Posted: Sunday, June 8, 2025. 11:35 am CST.
By Aaron Humes: Prime Minister John Briceño recently emphasized the urgent need to de-politicize village council elections in Belize. Briceño reflected on how political interference has strained the integrity of local governance since the first Dean Barrow administration in 2008.
“They were the ones that politicized village councils in 2008,” stated Briceño, referring to the Opposition United Democratic Party (UDP).
For the first time, Briceño says he introduced a slate in his constituency’s sole village of San Estevan, a move he deems necessary to combat the politicization that undermines the village council framework. “It really pains me when you see small villages, people are fighting and they are railing up,” he lamented, insisting that the original intent of the Village Council Act was to empower local communities and deepen democracy by allowing villagers to freely choose their representatives.
The Prime Minister outlined a proposal to potentially limit elections to villages with more than 500 voters, suggesting that smaller communities could choose their representatives from among themselves to foster an inclusive approach to governance that prioritizes the voices of local citizens over party politics.
Briceño highlighted the historical context, noting that previous electoral frameworks caused abuses, such as people voting without verifying residency in the village — an opportunity he claims was often exploited by the UDP. “We even had to make an amendment [to the law],” he recounted, adding that now, only registered voters on the roll for the respective village can participate in the election process.
The Prime Minister plans to engage in discussions with the Leader of the Opposition to explore potential reforms.
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The post Prime Minister advocates for the de-politicization of village council elections appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Sunday, June 8, 2025. 11:35 am CST. By Aaron Humes: Prime Minister John Briceño recently emphasized the urgent need to de-politicize village council elections in
The post Prime Minister advocates for the de-politicization of village council elections appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
