But, since the political stakes are not as high as they would be for a general election, who will monitor the counting and the voting? And will there be that level of diligence and vigilance? Tamai discussed the multi-sectoral election monitors.
Josephine Tamai
"I know some of the concerns have been who will be observing these things? Is it only the public officers in the polling stations and counting stations? You all will recall that back in February we had sent out an invitation to the organizations in order for them to appoint referendum monitors. That still maintains because what we want to ensure is that we have transparency in terms of the process. So these organizations will appoint persons to be referendum monitors for polling and counting on that day. These monitors will operate similar to an agent when it comes to a general election. So they will be there to see the entire polling and the entire counting process. They will be there to sign off on the forms to say this is the amount of votes that were counted as yes, this is the amount that was counted as no, this is the amount of ballots that were rejected. So all those are in place."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Is there legally in your mind a clear path for monitors from the multi-sectoral groups who have a vested interest in this election?"
Josephine Tamai
"Depending who you speak to some will tell you yes its provided for, other will tell no its not provided for. Our legal advice is that yes, it is provided for. The Belize Territorial Dispute Referendum Act actually speaks to what is not in there. The referendum should be conducted similar and in accordance with the Representation of the People's Act and SI #20 of 2008 speaks to who can be admitted into a polling station and that specifically included a clause to say any election monitor who the Chief Elections Officer approves to be in that station."
There will be international Commonwealth monitors as well.
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