Belize is a Caribbean nation off the coast of Central America. It
covers an area of 22,970 square kilometers and has a population of
about 420,000. Among the ethnographic communities, 52% are hybrids,
about 23% are Creole, and about 11% are Maya. 74% people are Christian.
Many things in the constitution are conventional. Such as declaring the
constitution as the supreme law of the state. If someone is arrested on
suspicion of a crime, he or she will be informed of the charges in the
language he or she understands. However, the most interesting provision
is that no one can hold the office of Prime Minister for more than three
terms, it may be consecutive or not.
These are positive aspects. Now let's discuss the negative aspects.
If someone votes against own political party in the legislature, his or
her seat will be vacant. The Senate will consist of 12 members. Three
of them are outsiders. 1 senator at the will of the Church Association
of Christians, 1 at the will of businessmen, 1 at the will of the
so-called Civil Society Affairs Committee. These provisions are the
biggest obstacle in the way of democracy.
Admirable Articles of Belize's Constitution
2. Constitution is supreme law
1. This Constitution is the supreme law of Belize and if any other law is inconsistent with this Constitution that other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void.
6. Protection of law (Part of it)
3. Every person who is charged with a criminal offence-
- shall be presumed to be innocent until he is proved or has pleaded guilty;
- shall be informed as soon as reasonably practicable, in a language that he understands, of the nature and particulars of the offence charged;
- shall be given adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence;
- shall be permitted to defend himself before the court in person or, at his own expense, by a legal practitioner of his own choice;
37. Prime Minister (Part of it)
1. There shall be a Prime Minister of Belize who shall be appointed by the Governor-General.
2. Whenever the Governor-General has occasion to appoint a Prime Minister he shall appoint a member of the House of Representatives who is the leader of the political party which commands the support of the majority of the members of that House; and if no political party has an overall majority, he shall appoint a member of that House who appears to him likely to command the support of the majority of the members of that House.
Provided that no person shall be appointed as a Prime Minister who has previously held the office of the Prime Minister for three parliamentary terms, either consecutively or in the aggregate; and for this purpose, the expression “parliamentary term” shall mean the period commencing on the date of the first sitting of the National Assembly after a general election and expiring at the date of the next ensuing dissolution of the National Assembly.
52. Prerogative of mercy (Part of it)
1. The Governor-General may-
- grant a pardon, either free or subject to lawful conditions, to any person convicted of any offence;
- grant to any person a respite, either indefinite or for a specified period, of the execution of any punishment imposed on that person for any offence;
- substitute a less severe form of punishment for any punishment imposed on any person for any offence; or
- remit the whole or any part of any punishment imposed on any person for any offence or of any penalty or forfeiture otherwise due to the Crown on account of any offence.
Facts of Belize's Constitution
Preamble (Part of it)
WHEREAS the people of Belize-
- affirm that the Nation of Belize shall be founded upon principles which acknowledge the supremacy of God, faith in human rights and fundamental freedoms, the position of the family in a society of free men and free institutions, the dignity of the human person and the equal and inalienable rights with which all members of the human family are endowed by their Creator;
59A. Procedure where a member vacates seat due to resignation or crossing the floor
1. Where a person resigns from being a member of a political party under the circumstances referred to in section 59(2)(e), that person shall, within seven days of so resigning, inform the leader in the House of Representatives of the political party as a candidate of which that person was elected, and the leader of the political party shall so notify the Speaker in writing of such resignation.
2. Where a person crosses the floor under the circumstances referred to in section 59(2)(e), the leader in the House of Representatives of the political party as a candidate of which that person was elected shall, within seven days of such crossing of the floor, so notify the Speaker in writing of such member having crossed the floor.
3. Upon receipt of the written notice referred to in subsection (1) or (2), the Speaker shall, if satisfied that the circumstances referred to in section 59(2)(e) exist, make a declaration at the next sitting of the House of Representatives next after receiving the notice that the member has ceased to be a member of the House of Representatives by reason of resignation or crossing the floor, as the case may be.
4. Where the person subject to disqualification under section 59(2)(e) is the Speaker, the leader of the political party in the House of Representatives as a candidate of which the Speaker was elected as a member of the House shall, when acting in accordance with subsection (1) or (2), notify a person elected by the House in that behalf, and such person may make a declaration in accordance with subsection (3) that the Speaker has ceased to be a member of the House of Representatives by reason of resignation or crossing the floor, as the case may be.
5. Where a declaration has been made under subsection (3) that a person has ceased to be a member of the House of Representatives by reason of resignation or crossing the floor, that person:-
- may, within twenty-one days of the making of the declaration, appeal against the declaration to the Supreme Court, whose decision on the matter shall be final;
- shall cease to perform his functions as a member of the House but, subject to subsection (6), shall not vacate his seat until after the determination for his appeal by the Supreme Court.
6. If, on the determination of any appeal made under subsection (5)(a), the Supreme Court determines that the person resigned from the political party or crossed the floor, as the case may be, or if the period for entering an appeal under subsection (5)(a) expires before the person enters an appeal, he shall forthwith vacate his seat.
7. Section 59(2)(e) and this section shall apply to all members of the House of Representatives who were such members on or after the 23rd day of February, 2001.
61. Composition of Senate
1. Subject to subsection (2), the Senate shall consist of twelve members (in this Constitution referred to as "Senators") who shall be appointed by the Governor-General in accordance with the provisions of this section.
4. Of the twelve Senators-
- six shall be appointed by the Governor-General acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister; and
- three shall be appointed by the Governor-General acting in accordance with the advice of the Leader of the Opposition; and
- one shall be appointed by the Governor-General acting in accordance with the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches; and
- one shall be appointed by the Governor-General acting in accordance with the advice of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Business Bureau; and
- one shall be appointed by the Governor-General acting in accordance with the advice of the National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee.
