It will be one of the most enduring images of the pre-election season, the sight of San Pedro UDP Councilor Candidate Severo Guerrero behind the computer at the elections and Boundaries Office in San Pedro, doing God knows what.
Chief Elections Officer, Josephine Tamai told us that the Officer in charge of the sub-office, Marilee Squires communicated to her that Guerrero was asked to assist in fixing a problem with the office's computer except, Guerrero is known on the island to be a Dentist, not a computer technician. More than that, he is also a candidate in the upcoming Town Board elections. Squires has been recalled from her San Pedro posting, and an investigation is underway.
As we understand it, Squire's first report was lacking in detail, and she has been written to requesting that she provides a more detailed report. The Elections and Boundaries office is also awaiting the written report from the two officers who went to investigate yesterday. They have also called for the immediate suspension of Squires who, according to reports, has admitted that she was wrong for having Guerrero in the office. She has been sent on Administrative leave.
Today, Minister with responsibility for Elections and Boundaries, John Saldivar told the media that while the incident is regrettable, whatever Severo Guerrero was doing can have no effect on the final voters' list.
Here's his explanation:..
Hon. John Saldivar
"I can state categorically, Jules, that he had no business being in that office, and the officer that had him in there has certainly exercised a great indiscretion and that will be dealt with internally. But at the same time I want to say that his being in there has not in any way compromised anything at all in the office because you will not have any access to any change within the system."
Jules Vasquez
"But he must know that there was going to be a purpose served."
Hon. John Saldivar
"Whatever his purpose was, it could not have been in any way compromising of the system. That is all I can say."
Jules Vasquez
"You say that but......."
Hon. John Saldivar
"Because I know the system, and he cannot get into that system."
Jules Vasquez
"I am a layman; he is going in there, and he will take my name off the list because I am "a so and so" supporter."
Hon. John Saldivar
"He cannot do that."
Jules Vasquez
"Why is that?"
Hon. John Saldivar
"He cannot add/delete from the voters list because the process by which somebody is added or deleted from the voters list is one that involves the court of Belize. It involves the publishing of these names, involves the public knowing that these persons are going to be put on or not put on the list, involves going to the court to argue before the court why they should or should not be on the list, involves an official publication which is available to all parties - political parties or interested persons - so you cannot just put or take someone off the list."
And so while the voters list is inviolable at the sub office level - Severo Guerrero still has not availed himself to offer an explanation of what he was doing behind the computer.
And tonight the computers at the Immigration Department in Belmopan will also continue to be humming late into the night as they were last night.
These pictures show activities at that office late last night - as they were the night before. Director Of Immigration Ruth Meighan has freely admitted that the office remained open to provide a service at the directive of her minister. And another naturalization session is expected tomorrow, the fourth in two weeks. So far, unofficial numbers say that just under 800 persons have been naturalized in this pre-election rush.
And, today the rush at that office continues, unabated; word is that another naturalization session is planned for tomorrow.
It's planned for the morning when all others have been done in the afternoon - and that's because tomorrow is also the deadline for registration - and the whole idea is to get these new citizens registered as voters.
So tomorrow night, will it be the turn of the Election and Boundaries office to stay open late to facilitate the new registrants?
Minister John Saldivar says they will only go so far:..
Jules Vasquez
"We expect that tomorrow or tonight maybe the elections and boundaries offices will be open until late, facilitating mainly UDP politicians with their new registrants for the next elections."
Hon. John Saldivar
"Facilitating persons attempting to get registered, and I can tell you this: that only persons who have been at the office at the time of closing - if they're in the office - they will be facilitated. We will not just put them out, but no one will be able to get there after the closing time and be registered."
Jules Vasquez
"So it won't be that you all are open until 11:30pm?"
Hon. John Saldivar
"Only the persons in there at 5 o" clock when the office closes will be dealt with by the officers."
And tonight, the Elections and Boundaries office has one more issue to contend with. The PUP filed an application for judicial review against in the Supreme Court against chief Elections Officer, Josephine Tamai.
The issue is that the party had written to Tamai requesting permission for the for a member of the Corozal South East PUP Executive to visit the Registering Office and inspect the binders of voters, under the Representation of People's Act.
The PUP says The Chief Elections Officer yesterday wrote the Secretary General of the PUP denying this request.
The application challenges what the PUP calls an unreasonable refusal of the Chief Elections Officer.
