PM Says There’s No Time for Redistricting Exercise in 2025

Despite the Belize Peace Movement filing a claim in the High Court, Prime Minister John Briceño says there’s just not enough time to conduct a redistricting exercise before the upcoming general election. He also touched on the controversial practice of handout politics; a tactic used by both major parties.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I don’t think that was filed properly, but most importantly, we have to be also practical.  Whilst I firmly believe that there must be redistricting, unfortunately, it’s still in the National Assembly and until that comes up from there then we can have the real… proceed with it.  But the truth of the matter is that the election is upon us and I don’t think we’d have enough time to do the proper delineation and the lists and having different representatives to know who’s going to be in their area or not.  So, it’s something that I will definitely give special and urgent attention if we are given the opportunity to form the next government.”

 

Marion Ali

“What plan does your government have to mitigate this old practice by both parties to buy or influence votes, using money, handouts, or whatever?”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I don’t think… certainly, it’s a practice that we try not to encourage because it’s very costly.  So, I know a lot of times, people in the NGO community, and even you in the media, talk about political finance reform.  Well, there is nothing to reform.  We need to have political finance legislation.  I wish we could have one, but one that’s practical, one that’s workable because that would then allow us to spend less money.  So, I would love to have something that can work.”