Belmopan, Belize 5 August (BelizeBlog.com) The ruling United Democratic Party Government of Prime Minister Dean Barrow has opened a can of worms in an attempt to amend the Belize Constitution to allow dual citizens to run for political office.
The move has created a firestorm of opposition within Belize and a bellicose debate as to the rational for this action, Many Belizeans believe it is an attempt to allow non-resident Belizean-Americans who form a strong plank of supporters of the U.D.P., to run for office.
Prominent Belize Activist and University of Belize Founding Lecturer Sylvana Woods summed up this debate in the following essay:
The move has created a firestorm of opposition within Belize and a bellicose debate as to the rational for this action, Many Belizeans believe it is an attempt to allow non-resident Belizean-Americans who form a strong plank of supporters of the U.D.P., to run for office.
Prominent Belize Activist and University of Belize Founding Lecturer Sylvana Woods summed up this debate in the following essay:
"It is with a sense of dismay that I
listened to the tabling of a Bill to amend the Constitution to allow
for persons with dual citizenship, one of them being Belizean, to be
allowed to serve in the House of Representatives or Cabinet.
"I strongly believe, feel and
intellectualize this to be to the detriment of our sense of identity as
Belizeans, our allegiance to Belize, our integrity as a nation, and an
insult to the average citizen, citizens in whom one would hope the
Government of Belize would do all it could to ensure policies and
practices never compromise the integrity of being Belizean.
"I object to the proposed amendment and strongly urge the Government of Belize to rethink this devastating blow to nationhood. Below, I detail four concrete reasons why I strongly renounce such an amendment:
"I object to the proposed amendment and strongly urge the Government of Belize to rethink this devastating blow to nationhood. Below, I detail four concrete reasons why I strongly renounce such an amendment:
1. Integrity of the Rights, Privileges and Responsibilities of the Legal Representatives of the People of Belize:
One who is in the House of Representatives or the Cabinet is accorded
rights, privileges and responsibilities. The character of one's
representative must not only be integrally linked to his or her actions
in shaping and implementing policy that affects us all, but we, the
people, MUST believe that the Representatives truly have OUR best
interests at heart.
How can a Minister or
Representative who holds dual citizenship, for example in the US and
Belize, truly represent, say, my health needs when he or she can run
away to the US for more advanced medical care or as an escape route
when things get bad?
If a Belizean with dual citizenship
feels driven to serve the country at the highest levels of the House of
Representatives and Cabinet, then he or she should Constitutionally be
told to give up the other citizenship and keep JUST the Belizean
citizenship.
Indeed, Sir, I go further and
recall that when I served on the Political Reform Commission in
1999/2000, I recalled suggesting that the Constitution further insist
that not only must those with dual citizenship be barred from seeking
election to the House or to sit in Cabinet, but that such aspirants
must also have spent their formative years in Belize, in addition to
much longer years of residence in the country prior to seeking office.
Of course, further defining
formative years would have become part of that larger debate had it
taken root. Indeed, if it is within the purview of the House Committee
on this matter, via a formal letter I have also sent to the National
Assembly, I also ask that this further consideration on the
Representative's having spent his or her formative years in Belize be
tabled.
2. Allegiance and Adherence to ONE Nation in All Matters: The Representative's or Minister's ability to guide policy must never be compromised by dual allegiance.
Moreover, it must be
Constitutionally clear that this is so and perceived as such by the
citizenry. Truly, one poet said it best when he said "my homeland or my
death." There must be NO question of pluralizing homelands when it
comes to the people's representation! If one also pledges allegiance to
another country, as one must in acquiring citizenry, then one cannot
have, or indeed be expected to have, 100% allegiance to Belize.
3. Patriotism and Education by Example:
There is no question that effective leaders and effective teachers are
those who inspire not just by what they say, but very importantly, by
what they do. Our actions often DO speak louder than our words. How can
we be expected to instill patriotic ideals in our youngsters, that deep
and abiding love for Belize and all things Belizean, if we also say it
is okay to have our policy-making citizens hold that same allegiance to
another country?
4. Avoidance of Positioning our Representatives to Compromise Belize and Engage in Conflict of Interest:
Allowing for dual citizenship for Representatives or Cabinet members
sets the stage for potentially damaging decisions to the national good
or for exploring strategic alliances that are compromised by thinking
with two national hats.
Above all, leadership ought to
radiate positive energy. This negative energy being radiated by even
the thought of allowing persons with dual citizenship with Belize to
represent Belize does not bode well for the sustainability of the
wonderful Belizean identity.
Incidentally, I listened to the
Prime Minster's June 19 tabling of the Bill to amend the Constitution
in this regard, and I must say that he presented no clear rationale
that justifies the changing of the Constitution.
As I recall, the PM mentioned that
it would be a deprivation of the rights of the Belizean with dual
citizenship to not accord him or her the full rights of citizenship,
which includes running for office.
I disagree with the PM's reasoning,
because in terms of being allowed to represent the people of Belize,
the law demands several things of our Representatives and Cabinet
ministers that it does not demand of the average citizen, such as the
disclosing of their sources of income, their spouses' sources of income
and their dependent children's sources of income. Demanding that they
give up their duality of citizenship MUST be one, as well.
Of note is that I have also written
these concerns directly to the Clerk of the National Assembly or his
office to forward to the relevant House Committee on this matter.
Sincerely,
Silvana Woods
Citizen of Belize
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