B.P.M. to Shyne Barrow, “Why Demand Redistricting Now?”

Recently the Leader of the Opposition, Moses “Shyne” Barrow said that the Opposition demanded that a redistricting exercise be held before the next general elections. Well, a member of the Belize Peace Movement, which took the matter to court prior to the last general election, is asking Barrow, why make the demand now? Paco Smith is also a claimant in the case against the government and the Election and Boundaries Department.  He told News Five that B.P.M. would like to know why a concerted effort has not been taken on what needs to be done.

 

Paco Smith, Member, Belize Peace Movement

“First and foremost, whenever a politician talks, you have to understand that there’s more than likely an underlying interest, right. So we can’t take it exactly at face value. I will say that it’s good that he mentioned it and what his position is, but our question to him is what took you so long? This case has been, I will say bubbling up in the courts for approximately the past four years. Now, I know that the Leader of the Opposition made a comment about 12 months ago, and at that time he made some salient points. Of course, we understand that there were some political “isms” involved as well. But the operative question is, why has the Opposition been so silent on this matter for the past 12 months, since his last statement? Depending on what his response is to that, we’d like to know what has changed, why have there not been a concerted effort to do precisely what he said needs to be done. And the third thing that we would like to point out is that in life, and in particular when you’re dealing with matters that involve political elements, number one, it’s one thing to say something. Number two, it’s a different thing to say something in a timely manner and fashion. And number three, it’s a completely different thing to actually do something about it.”