Belize standing strong

Belizeans will go to the Polls to Vote on Offshore Oil Exploration

The People's Referendum set for February 29th, 2012

Wednesday, February 29, 2012 is the day when all registered voters of Belize will be able to go to the polls to vote on the issue of offshore oil exploration and drilling as the Belize Coalition to Save our Natural Heritage will be carrying out a national People’s Referendum allowing all registered Belizeans to vote on the issue. The Coalition is aiming at capturing the opinion of at least 10% of the registered voters.

The People’s Referendum gives voice to the thousands of Belizeans who never got a chance to vote when the offshore referendum triggered under the Referendum Act and was derailed on the basis of unverifiable signatures. The unverified signatures were largely based on inconsistencies between signatures on the record cards at the Election and Boundaries Office and the signatures on the petition forms.

On Saturday, February 25, a meeting was held to update leaders and volunteers from around the country on the voting process. Polling stations around the country will be open for voters to cast their vote on the people’s referendum regarding offshore oil drilling.

Central Park is the Ambergris Caye polling station, and will be open from 6AM through 8PM. There, voters will be able to cast their vote on this pressing national issue, which, according to Oceana and the Belize Coalition, could determine the future of Belize on the issue of offshore drilling.

The Voting Process was outlined by Danny Madrid, National President of the Association of Justices of the Peace. The association has been called upon to assist in the process – Justices of the Peace are a neutral body, and they are often called upon to witness such large scale events where transparency is required.