Minister of Governance gives update on progress of 13th Amendment

Former Minister of Governance Henry Charles Usher has given an update on the long-awaited 13th Constitutional Amendment, confirming that the reform package is advancing steadily and is now in the final technical stages before being taken back to Cabinet and then to the National Assembly.  Usher, who previously led the good governance portfolio when the drafting process began, explained that the work done over the past two years is the most comprehensive constitutional reform effort in Belize since independence. He said the amendment is designed to strengthen government accountability, improve transparency, and modernize key constitutional provisions.  According to Usher, the Constitution Amendments Working Group, made up of legal experts, civil society partners, and representatives of the Governance and Political Reform Ministry, has already refined major components of the bill. These include expanded oversight mechanisms, strengthened anti-corruption provisions, and revisions that reflect recommendations made during the 2022–2023 nationwide good governance consultations.

Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service: “It was a constitutional amendment so it had to go through its 90 day waiting period and during that 90 day waiting period there were a number of public consultations that were done. We had one here in Belize City, one in Belmopan, one in Dangriga. We also opened up an email so that persons could send in their notes, their recommendations, their questions.”

Rene Villanueva Sr, Host, The Morning Show: So what has the response been like? 

Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service: “It has been interesting. The public consultations, really the Belize City one was the one that had the most objection to it. We didn’t have as many objections in Belmopan and none really in Dangriga. Persons were supporting the amendment. But I think that the good part of it that there have been a lot of different suggestions that have already been incorporated into it, looking at different areas where we could improve the legislation. So where it is, it’s still at House committee. It needs to be brought back to the House of Representatives and then from there a debate would happen in the House to see if it would pass. But I do believe that the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Attorney General’s Ministry are looking to improve the bill itself to incorporate those suggestions that have come in from the public.”

Minister Usher noted once the final draft is completed, it will be brought back to Cabinet for sign-off and then tabled in the House of Representatives in accordance with the constitutional requirements for major amendments