The 2008 general election will be held on Thursday February 7th. That's what the Prime Minister announced today after a prayer breakfast. The Prime Minister was joined by 11 Cabinet members as they hosted over 30 religious leaders from varied denominations. The PM told them he would have the election on Wednesday February 6th and some of the church leaders bristled - because it is Ash Wednesday. With that, after a brief caucus with the senior leadership of the party the Prime Minister moved the date to the 7th. He met with the press after and told us that we had more or less "sussed" out the day.
Rt. Hon. Said Musa, Prime Minister
"Well obviously you people in the press had it pretty much worked out already so I don't think it will come as any surprise to the Belizean people that we are holding the elections the first week in February. I advised them, as I am advising the nation now, as indeed I intend to confirm again this afternoon at the meeting with the 31 candidates that I am today advising the Governor General to dissolve the National Assembly and to have nomination day on January 21st and election day on Thursday February 7th. Also we discussed and I mentioned to them that we will also be having a referendum for the issue as to an elected senate will also be held on Thursday the 7th, the same day but on a different ballot, not the same ballot."
Rene Mendez, Positive Vibes
"Sir was any consideration given per say to Ash Wednesday?"
Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
"We discussed all these issues, yes."
Bishop Phillip Wright, Anglican Church
"We expressed our concern about an election on Ash Wednesday."
Jules Vasquez,
Did you vacate Ash Wednesday out of concern, I know I spoke to the Anglican Bishop and he was not comfortable with an Ash Wednesday election. I know that you have had three of them and you have won two of those three.
Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
"Obviously we took that into account in settling on the date of Thursday the 7th of February. I've always been, I think you will have to recognize, as I am sure you will accept, a leader who has tried to listen and then to reflect and then to decide and this is what I've done today."
