Big Name Lawyers to Defend GOB in Redistricting Case

Earlier this week, it was revealed that the Government of Belize has enlisted senior counsels Eamon Courtenay and Godfrey Smith to handle a case filed by the Belize Peace Movement. The case, which is before the High Court, concerns the long overdue redistricting exercise. When we caught up with the Prime Minister outside today’s House meeting, we asked him about these high-profile appointments.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“We’re not going after them, we’re just defending ourselves.  We did not go after them, they are coming after us as a government and we have to defend ourselves.  This has been a long-drawn-out process, and we all recognize that something has to be done.  Unfortunately, the report that was given to us and it has been tabled in the house, it’s still in the house committee.  It would seem that they can’t come to an agreement and we can’t force them to do whatever it is that needs to be done, but we are waiting for that, but at the same time we have to defend ourselves.  In many instances we don’t give it attention and by the time we put in the proper attention it’s already too late.  So we want to ensure that we defend ourselves and to show to the Belizean people that we are trying as best as we possibly can to follow the law.  I must also remind you that the redistricting is not in the hands of the government, it’s in the hands of the Elections and Boundaries Commission.”