Jerry Enriquez and his attorney Anand Ramlogan made a bold attempt to try and stop the elections by going to the high court. They argued that it is unconstitutional to hold an election when the 31 constituencies are way out of wac - and not in conformity with the constitution which requires that they be as close to even as possible.
But, tonight, their application has been dismissed by judge Tawanda Hondora who issued a stinging judgement this afternoon.
Hondora dismissed the application for interim relief and found that Enriquez, Rudolph Norales and Jessica Tulcey were not entitled to any of the reliefs they claimed including an order of mandamus directing the Prime Minister to revoke his advice to the Governor General on dissolving parliament, or an injunction prohibiting the Governor General from issuing a proclamation providing for the holding of the general election, among others.
Today, the main claimant Jerry Enriquez told us he's disappointed:
Jerry Enriquez, Claimant
"Well, I was a little disappointed, but not surprised, given the intensity at which we had to carry this whole case to court."
Jules Vasquez
"So what happens next?"
Jerry Enriquez, Claimant
"Well, we're planning on appealing this case. I do not think it was - Well, I think it is it is something that we need to do in order to ensure that we have a clear balance in our electoral divisions."
Jules Vasquez
"But you all entered this asking for the interim relief of really stopping the election train, which is already in process. Are all hopes of that now dashed?"
Jerry Enriquez, Claimant
"Well, as you note, as you will note that we had not, contrary to what is repeated over and over that we brought this at the last minute, we were in a sense gentlemanly in which we sent a pre-action letter to advise the prime minister that if elections are called before the redistricting, we would consider it unconstitutional and unlawful. And we send letter to the governor general. We send letter to the attorney general to express those same views that it would it would subject the citizenry to an unlawful election if the status quo remains."
"And unfortunately, elections were still called, even though we had sent our concerns ahead of time. I think it is a breach of our democracy and we are calling on the government to make that right. We cannot continue to seek decent in our democracy and to see political parties using their own will over the constitution of Belize and nitpicking on selecting what they must obey or not."
"The constitution is the supreme law and we want our democracy to work for the benefit of all Belizeans. And if we see that both political parties continue to undermine it, then we must call them to task. And therefore we appeal to people to please support the cause. We do not have the treasure chest that the government has to bring the top lawyers to fight against the people."
Jules Vasquez
"So now the thing set that it appears that elections, as might have been expected, will proceed without interference or without any judicial interference. Are you still calling your position that you're nah go vote?"
Jerry Enriquez, Claimant
"Mi nah go vote at all, I can't participate in a fraudulent election."
Enriquez says he will meet with his attorney to decide on the next steps - but Ramlogan has said he plans to take the case all the way to the CCJ. Tonight, Enriquez is asking for support for the GoFundMe drive they have started which has raised just a few thousand dollars - when the goal is 15k. Notably Justice Hondora left the door open for government to claim costs against Enriquez and his co claimants and written submissions on that have to be made by Monday.
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