"The truth shall make you free"

FACTS about the 1999 Political Reform

 

In January 1999 a few months after the PUP returned to office, the Prime Minister

launched a broad-based Political Reform Commission to review Belize's system of

governance and make proposals for reform. Members of the Commission included

representatives from the two major political parties, the business sector, the church, the

labour movement, women organisations, the public service and civil society. Mr Dylan

Vernon was the executive chairman. After receiving submissions from various

organisations and holding extensive consultations and meetings, the Commission issued its

Report in January 2000. The PUP administration implemented over 70 of the

recommendations of the Commission including the following:

 

Fact: Expanded the Preamble of the Constitution to eliminate disparity on grounds of

"ethnicity", "disability", "gender inequality", and recognized the right of every individual

to "basic education" and "basic health".

 

Fact: Reduced the period of detention of holding a person on reasonable suspicion without

charge from 72 hours to 48 hours and further reduced the time during which a person must

be informed of the reason for detention from 48 hours to 24 hours.

 

Fact: Abolished economic citizenship which was enacted by the previous UDP government.

 

Fact: Abolished the Security Intelligence Service (SIS) which was used by the previous

government to harass and spy on their political opponents.

 

Fact: Limited the number of members of the House of Representatives that can be

appointed to the Cabinet to no more than 2/3 of the elected members of the majority party

in the House in order to limit the domination of the Legislature by the Executive.

 

Fact: Expanded the composition of the Senate to include representatives from the

Churches, the business sector and the Trade Union movement. (The Commission had

recommended an elected Senate. A referendum was held coinciding with the last general

election for the people to decide if they wanted an elected senate and although a majority of

those who voted said yes, the incoming UDP government promised instead to add another

senator from the NGO community. The Prime Minister has still not fulfilled this

commitment).

 

Fact: Expanded the powers of the Senate to carry out investigations into alleged abuse

or mismanagement (such as the Social Security investigation) and also to approve

appointments of ambassadors and judges.

 

Fact: The Commission recommended the strengthening of the Prevention of Corruption

in Public Life Act and the PUP government implemented a comprehensive anti-

Corruption Act.

 

 

Fact: The Commission recommended a more transparent and accountable system for

government contracts and procurement of goods and services and the PUP government

enacted the Finance and Audit Reform Act.

act: The Commission recommended a more transparent and accountable system for

government contracts and procurement of goods and services and the PUP government

enacted the Finance and Audit Reform Act.

 

Fact: When the PUP came into office in 1998 there was widespread concern about

political interference with the Judiciary. The PUP government carried out a major reform

in this area; judges of high repute and integrity( such as Chief Justice Conteh) were

recruited and appointed with security of tenure and the independence of the Judges was

fully respected. The Magistracy was also upgraded with security of tenure. The Public

Service Commission was reformed into three separate commissions. Heads of departments

were made subject to the Public Service Commission and not to ministerial control.

Permanent Secretaries were styled CEOs whose future was tied to that of the party in

government they choose to serve.

 

Fact: Priority calls on the budget were constitutionally required for certain offices such as

the Auditor General, the Ombudsman, the Contractor General, the DPP, the Supreme

Court and the Court of Appeal so as to safeguard their security and independence.