And on the other side of free and fair elections, you have money politics - which has been a constant in Belizean politics for the last 25 years or so.
Earlier in the news, you heard the leader of the UDP Shyne Barrow say he expects that the PUP will outspend the UDP on election day. But while the ruling party certainly has richer coffers - the truth is that when an opposition is going up against a ruling party - it also has to contend with election spending on public projects.
Now, this is the actual use of taxpayer funds to induce voters to choose the ruling party - and the PUDP have made a science of it. Fact is pre-election spending is wild and mostly unchecked - which is a bonanza for politicians of both stripes.
So, we asked the leader of the opposition today - as they face another barrage of election timed pubic projects - if he would consider legislating against pre-electIon public spending as they have, for example, in the Philippines:
