And while the BSCFA won that case as the underdog, there was no such luck for the Belize Peace Movement. They tried to take the government to court to force a re-districting exercise before the March general election.
Justice Tawanda Hondora struck it out saying it was an attempt t- re-litigate a matter which the court had already heard and was an abuse of process.
We spoke via Zoom with the Peace Movement's Paul. Morgan about the outcome and the fact that the court found that they could end up having to pay governments costs:
Paul Morgan, Belize Peace Movement
"What happened here Is that the law the court has allowed the technicalities to beat the purpose of law. Law should be to alleviate injury. So today, your audience will be dismayed and disappointed to know that since this case is dismissed, there's hardly any more chance of malapportionment being alleviated in Belize."
"As you know, there is the issue of cost. The judge, somehow left it for the parties to negotiate. That has never really been done in Belize when we are fighting a public interest case, it's not for me or the claimants. It is for the public, and to suggest that we could be burdened with costs goes against the grain of even traditional law."
Jules Vasquez
"And while the judgment makes no determinations on costs, Or no final determination on costs. You all stand to be left holding a very expensive bag. Is that something that concerns you?"
Paul Morgan, Belize Peace Movement
"Very much. It concerns us very much. But there comes a, there's a thought among the team that which is more expensive? Is it more expensive to try or not to try?"
"If we don't try, then you and I Jules, you and I will be left with- and your descendants and my descendants will be left with a democracy that is not- straight and forward like that. And is it worth trying?"
"I believe personally, this is my personal belief that it is worth trying and that money is just money. And, the worst that can happen is money being charged and money being paid and so on. But I don't believe that democracy for a nation is negotiable."
Costs will have to be determined amongst the parties by the end of this month.
Hubert Elrington APPEARED FOR THE PEACE MOVEMENT, Hector Guerra for the elections and boundaries commission and Eamon Courtenay with Samantha Matute for the Attorney general.
