Accuracy * Efficiency * Compliance * Credibility

 

BIG UP MRS. SOLEDAD ALONZO AND BELIZE CITY STAFF


Mrs. Alonzo is commended for her                     initiative in participating at the BDF fair on Saturday, January 29, 2005.                      Congratulations to all Belize City                  Registration Officers for spearheading this venture, particularly the leaders                      Mr. Francisco Zuniga and Ms.  Rosalba Vasquez. Thanks also to all staff who                   supported in any way by sending posters, manning and visiting the booths etc.

A very super BIG UP to Belize City             Registration Officers.

I. Myrtle Palacio
Chief Elections Officer



Vision Statement

To promote and safeguard a transparent and efficient electoral process.
 
 

Elections and Boundaries Department
Awarding Excellence 2004

Press Release
21 December 2004
In awarding excellence for 2004, the Elections and Boundaries Department recognized the commitment of staff members, criteria for awards is based on five predefined areas initiative and creativity, productivity, leadership, professional competence and service delivery.  Individuals as well as entire units who excelled in 2004 received certificates, gifts and plaques as follows:
v Data Entry Unit--Most Productive
v Orange Walk Office--Most Initiative
v Toledo Office--Most Enhanced Office
v Eneida Vargas of Orange Walk--Best      Community Outreach
v Gustavo Pech of San Ignacio--Continuous Data Accuracy and Reliability
v Ernie Carballo--Best Support

The most coveted award "The Staff of The Year" was won by Ms. Shelmadine Bowden who holds the post of Secretary III at the Central Office in Belize City.

Awards were distributed during the Department's Retreat and General Assembly on Friday December 17, 2004, and initiated in 1999; the objective of the award system is to encourage efficiency, initiative, team spirit and professionalism in the work place. The theme for this year's retreat was "None of us is as good as all of us: Each One Teach One is Empowerment for Success".

Mission

The Elections and Boundaries Department is committed to the enhancement of democracy through the promotion of voter education and the maintenance of a legitimate, impartial, valid electoral process.
 
 

On Democracy…

"The highest level of democracy is neither the 'extent of freedom' nor the 'extent of equality' but rather the highest  measure of participation." A.d. Benoist

"Democracy is not something you believe in or a place to hang your hat, but it's something you do. You participate. If you stop doing it, democracy crumbles." Abbie Hoffman

"In a democracy, the individual enjoys not only the ultimate power but carries the ultimate  responsibility."  Norman Cousins

"To safeguard democracy the people must have a keen sense of independence, self-respect, and their oneness."  Mohandas K. Gandhi

"The spirit of democracy cannot be superimposed from the outside. It must come from within."           Mahatma Gandhi

WHAT IS AND WHO FORMS A GOVERNMENT?
From A Framework for Voter Education, I. Myrtle Palacio

The words govern and governance mean:

  • To guide
  • To direct
  • To manage
Generally it is to legislate the affairs and policies of a country through a body or                   organization called Government.

There are three arms or branches of Government, namely:
  1. The Legislative
  2. The Executive
  3. The Judicial
  1. The Legislative Branch/Arm
This is the National Assembly and comprises of two houses or two chambers called                    bi-cameral. The two houses or chambers are:
  • The House of Representatives
  • The Senate
  1. The House of Representatives
There are 29 members in the House of Representatives. Each is elected by the people to  represent them at General Elections held at intervals of five years. The Meetings of the House are presided over by a Speaker who is elected by members of the House. If the Speaker is not an elected member of the House, he/she then becomes a member but cannot vote. The Speaker is responsible for the smooth running of the meetings of the House of Representatives.

The functions of the House of Representatives include:
  • Introducing new laws by passing Bills or proposed Laws in the House
  • Proposing and debating the annual budget
  • Proposing and debating administrative policies

b) The Senate

The Senate consists of twelve members referred to as Senators. Each member is appointed by the Governor General with the advice of different persons and/or organization as follows:

  • Six members with the advice of the Prime Minister
  • Three members with the advice of the Leader of the Opposition
  • One member with the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical

(Continued on page 7)

(Continued from page 5)

Association of Churches

  • One member with the advice of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Business Bureau
  • One member with the advice of the National Trade Union Congress and the Civil              Society Steering Committee
The President of the Senate presides over the meetings of the Senate, and is elected from among the membership or nominated from outside the Senate. Presently, the Senate                comprises twelve members and one President.

Besides debating and confirming Bills passed by the House of Representatives, the Senate has other functions, including:
  • Authorising the ratification of any treaty by the Government of Belize, including any treaty for the final settlement of the territorial dispute between Belize and the Republic of Guatemala
  • Approving the establishment in Belize of any new military base of operations for any foreign military forces after the 15th day of January 2002
  • Approving the appointment of an Ambassador, a High Commissioner, the Chief               Justice, a Justice of the Supreme Court, a Justice of the Court of Appeal, the Contractor General and the Ombudsman

2. The Executive Branch/Arm
The Executive Branch of government consists of the Governor General, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. There are also other Agencies of Government such as the Public Service and the Local Government Bodies.

a) The Governor General

The executive authority of Belize is vested in the Queen as the head of state, who appoints a Governor General to represent her in Belize. One executive duty of the Governor General is the appointment of important positions in government, such as:

  • The appointment of the Prime Minister
  • The appointment of Ministers of Government and Members of the Services                      Commission on the advice of the Prime Minister

b) The Prime Minister and the Cabinet

The Prime Minister is appointed by the Governor General from among members of the House of Representatives. It is the Leader of the Political Party which commands the                support of the majority of the members of the House who becomes the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is the Head of Government and therefore heads the Cabinet.

(Continued on page 8)

(Continued from page 8)

d) Local Government Bodies
Local Government Bodies consist of:
* Alcalde System in Toledo District  * Town Councils
*Village Councils     * City Councils

3. The Judicial Branch

  1. The Magistrate's Court
Belize is divided into six judicial districts over which Magistrates preside. There is a             Magistrate's Court in every district town and the two cities of Belmopan and Belize.  Each Court is presided over by a Magistrate and in Belize City by the Chief Magistrate, who is   assisted by eight other Magistrates. Magistrates' Courts have jurisdiction to hear and                  determine complaints or information for summary conviction offences; and to inquire into charges of indictable offences. Magistrates have wide powers under the Summary                       Jurisdiction Act to impose fines or imprisonment and to grant bail. The Judicial and Legal Services Commission appoints Magistrates and deals with other conditions of their service.

b) The Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Judicature is a Superior Court which has jurisdiction as follows:
  • Original Jurisdiction, for example, in matrimonial and constitutional matters
  • Appellate Jurisdiction, for example, appeals from Inferior Courts.

The Supreme Court is made up of the Chief Justice and other Justices. The Chief Justice is appointed by the Governor General acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister given after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition. The other Justices are appointed by the Governor General acting in accordance with the advice of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, and with the concurrence of the Prime Minister, after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition. There are also provisions relating to the qualifications of Justices of the Supreme Court as well as their removal.

(Continued on page 12)

 

MOTTO

ACCURACY  *  EFFICIENCY  * COMPLIANCE  * CREDIBILITY

 
 

(Continued from page 9)

c) The Court of Appeal
The Court of Appeal is a Superior Court. It has jurisdiction to hear and determine Appeals from Inferior Courts in civil and criminal matters. The Judges of the Court of Appeal consist of a President and other Judges. They are appointed by the Governor General acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister given after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition. There are also provisions governing the qualifications and removal of Judges of the Court of Appeal.

d) The Privy Council
The Privy Council is the final Court of Appeal in the hierarchy of the Courts. Appeals are placed before the Privy Council from the Court of Appeal, after decisions in cases involving any civil, criminal or other proceedings pertaining to the interpretation of the Constitution.

Also, Appeals are placed before the Privy Council from decisions of the Court of Appeal with leave of the latter (Court of Appeal), in certain cases such as, decisions in civil proceedings where the matter involved is one of general or public importance.

Words of Wisdom
Contributed by Staff, Orange Walk Registration Office

People are often unreasonable and self centered
Forgive them anyway

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway

If you are honest, people may cheat you
Be honest anyway

If you find happiness, people may be jealous
Be happy anyway

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow
Do good anyway

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough
Give your best anyway

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God
It never was between you and them anyway

Mother Teresa
 
 
 
 
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