The era of the town meeting has passed and on weeknights, no one wants to talk politics or governance; the residents of this city are mostly barred in behind triple-locked doors and shuttered windows. But not last night, a smattering of city residents went out to take part in the public consultation on the 6th Amendment to the Constitution Bill. And it was an evening of robust debate, the democratic process in full bloom as the consultation lasted almost four hours. With assistance of Plus TV in Belmopan, we put together this story.
Senator Godwin Hulse,
“The constitution is the people’s law, let’s not lose sight of that. That is the only law that is the people’s law and therefore if you want to touch the people’s law, ask the people.”
And that’s just what the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee set out to do last night with its consultation at the Holy Redeemer Parish Hall. The committee has bi-partisan representation include the leader of the Opposition but it is controlled by the government and before the event, committee chair John Saldivar made government’s position clear:
Hon. John Saldivar,
“We are open to people being reasonable and having reasoned criticism and suggestions. I don’t know that what has been put forward so far has convinced us on the government side that we are going down the wrong road.”
A good-sized crowd showed up including government sponsored support which extended even to placards. A setting indicative of the increasingly engaged democratic dialogue and also of the fact that government’s reform package is not going down with the spoonful of sugar that government might have thought it would. And that was clear from the stern tone of comments and questions put to the bi-partisan committee. And because of that instead of a consultation it turned into a debate – as in this case of Senator Hulse discussing
the proposed recall mechanism and the disqualification of recalled candidates who want to run again.
Senator Godwin Hulse,
“You cannot and should not black him out from running because if you do that as a consequence of the petition, you have already held the election against him.”
Hon. John Saldivar,
“And if it is that the recall mechanism that we put in place calls for a recall vote what will happen then Senator? We are saying that we don’t have mechanism in place, it will be put in place and…”
Senator Hulse,
“You’re prejudicing it with the constitution, you’re prejudicing it already because then…”
Hon. John Saldivar,
“We will note your concern.”
Lisa Shoman,
“This is a serious issue. You cannot ask us to accept on faith. We cannot be persuaded to buy a puss inna bag for the sake of changing a constitution which is a serious thing.”
Hon. Anthony “Boots” Martinez,
“I do agree with some of the recommendations from the floor but again I would like to place on record Mr. Chairman where were these people, intelligent attorneys, when these things were happening to this country.”
Woman #1,
“We understand globalization, we understand corporation, we understand that some corporation probably spoke to you and told you wonderful stories about being able to have progress and high investment in your little third world country but you have to understand that you are being bent over at our expense.”
Hon. Patrick Faber,
“We want to have a very controlled discussion, we want to ensure that it is consultation and not confrontation.”
But when the constitution is what’s at stake and there’s a back and forth over it, a confrontation – mind you, a civil one, is inevitable – especially over the issue of title to oil reserves.
Senator Godwin Hulse,
“We can’t we say to any oil company, ‘look it is our oil – let us be clear on that. We noh the set up no rig, you will do all the drilling and so. When it is sold, whatever we agree, we will get 60%, you get your 40%, you pay your taxes out of the 40% as a company and the thing done so we know the 60% is coming to us and we will get our tax.’”
Hon. John Saldivar,
“Before the person even starts to drill for the oil, you will already put all of those things in that contract, in that production sharing agreement. If you want to say we will get 70% of the oil, that should be in the production sharing agreement. Let me explain why we believe we need to put it in the constitution, this is so that land owners who may get the impression that they can cause uncertainty
in the petroleum industry by taking the government to court and saying to the government you do not have the constitutional right to enter into contracts, these production sharing agreements, they are land owners who are contemplating taking government to court to say it is unconstitutional for you to sign a production sharing agreement with a person to extract oil from under my land.”
Ambrose Tillett,
“I think you’re probably not really hearing or listening to what people are saying, what people are saying is we understand oil companies need to have some contract for selling or marketing the oil. There is nothing wrong with that, there is nothing wrong with that at all. Why do you need to get titles for the reserves. That is what people are concerned about, you are giving people titles for the oil reserves.”
And while all that highly tuned talk hovered in the legislative ether, this man – red shirt and all – exquisitely grounded the discourse.
Man #1,
“We live inna one of the richest third world countries in the world. We got 350,000 people live inna Belize and now I di run ‘round and I di hear about an amendment to the Senate, unu wah change this and unu wah change that but I still live inna the same state, the people who live round me still di live inna the same state. I come outta mi house and I see man di run with gun, I see man the do this, I noh see no youth center di set up. And you di tell me ‘bout wah elected Senate and dis but what concern me ih concern unu and I noh mad with unu fi that but I wah unu tek care of what di go ahhn out yah what what dig on ahn out yah noh have nothing fi do with me. Whe the go ahhn out yah, people need help.”
The committee has one more consultation to conduct and that one will be in Belmopan. No date has been set for that yet. So far, the liveliest sessions have been held in Cayo and Belize City.
