At the top of the newscast, you saw Greg Choq, the chairman of SATIIM railing against government for giving the green light to US Capital Energy to do oil exploration in the Sarstoon Temash National Park.
Ch'oq also has another issue with government. The NGO community selected him as its senator designate years ago - and was just waiting for the prime minister to pass into law the constitutional amendment adjusting the size of the senate to 13, so that he could ascend to the upper house.
But, last year, the Prime Minister famously said on this newscast that it's not going to happen. Well now, the Belizeans For Justice are taking him to court to demand that his government implement the promised reform.
Yolanda Schackron told us why:…
Yolanda Schakron, Belizeans For Justice
"It has already been passed into law that we should have a 13th senator from the NGO's. Mr. Barrow when questioned about that back in March, he said 'it ain't going to happen.' So we believe that it is very important for that 13th senator. We believe for good governance, transparency and accountability. I personally supported the present government, I believed in Mr. Barrow, I still do and I am asking him on behalf of the Belizean people to allow Mr. Gregory Ch'oc to take up that post as the 13th senator in the Senate. We believe that the NGOs represent a wide section of the population and we believe that the voices of the Belizean people will be heard."
Gregory Ch'oc, Chairman SATIIM
"I believe the decision of the Prime Minister to not follow through is unfortunate for democracy in this country."
Jules Vasquez
"Do you feel that you are being deprived or cheated of an opportunity that was promised?"
Gregory Ch'oc, Chairman SATIIM
"Absolutely not. I did not want that position, the organizations that I have work with felt that I was the best candidate they could have in the Senate and hence they elected me."
The matter will be heard in the Supreme Court on February 11th…
