Back in the early '90s, Vernon was part of a team of civil society professionals who championed political reform, which eventually led to the formation of the Political Reform Commission.
This commission looked at the growing pains of Belize's political development after Independence. During that push for improvements in governance, gaps in the constitution were discovered. Even from back then, there was a dispute on just how far removed bodies like the Elections and Boundaries Commission must be from the influence of the political directorate.
It eventually culminated in the production of the Final Report of the Political Reform Commission, which was released in January 2000.
But, Vernon is of the opinion that this might be the point in our history in which citizens may support and agitate for a full constitutional reform so that the supreme law of the land completely fits our Belizean realities.
We asked about the associated risks of such an overhaul in opening up the country to the same progressive erosion in democracy that he is concerned about in the 10th Amendment Bill. Here's the back and forth on that topic:
According to Vernon, it is important that social partner groups like the unions continue to act as watchdogs. He told us that for sustained progress, these groups need to maintain the pressure on the government of the day, so that good governance reforms are continually implemented. He cites that as one of the weaknesses of the civil society movement of the '90s.
