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Letter: In defence of Belizeans in the Diaspora! |
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 Dear Sir:
I hasten to write concerning the proposed change in the Belizean Constitution to allow Belizeans with Dual Citizenship to run for public office and the right to vote in Belize using a similar system used by other countries in the Diaspora.
I think this is a long overdue aspiration of Belizeans living abroad to re-establish their rightful claim to become home men and home women of Belize! It is in keeping with economic, cultural, historical, educational as well as social best interest of our homeland Belize!
Let us examine the economic interest of Belize. Belizeans abroad have contributed through financial remittances to their root families countless millions of dollars to the revenue of Belize not to mention also for decades contributed to the welfare of Belize millions of barrels of clothing, food , medicine including psychotropic prescription drugs, financing costs of building of homes, clinics, schools, scholarships, churches, books, musical instruments, seeds, water system, technical sills, training Belizeans for service in Belize in Dialysis, Cancer Care at home and abroad, Educational Conferences, Medical Equipment, Adoptions (Home Study), Cruise Line promotion to mention a few.
Belizeans abroad have also contributed to the social institutions in Belize. They pioneered the development of Local Government throughout Belize by organizing Village Councils throughout Belize fostering the "Making of the New Belize." They assisted in the development of the Disability Act empowerment among the blind, the aged, the special needs children. Even participation and support in the recent Gold Medal performance of special needs Belizean children in the World Games in China and the Central American Games. They have also contributed in the development and support of Sports; canoe racing, cycling, basketball, track and field, and indeed the Northern District League was sponsored by Belizeans living abroad.
On the Cultural level, Belizeans abroad have formed the bridge that links those at home with those abroad by facilitating the unification and reintegration of families through legalized adoption proceeding between roots Belize and those living in the Diaspora. In music and song, in Literature and folktales, Belizeans abroad have danced and wove a tapestry of Belizean Ambassadorship and friendship that has propelled Bleize into the world stage which now demands that true recognition be granted to all Belizeans at home and abroad.
We can no longer remain "half citizens" in which we pay taxes, support the government, law abiding sons and daughters of Belize, free to be governed under a Governor who himself once declared "I will be Governor of All Belize, not only in Belize, but wherever a Belizean lives, be it Timbuktu!
On the Historical interests, suffice it to say, May I remind you that "shoulder to shoulder" we stood on the 10th September 1798 to drive back the tyrant?" Surely, we are no lesser breed to claim the full rights of Citizenship "Shoulder to Shoulder."
On the educational interests, we now have thousands of well trained Belizeans in all the sciences who are yearning to give back to the homeland the gift that we received from our training abroad. We can not sincerely give back if this right of full citizenship which seeks not to disenfranchise us, but to grant us equal rights under the amended Constitution of Belize.
Sirs/Madams, I started this letter with the intent to be brief, but I thought I had better let it all hang out on a matter that have been dear to my heart.
Belizeans! Be Inclusive and Prosper! Be Exclusive at the peril of loosing human resources! Let us count all our blessings and use all of our resources.
Grant the right to run for political office and to vote as citizens:
1. Belizeans who have acquired dual citizenship;
2. Belizeans who were born in a foreign country of Belizean parentage and acquire Belizean citizenship through birth;
3. Belizeans who were born in a foreign country and acquire Belizean citizenship through naturalization.
Grant Belizeans possessing dual citizenship the constitutional right to run for public office and to vote in Belize!
Robert E. Bennett PhD, JP, MBE, BCD, LCSW, MSW
Chairman, Belize Alliance of Social Serivces Inc
Past President, Consortium for Belizean Development Inc
Member, Consortium for Belizean Development Inc
Member, Belizean Hertiage
Ex-Chief, Social Development Offficer
Counterpart to Housing International Cooperation Administration (ICD formerly LCA)
Past President, Belize Council of Voluntary Organizations Social Services (CVSS)
Member, Belize National Scout Association
Member, Belize Boys Brigade, Wesley Methodist Church
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