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And while that project looks at good governance issues from a wide lens, the People's Constitutional Commission - whose members were was at the launch - is wrapping up its review of the constitution. With the extension they asked for, a report should be presented by next month. For now, the draft will be going to the stakeholders.
But two prominent members of the PCC, Dr Dylan Vernon and Dr Harold Young, withdrew from the commission, allegedly citing criticisms of the process.
Here's how Minister Usher responded.
Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service
"You have to realize what the People's Constitution Commission, what the idea behind this is, it is about going to the people of Belize. Really, the commissioners are there as a conduit between the people of Belize and the government of Belize. There has always been the criticism that the government is not hearing what the people are seeing. Well, this is an opportunity to hear directly from the people utilizing the forum of the PCC. It is not about any particular commissioner with a personal agenda to come in and say, this is how the Constitution should look, their job and the job of all of the stakeholders was to get this information from the people, report back to the government. For instance, on the issue of, finance and accountability, do you as a Belizean citizen feel comfortable with the budget process? That is supposed to come back to the government. On the issue of the head of state, do you, as Belizean people want to see the Governor General remain the head of state, or do you want to see a shift? That is what we do. It's not for any particular individual or stakeholder to go in and try to bring their agenda or their feelings into the process. This is the People's Constitution Commission, and I don't think we appreciate that this is the first time in the history of the world really, that something like this has been done. Barbados is currently in the process of rewriting their constitution, but what they have done is put together a team of lawyers stuck in a room somewhere trying to write this new constitution. They were supposed to release it in March. We're now in October we still have not seen it. The People's Constitution Commission is one that it took a little longer. Why? Because that process of educating and consulting with the Belizean people is very critical. So I understand that Doctor Young was making some criticisms and that that's fine for him to make what he should have done if he felt that he had input or he had, points to make was go to some of the consultations and raise those points that that those consultations. Mr. Dylan Vernon, who was also part of the commission, he was not let go, by the way, he stepped out. He has written articles, he has written opinions that has been sent to the PCC. He has attended some of the consultation processes. So I'm not sure if Doctor Young did the same, but any criticism that is now coming, my answer to them is they should have gone to the consultation."
We reached out to Dr Vernon who said, quote, "All I will say is that I did not like the sense I was getting of how some things were playing out. And decided I preferred to contribute with my full voice from outside - especially through TIME COME. So I have been completely out for well over a year." End quote.
We also reached out to Dr Young, who chose not to comment.
