And, speaking of political majorities - and how you win them, there's been a lot of talk in the news recently about voter fraud and phantom voters - that is, voters registering in a division where they don't live. They register in what are known as safe houses - and once they're eon the list - getting them off that list is virtually impossible - even when there are as many as 60, 70, or 80 persons registered as a single address.
It's not a story we've picked up - because we're very aware that the practice is so widespread on both sides of the political spectrum - all across the country, that to report on it in isolation is to give a distorted view of what is, regrettably, a political norm. In fact, it is a science practiced and perfected shamelessly by both parties.
But, the case of Deputy Commissioner of Police Edward Broaster registering in his friend Lee Mark Chang's Caribbean Shores division has raised a lot of eyebrows. Chang is a close ally of Deputy Faber and so we asked him about it today - and here's how he explained the many vagaries of voter registration:..
Hon. Patrick Faber - Acting Prime Minister
"I only know what is in the news of course, and I've heard his own comments about there being several houses that are termed as Number 1 - number 1 is it? Number 1 Kelly Street, so to me, the explanation given by my colleague was an adequate one. There is a certain level of hypocrisy to point out these things on the part of the Opposition. In fact, my colleague, the Member for Caribbean Shores is known to do just that. His father is known to do just that in Fort George as well. So, for them to be pointing fingers, that doesn't make it right or wrong, but it seems a bit hypocritical to me. But, what I've said in a previous interview, as we all know who are engaged in politics, there is a known process of dealing with registration that you believe is not conducted properly. And there is a time every month before those people are put on the list, for you to go to court, for you to make your case before a magistrate. And if you don't know how to play the game, and you don't do your homework, then don't cry foul later on, if that opportunity is not given."
"Is it that these people are registered in multiple places, and are registered in multiple places? No, you have one vote. And so-"
Reporter
"Shouldn't you be voting where you live though?"
Hon. Patrick Faber
"Well, how is it that you will determine where a person lives. My registered address, for instance, is 1034 Vernon Street. I live in Belmopan now, but I also live here in Belize City because I spend a lot of time. That is my family's home. I have a light bill in my name there. I have a driver's license in my name there. I sleep there 2 or 3 nights out of the week when I'm here in Belize City, and I don't go back to Belmopan. Nobody can tell me that that's not my address. The wider picture that I'm talking about is that a person has one vote. Now, if you're telling me that you have people voting in other areas - this is my personal view. I'm not commenting on the law at all. If you're telling me that people are voting in Toledo, and they're coming here to Caribbean Shores and in Collet, and then they vote again, then that for me would be a bigger problem. But everybody has one vote."
For clarity - we said earlier that Faber lives in Ladyville - he said he does not - and stressed to us that he has a home in Belmopan and in the City.
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