Note: After a short hiatus, TIME COME is back with regular posts. In this coming period, TIME COME will keep some focus on political reform matters, including dissecting the messy tenure, closure and report of the People’s Constitution Commission (PCC). Indications are that the report will not be worth the expenditure of too many braincells nor the waste of ink. What’s next? TIME COME will also be giving more attention to a broader set of national policy issues and seek more guest pieces. The latter is the case for this offering of TIME COME as Dr. Harold Young pens a new piece. Welcome back subscribers and readers!  (your host, Dylan Vernon)

By Harold A. Young, Guest Post#3, May 19, 2025. (See his bio at end).

If the general election of 2020 is characterised as a swing election led by a “Blu’ tsunami, then 2025 is the “Red” meltdown washed by a “Blu” high tide. This is not my forum for detailed analysis but here are a few thoughts.

I published the sections below prior to the election in 2020. Generally, and unfortunately, nothing has changed. The People’s United Party (PUP) won 26 seats to United Democratic Party’s (UDP) 5 in 2020.… Read the rest...

By Dylan Vernon, TIME COME #21, 26 February 2025.

IN two weeks, Belize will successfully execute its tenth general election and seventh peaceful change of government since 1984. Ninety candidates are in the race for 31 golden tickets. Election apathy seems higher than in recent memory. This is largely because the incumbent People’s United Party (PUP), boasting accomplishments, is likely to win even bigger majorities than its 26-5 majority in 2020. Two of its candidates have already won before the voting begins! The divided and anemic Opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) is offering no serious electoral challenge in most divisions – and have two candidates running in several. Sadly, like most past general elections, the voters are not being offered substantive choices. There are no informed debates on long-term visions or competing innovative public policies to address persistent social, economic and governance challenges. The real choices, for too many, boil down to which candidates and which party have the biggest and best-oiled handout machine.  Like all past elections, 2025 will be another microcosm of the good, the bad and the ugly about elections in Belize.

The Good

Aplausos! “Belize enjoys a mature democracy and a well-functioning electoral process.” Such was the conclusion of Commonwealth Election Observers in 2008, and we can expect similar blanket assessments in 2025.… Read the rest...

By Dylan Vernon, TIME COME #20, 10 February 2025.

The Belize PEACE Movement (BPM) has been on target with its sustained education and advocacy on the re-districting issue. This is why I have not addressed it, except secondarily, in TIME COME so far: the BMP, Vision Inspired by the People, and others like Jeremy Enriquez, ‘got this’. So, this article is primarily to applaud the BPM on its tenacious re-districting campaign to highlight the constitutional failure of both major political parties to make re-districting happen. The BPM’s work paved the way last week for three citizens to take up the baton and push this matter to another legal level. But, apart from summarising the salient developments, I will discuss the re-districting problem in wider perspective as it relates to systemic causes and to considerations implied for constitutional reform.

The Equal Numbers Principle

International best practice does demonstrate that electoral democracy is most fair and participatory when there are as equal numbers of persons as possible in electoral constituencies that elect representatives to the same legislative body. As the BPM points out, international best practice for maximum variance among constituencies is between 10% to 15%. Look at this this way. If Division A has 1000 electors and Division B has 200, then those in Division A will technically (other things being equal) have five times less access to representation than those in Division B.… Read the rest...

By Dylan Vernon, TIME COME #19, 2 January 2025.

At 11:45 pm on a cool 2025 election night, the final constituency result is in. Post-independence political history is made. It’s a clean sweep for the Blues! The PUP 31, the UDP 0. Amid the wild celebrations and the deep despair, a still energetic Jules Vasquez asks his tired panel: So, there is no Leader of the Opposition? Who will appoint the Opposition’s three senators? Who will chair the Joint Public Accounts Committee? Who will appoint Opposition members to such bodies as the Belize Advisory Council and the Elections and Boundaries Commission? With whom will the PM consult or seek concurrence when the Constitution so demands?

Unprecedented?

The inspiration for this post came from my Dad, Larry Vernon – information specialist, historian, writer, serial biographer. He sent me a query in writing – as is his style – reminding that, before independence, the PUP had clean sweep elections in 1957 (the last Legislative Assembly) and 1961 (the first House of Representatives). As such, since the 1954 adult suffrage Constitution, there are two precedents for clean sweeps in Belize’s political history – but none after independence.

In 1961, the then British Governor used his reserve powers to appoint an unelected Philip Goldson to the very first House of Representatives.… Read the rest...

(Note: This TIME COME post features a guest piece by Mr. Grinch – or at least inspired by him. And Happy Holidays to all my readers.)

By ‘Di Grinch’, TIME COME #18, 20 December 2024.

I live on hill where it blows and it snows. So, I crave a place with no need for ploughs. Perhaps a warm isthmus with a nice quiet Christmas. To catch some warm breeze and escape the deep freeze. My mutt Max says, ‘let’s do Belize’. Hmmmm? But is it just what he heard from that migratory bird? That Belize now has tons of free turkeys and hams. Free turkeys and hams! Is it but a scam? The Grinch knows what to do! Trusting Max nor A.I., I will employ a good spy. Christmas in Belize? Do I go, or abort? Well, let me first read my intel report.

Dear Mr. Grinch,

Greetings from Belize and much thanks for the commission – though please note that I am a ‘consultant’, not ‘spy’. But straight to the point as your deadline is tight. The rumour Max heard is no rumour at all. At Christmas in Belize there are free turkeys and hams! There are also loud parties with free food and free drinks, with free gifts for the kids, and with free raffles of fridges.… Read the rest...