Turning now to the Opposition Party's alarm bell from last week, you'll remember how they expressed concern that Collet Montejo, a serving PUP Senator, has been appointed as a member of the Re-Division Task Force set up by the Elections and Boundaries Commission. He is supposed to act as supervisor of all fieldwork for the gathering and providing of all information for the consideration of the task force.
Well, the UDP says that he can't be a senator and a part of that re-districting Taskforce at the same time because of a conflict of interest.
Here's what the Opposition Leader and the Senator Michael Peyrefitte had to say about the proposed appointment:
Moses "Shyne" Barrow - Leader of Opposition
"What is reprehensible is another assault on our democracy, with the attempt to gerrymander and disenfranchise Belizeans. Mr. Montejo cannot be seen as an objective person that wants to accomplish the task of redistricting, which is equal representation. Mr. Montejo is as partisan as it comes, and that is why the Elections and Boundaries Commission was set up to transcend politics. The PUP promised that this was not the government they would be. They promised transparency, accountability, and good governance."
Michael Peyrefitte - UDP Senator
"If you look at 63, 1, F one, of the constitution of Belize, it says no person shall be qualified to be appointed as a senator who - and I'll go to F - is disqualified for membership of the House of Representatives by any law, by reason of his holding or acting in any office, the functions of which involve
one, any responsibility for, or in connection with, the conduct of any election or two, any responsibility for the compilation or a revision of any electoral register. This man has taken on a job to do that exact same thing. He needs to resign from the Senate if he wants to do that job."
