And referendum voter readiness - or a lack of it - is why the PUP says they protested yesterday against the Vital Statistics Unit. They say that their voters from all around the country, especially those the rural areas, have been punishing for months as they try in vain to get their important documents from Vital Stats office.
Well, the Attorney General doesn't believe that their motives are so genuine. In fact, he speculates that they are trying to vilify Vital Stats to further their anti ICJ campaign.
In a press release sent from today, the AG says, quote, "…The… (PUP) launched a protest against the Vital Statistics Unit… in an effort to minimalize the efforts of the Government… to improve the Unit." End quote.
The AG goes on to acknowledge that, quote, "The Government does not deny that the Vital Statistics Unit is in need of reforms. On the contrary, the Government recognizes and has taken an intentional executive level decision to place much emphasis, effort and focus on the improvement of the Unit." End quote.
AG Michael Peyrefitte then outlines some of the reforms and changes that the Government has made, which includes restructuring and streamlining the Unit, removing it from under the auspices of the Supreme Court, placing in under his ministerial portfolio, "terminating several staff members who were found to be corrupt or grossly incompetent", hiring new staff to fill critical positions, training for clerks, overseeing an overhaul of the management structure at Vital Stats, relocating the unit to a more public friendly and accessible location, and upgrading the facility in an effort to make it more comfortable for both the staff and the general public.
The AG's statement says quote, "The Government condemns the acts of the PUP in the face of vast improvements and progress, to seek to disillusion, disunite and insight a frenzy of paranoia and conspiracy in the Belizean people. Moreover, the ploy of the PUP to attack vital services as a tool in furthering its anti-ICJ campaign is simply a cheap and desperate shot."
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