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Despite the fact that the constitutional amendment for an expanded Senate has not yet been passed into law today the non governmental organizations went ahead and voted for their Senate representative. It is an involved and thorough process – and Jacqueline Godwin witnessed it today.

Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
The election was conducted by the Association of Protected Areas Management Organizations. According to APAMO’s Coordinator Yvette Alonzo, they decided to hold the elections before the amendment is passed so that whenever it does come into law they will be ready with their nominee’s name.

Yvette Alonzo, Coordinator - APAMO
“We wanted to make sure that it was a legal election, that we would have anyone questioning the process. I think the NGO advisory committee was also very professional in terms of the process established and we had to follow suit. We got a lot of good advice from the Belize Chamber of Commerce so we basically based our process from theirs, adapting it to our needs and trying to make it just like any other election. Based on the process that we established, there was a possibility of eight nominees that could have been running for this seat however only three of the network organizations submitted nominees which are the three that are currently vying for the post.”

The three candidates nominated to vie for the senate seat, Ernest Castro, Joan Burke and Gregory Ch’oc are well established individuals from the NGO community.

Ernest Castro, Candidate - NGO Senate Seat
“It is very important to have representation on the Senate because it will then afford the NGOs an opportunity to get their voices heard. Once the NGOs act together as a unit, once they are united, I think the only forward is upwards or going forward.”

Joan Burke, Candidate – NGO Senate Seat
“For the most part NGOs are in contact with the masses. We work in the furthest communities, we engage individuals in discussions, we hear the voices of the masses, and I think that is one of the things we will bring to the Senate as well where we get into meaningful dialogue.”

Gregory Ch’oc, Candidate – NGO Senate Seat
“The NGO community are really contributing significantly to the development of Belize. I think for a very long time we have not been recognized and the value of our work has not been recognized. So I think for us to have a seat in the Senate certainly will help to create the conditions and environment that will continue to allow us to do work with our communities and to make the necessary changes in policies and legislation.”

The decision on who would best represent the NGO community in the senate was left in the hands of twenty five registered NGOs who first had to qualify to vote.

Yvette Alonzo,
“So they were required to submit basically their letter of good standing to prove that they were NGOs who have been operating legally in the country and are registered and a list of their board members with a letter verifying that most of these are Belizeans so we make sure that whoever is selected is being represented by a Belizean NGO.”

And to be elected, one of the candidates would need fifty one percent of the votes. When the ballot papers were counted Greg Ch’oc emerged as the winner with seventeen votes.

Jacqueline Godwin,
How do you plan to represent the NGO community?

Gregory Ch’oc,
“It is a big task but it is a task I think I am prepared to undertake. I think building consensus on where we go I think is very important but I think the structure that we have put in place, having a committee that oversees and supports the Senator I think is going to provide the kind of information and preparation for the Senator to make the presentation for or against a certain issue comes up in the Senate.”

Joan Burke came in second with four votes and Ernest Castro followed third with three votes. Jacqueline Godwin reporting for 7NEWS.

The government has said it will not pass the constitutional amendment until the Court of Appeals hears the matter and makes a definitive judgement on whether or not a referendum is required before certain sections of the constitution are amended.