Jeremy Enriquez Says CCJ Clears Way for Redistricting Challenge to Continue

Social activist Jeremy Enriquez says a recent ruling by the Caribbean Court of Justice has cleared several procedural hurdles that had delayed his constitutional challenge to Belize’s electoral redistricting process. Speaking yesterday, Enriquez said the regional court ruled in his favor on two key issues while directing that a third matter be returned to the High Court.  According to Enriquez, the CCJ overturned an order requiring his attorney to pay a portion of the State’s legal costs, commonly referred to as “wasted costs.” He contended that the order was unfair and had the effect of discouraging the legal challenge from proceeding. Enriquez also said the CCJ rejected arguments that his appeal had not been properly filed because the appeal order had allegedly not been perfected. He explained that the court found the order had in fact been properly signed and sealed, allowing the appeal to proceed.  On a third issue, involving an application seeking the recusal of Justice Hondora on grounds of alleged bias, Enriquez said the CCJ ruled that the matter should be remitted to the High Court for determination.  With those procedural matters now resolved, Enriquez says he intends to move ahead with his appeal of Justice Hondora’s ruling on the redistricting case, arguing that the legal barriers preventing the appeal from advancing have now been removed. The CCJ’s decision means the constitutional challenge will continue before the Belize courts.  The development comes just days after Enriquez also announced that he has filed a separate constitutional claim against the Government over the continued vacancy in the Office of the Ombudsman, arguing that the prolonged absence of an Ombudsman undermines citizens’ access to an important constitutional safeguard.