Primer ministro de Belice convoca a elecciones para el 11 de noviembre
Convocan a elecciones generales en Belice
El primer ministro de Belice, Dean Barrow, convocó hoy a elecciones generales para el 11 de noviembre y a la nominación de candidatos el 21 de octubre.
El anuncio oficial señala que el jefe del gobierno propuso la disolución de la Asamblea Nacional para el 6 de noviembre.
Los últimos comicios generales de Belice tuvieron lugar en ese mismo mes de 2015, cuando el gobernante Partido Democrático Unido, liderado por Barrow, consiguió un tercer mandato consecutivo al frente de gobierno.
En aquella ocasión esa organización logró 19 de los 31 escaños disputados, mientras que el opositor Partido Unido de los Pueblos (PUP), dirigido por Francis Fonseca obtuvo los 12 restantes.
De esa forma, Belice se suma a la serie de comicios celebrados este año en la región del Caribe: Trinidad y Tobago, Guyana, Suriname y San Cristóbal y Nieves y a las previstas en los próximos meses en Jamaica, Bermuda y San Vicente y las Granadinas.
Belizeans to vote on 11 November
General Elections in Belize have been called for Wednesday 11 November 2020.
Prime Minister Dean Barrow, in making the announcement on Monday, said he had advised the Governor General to dissolve the country’s National Assembly on Tuesday 6 November, and that Nominations Day will be Wednesday 21 October.
Belize’s last General Elections, held on 4 November 2015, saw Prime Minister Barrow’s United Democratic Party (UDP) win a third consecutive term in office. The UDP took 19 of the 31 seats at stake, with the remaining 12 going to the opposition Peoples United Party (PUP) led by Francis Fonseca.
GOB: We’re still in charge
Ву Ааrоn Нumеѕ: Тhе Nаtіоnаl Аѕѕеmblу wіll bе dіѕѕоlvеd tоmоrrоw, Тuеѕdау, аhеаd оf Gеnеrаl Еlесtіоnѕ оn Wеdnеѕdау, Nоvеmbеr 11.
Вut аѕ mоrе оf а rеmіndеr thаn аnуthіng еlѕе, thе Gоvеrnmеnt, whісh іѕ tо ѕау thе Саbіnеt аnd thе Оffісе оf thе Рrіmе Міnіѕtеr, ѕеnt а рrеѕѕ rеlеаѕе thіѕ аftеrnооn tо ѕау thаt реr thе Соnѕtіtutіоn, іt іѕ ѕtіll іn сhаrgе.
Ѕесtіоn 84(6) оf thе Веlіzе Соnѕtіtutіоn rеаdѕ, “Durіng thе реrіоd bеtwееn thе dіѕѕоlutіоn оf thе Nаtіоnаl Аѕѕеmblу аnd thе арроіntmеnt оf а Рrіmе Міnіѕtеr аftеr а gеnеrаl еlесtіоn, thе gоvеrnmеnt оf Веlіzе ѕhаll соntіnuе tо bе аdmіnіѕtеrеd bу thе Рrіmе Міnіѕtеr аnd thе оthеr Міnіѕtеrѕ аnd Міnіѕtеrѕ оf Ѕtаtе оf thе Gоvеrnmеnt.”
Іt mеаnѕ Dеаn Ваrrоw аnd оthеr Міnіѕtеrѕ арроіntеd іn 2015 hоld thеіr роѕtѕ untіl thе еlесtоrаtе’ѕ јudgmеnt іѕ hаndеd dоwn оn Nоvеmbеr 11.
Ваrrоw hіmѕеlf іѕ nоt соntеѕtіng thе еlесtіоn, аnd hіѕ ѕuссеѕѕоr wіll lіkеlу bе еіthеr оf Јоhn Вrісеnо оr Раtrісk Fаbеr, оr, lеѕѕ lіkеlу, Раtrісk Rоgеrѕ оr Nаnсу Маrіn.
Governments Of Belize And The Republic Of China (Taiwan) Sign Economic Co-operation Agreement
The Government of Belize and the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) are pleased to announce the signing of an Economic Cooperation Agreement, September 30, 2020, at the Laing Building in Belize City. The Economic Cooperation Agreement was signed on Belize’s behalf by the Hon. Tracy Panton, Minister of State with responsibility for Investment, Trade and Commerce, witnessed by H.E. Remus Chen, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Belize, and signed on Taiwan’s behalf by Minister Wang Mei-Hua, Minister of Economic Affairs.
The signing marks the culmination of work that started back in 2014 when Belize and Taiwan began discussions on the possibility of a trade agreement intended to deepen economic integration between our two economies. Those initial discussions bore fruit in earnest last year when the Prime Minister of Belize, the Right Hon. Dean Barrow, and the President of Taiwan, Dr. Tsai Ing-wen, agreed to approve pursuit of a formal trade agreement and committed their respective negotiating machineries to fulfilling this mandate.
In August of 2019, a trade mission to Taiwan, led by the Hon. Tracy Panton, laid the groundwork ahead of subsequent formal negotiations. The mission met with several key representatives and officials from the Government of Taiwan, as well as with representatives from Taiwan’s private sector. The mission culminated with the signing of a Letter of Intent that delimited the scope and principles for negotiations.
Formal negotiations began in Taiwan on 5 November and ended on 11 November 2019 with the parties reaching an agreement in principle in one round. Given Belize’s membership in CARICOM, the negotiated agreement had to be subjected to CARICOM’s review to ensure that it did not prejudice the rights of other Member States. On, 28 September 2020, Belize received the formal approval from CARICOM to sign the agreement.
The ECA provides for preferential treatment for Belize’s key agricultural and fisheries products, among other goods. Furthermore, given the need to expand Belize’s export supply capabilities, the ECA also provides for financial and technical assistance from Taiwan for the development of institutional and technical capacities involved in trade, including in areas of plant and animal health, standards and technical regulations (including consumer protection), and export and investment promotion. This is aimed at assisting the productive sector to capitalize on meaningful export opportunities in Taiwan and other export markets available under existing trade agreements and those to be negotiated in the future.
The Government of Belize extends its gratitude and appreciation to all of who have worked diligently on the Belize side to finalize this propitious agreement, including Belize’s Trade Negotiating Team (TNT), and those who tirelessly provided logistical support indispensable to this successful outcome. The Government of Belize would also like to recognize the representatives of the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) for their commitment to the negotiation process and generous hospitality. The long-standing friendship between our two countries will be further strengthened through implementation of the ECA.
