Legal Challenge Filed to Halt General Elections Over Lack of Redistricting

A legal injunction to halt the upcoming general elections, citing the absence of a constitutionally mandated redistricting exercise, has been filed.

The claimants argue that proceeding with the elections without redrawing electoral boundaries violates the principle of equal representation. They contend that significant disparities in constituency sizes undermine the democratic process. The government maintains that it has fulfilled its constitutional obligations by presenting redistricting proposals to the National Assembly.

The legal challenge seeks to ensure that the redistricting process is completed before any general elections are conducted.

In a press release, Jeremy Enriquez, the claimant said, “Following yesterday evening’s refusal of our request, we immediately filed an application for an injunction to restrain the Prime Minister from calling elections until the electoral boundaries are redrawn in compliance with Section 90 of the Constitution. Since then, we have been anxiously awaiting an emergency hearing from the Honourable Chief Justice and the Registrar, to grant us an emergency hearing this morning to allow us the opportunity to be heard by the Court in the public interest. Despite this pending legal action, the Prime Minister has proceeded to dissolve Parliament and announce that general elections will occur on March 12, 2025. This action appears to be a calculated attempt to
preempt judicial review, circumvent due process, and undermine the rule of law. Such a maneuver raises serious concerns regarding constitutional integrity and the fundamental right of all Belizeans to participate in free and fair elections.”