UDP Leader Shyne Barrow has committed to regular press briefings - and today he spoke to the media fresh off what he calls a comprehensive and in-depth meeting with Anthony Channona, the Chair of the Constitutional Reform Committee.
Barrow, says that when he, Channona, and Mike Peyrefitte sat down to talk, they discussed every issue that the Constitutional committee has before it.
But Barrow also wanted to talk about what in his opinion should be the principles by which the Constitutional Reform Committee should be guided.
Here's more:
Shyne Barrow, Leader Of The Opposition
"I had a very in depth comprehensive meeting with the constitution commission chair Mr. Anthony Channona as well as the United Democratic Party Chair. He was in attendance and it was a comprehensive briefing from Mr. Channona on the developments, the meetings the progress made thus far, um, he inquired as to issues that we may see as key issues for the commission to review and we went into those discussions whether it be the judiciary, whether it be the role of the opposition in a strong democracy, equal opportunity, the diaspora, the need for the people to decide in a referendum the removal of the monarch as our head of state and many other issues."
"This undertaking, this hallowed undertaking should be guided by two main principles, that is to strengthen the protection of the rights that Belizean have enshrined in the constitution and to expand rights of Belizeans."
"Really the constitution is the guard is the shield of our society so. We should be looking at ways, again to strengthen the rights that are already enshrined in our constitution and to expand to give more rights, to have a more free, a more democratic and completely sovereign nation. We also discussed anti-corruption strengthening the oversight bodies, ensuring that they are not political witch-hunt but at the same time politicians, public officers, are not excused from any commission of crime while discharging their duties."
