OAS Commends Belize for Peaceful and Fair Election Process

The Organization of American States has praised Belize for conducting a peaceful and fair election on Wednesday. The OAS, which promotes cooperation and democracy in the Americas, often oversees elections in the region. This time, it sent a team to observe Belize’s election. Today, the OAS released a statement from Maricarmen Plata, the Chief of Electoral Mission in Belize, explaining the scope of their mission. News Five’s Marion Ali has the details.

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

Maricarmen Plata, the Chief of the OAS Electoral Observation Mission in Belize, led her team in a meeting with Governor-General Dame Froyla T’zalam. The team has been in Belize since Monday to observe the general election on Wednesday. Plata praised Belize for conducting a free and fair election.

 

Maricarmen Plata, Chief, Electoral Mission in Belize, O.A.S.

“I extend my heartfelt congratulations on your enthusiastic participation in the general elections held on Wednesday, March 12. We also commend the electoral authorities for the peaceful and successful conduct of the 2025 general elections.”

 

The OAS Mission included twelve experts and observers from seven different countries, and they were present in twelve constituencies across Belize. Plata explained what their role involved.

 

Maricarmen Plata

“We diligently followed the process from the opening of the polling stations through the secure transfer of ballot boxes to the counting stations, the meticulous tabulation of ballots, and the transparent transmission of results. Through our work, we engaged in constructive dialogues with electoral authorities, government officials, political parties and candidates, and civil society actors. This allowed us to gather diverse perspectives on the organization of the elections and the overall electoral framework.”

 

On Wednesday, a News Five team met up with the observers as they made their rounds in Belize City. Plata mentioned that the team has a lot of experience with the election process.

 

Maricarmen Plata

“We have technical specialists with vast experience in reviewing electoral justice issues, technology issues. We are also looking into campaign financing issues, different processes. So, it’s a team that’s quite knowledgeable and that’s able to look at the different areas.”

 

The elections took place before a redistricting exercise, which the OAS had recommended for Belize. Plata mentioned that they are keeping track of those earlier recommendations.

 

Maricarmen Plata

“We are reviewing the present situation of that, and that will be included also in our report. We’ve of course, uh, been asking and, and following up on our prior recommendations, and that will be included also in the report. We will issue a report at the, be at the end of the process, a preliminary report in the coming days and later on a full report. So definitely something that we’ll be looking into and reporting on.”

 

Plata’s team met with political leaders and other key authorities to discuss electoral processes. Their role is crucial in making sure everything runs fairly and smoothly.

 

Maricarmen Plata

“It’s important because it supports the electoral authorities as well as the different parties and the process itself. So we follow up on the different matters that can improve the democratic process in Belize and that can help people actually participate in an environment that is, um, truly attending to the needs of everybody so that everybody participates in the best way possible. We basically met with the parties that are participating in the election, the political leaders and different stakeholders, the authorities as well, so we’ve been looking at different aspects such as technology, electoral processes, different aspects of the election from the beginning.”

 

Marion Ali for News Five.