Belize holds public consultations on proposed constitutional amendment

Belmopan residents will have an opportunity to weigh in on the controversial Thirteenth Amendment Bill during a second public consultation scheduled for Wednesday, July 30, at the University of Belize’s Conference Centre. The session will run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The first consultation was held last week in Belize City, and it drew a small but vocal crowd. Attendees voiced concerns about the bill’s potential to give security forces sweeping powers in designated “special zones,” including the ability to conduct searches and detain individuals without warrants. Some warned this could lead to abuse and human rights violations. The Briceño administration maintains that the amendment is necessary to restore order in gang-afflicted communities. The bill proposes the creation of a special gun and gang court, expanded powers for police and the Belize Defence Force, and retroactive legal coverage for past states of emergency, potentially shielding those actions from future legal challenges.
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