbit that the lady is going to deal with him. The woman who will be in the House soon will deal with you because all you have done...all you have done member for Collet is to prove that you are just like your leader of the opposition; all glitter and no substance for when you open your mouth. A little bit of rhetoric talking about crooked this, crooked that."
[Patrick Faber Talking]
Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
"You are not only behaving like a rabbit now, you are behaving like a parrot."
[Patrick Faber Shouting: 'I noh thief.']
Speaker Elizabeth Zabaneh,
"Honorable Member please let us be quiet. Be quiet...be quiet."
Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
"Is it you they want to make the Minister of Education? What kind of education that? That is a parrot for Minister of Education. Madam Speaker anyway let us not be distracted. Today we have every thing else except the fact that they are afraid of allowing the Belizean people to decide on a very fundamental issue. They try to come up with all kinds of excuses. They want more consultation. Of course there will be more consultation. Of course there will be a model put before the Belizean people before they vote. Of course all this will be done but today all we are asking them is to support, let the people decide. That is all and why are they hesitating about that since they feel so confident about winning an election. Is it that deep down they realize that the tide has turned and the People's United Party will be back? The people will decide Madam Speaker and we will vote for this motion to have a referendum, giving that power to the people."
When we contacted Senator Godwin Hulse, one of the most public advocates for an elected Senate, he said that he had been in meetings all day and had not heard enough to say if he supports the motion.
