Caye Caulker Voters Head to the Polls in Historic Cannabis Referendum

1,454 registered voters on the island of Caye Caulker are eligible to cast their vote in a first-time referendum being held only on the island. The referendum is championed by Councillor Ilya Rosado, one of seven members who ran an independent slate in 2022. The question islanders are voting on is: “Should the government of Belize Pass legislation to create a responsible, regulated and taxable legal cannabis industry on the island of Caye Caulker with a portion of the revenue going directly for the benefit of Caye Caulker and its residents?

The feelings are mixed and people’s allegiances are clearly divided. Pastor Marvin Florian is an islander of 18 years. 

Pastor Marvin Floria: “As a pastor, I see the moral and spiritual behavior.  If we do not stand  like  we have to stand, this  will go like a different direction.  That’s why I will vote.  Me and all my family we have 12 family voters living here in the island. So, and the 12 of them will vote No.  In the church we have like 35 members, and everybody will vote No.”

Seleny Villanueva Pott, Chair of the Caye Caulker Village Council said her team of councillors spoke of how they were voting in the referendum except one who said the vote is private. For her part Villanueva Pott was not holding back.

Seleny Villanueva, Chairperson, Caye Caulker Village Council: “But as leaders of the community and as leaders, others will be able to relate that the people look to you to hear what you have to say. um They trust your judgment.  And I said to the counselor when she told me this yesterday, I said, I wish I was able to keep my vote quiet or sacred or whatever.  But the people demanded to know where I stand. And as their leader, I believe that I owe it to them to let them know where my stance was.  There was a discussion where people was like,  okay, she’s going to vote yes, she’s going to vote no.  Initially, I had supported the Yes and then I’ve had a change of heart where I decided to vote no.”

And whether you’re voting no or yes, Villanueva Pott is encouraging all voters to come out and exercise their franchise today.

Seleny Villanueva, Chairperson, Caye Caulker Village Council : “It is important that you come out and cast your vote. Because what we do and what we say today will ultimately have an impact, not only on Caye Caulker, but the rest of the country.”