Former Belmopan Mayor Anthony Chanona Officially Takes Up Chairmanship of P.C.C.

Anthony Chanona

The last time such a constitutional reform exercise took place, it was done by the Constitution Reform Commission back in 1999. The difference with the current undertaking is that the P.C.C. has legislative backing. The commission will also operate as an autonomous body, free of influence from the Government of Belize. Former Belmopan Mayor Anthony Chanona officially took up his seat as Chairman of the P.C.C. today.

Anthony Chanona, Chairman, P.C.C.

“Why do we need to invest our time, talent and treasure in yet another round of consultations and constitutional review? Doesn’t 1981 Belize Constitution, as amended ten time, not mirror the core values of society and fruit laws which preserve and promote the Belizean way of life? Belizean way of life, their right to peace and quiet, their right to feel safe from fear of crime and violence in their neighborhood, their right to proper housing and not be condemned to an environment propped up with old boards, zinc, and London bridges. It may be an inconvenient truth to find out why Belizeans refer to this state of squalor as London bridge neighborhoods, but we will leave that for another occasion. All Belizean has a right to safe public transportation, affordable public health, and efficient public service, and their right to fight poverty, discrimination, and environmental degradation, and the list goes on. What then do Belizeans want to see in their constitution that is not there? If colonial relics are identified and recommended to be taken out, what are we to put in as our home grown replacement remedies that would holistically address the needs, hopes, and aspirations of our beautiful and peace loving people, Belizeans?”