Voter Education Book Launching 2004

--Overview-February 5, 2004

An official ceremony to launch a new publication "A Framework for Voter Education" was organized by staff members of the Elections and Boundaries Department on Thursday February 5, 2004. The venue was the Radisson Fort George Hotel in Belize City.

Ms. Ernestine Carballo led the audience with the singing of the National Anthem and the occasion was blessed by The Most Reverend Osmond P. Martin, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church. Mrs. Sharole Saldivar, Acting Assistant Chief Elections Officer presented an overview of the Department's Voter Education and Community outreach initiatives since 1999 and was followed by the Keynote Address by Hon. Francis Fonseca, Ministry of Education.

Two prominent members of the community reviewed the book, Ms. Brenda Armstrong, Historian and Principal of Wesley College, and Hon. Godwin Hulse, Senator. The author Mrs. Myrtle Palacio, Chief Elections Officer presented remarks on the book.

The book is a 100% production of the Staff of Elections and Boundaries Department in its continuing endeavour in Voter Education.

Overview of Voter Education/Community Outreach Initiatives Presented by Sharole Saldivar, Ag. Assistant Chief Elections Officer A pleasant good morning and welcome to the launching of the booklet, A Framework For Voter Education; another testimony of the Elections and Boundaries Department's mission of commitment to the enhancement of democracy through voter education and the maintenance of a legitimate, impartial, valid electoral process, and its goal to encourage public participation, forge partnerships and provide efficient and effective service delivery.

The essence of true democracy is an informed, actively participating electorate. The law empowers the elector to play a major role in the electoral process, unfortunately, this seldom occurs. As an election authority, one of the functions of the Elections and Boundaries Department is to gather and disseminate information on the electoral process… to heighten awareness…to educate…to provide the tools and support necessary to attain an accurate, transparent electoral system…to forge partnerships…share, link, network, reach out to like organizations and stakeholders…with the objective of strengthening public confidence in the department and in the electoral system, and increase voter participation.

The department launched its Voter Education Campaign in November 1999 with an official opening ceremony in Belize City. District Offices countrywide celebrated a "Voters' Day", including an Open House. Activities included displays; quiz contests, and demonstrations by staff. Also launched was a first publication entitled, 'Selecting Our Leaders - Past and Present', researched and written by the then newly appointed Chief Elections Officer, Mrs. Myrtle Palacio. This monograph focuses on the process of selecting leaders from the days of colonial establishment, and includes statistical data on Town Board elections' results from 1963 to 1997.

A website, belize-elections.org, came into fruition in November 1999, through collaboration with a private sector organization, Netkom Internet Solutions. It serves as a tool for voter education and outreach to the wider community and carries information about the Commission and Department; its functions, goals, mission statement and activities. It is updated regularly with statistical information on electoral registration. During elections, the website provides timely reports for media houses and the general public. Visitors frequent the site every nine minutes and spend an average of ten minutes.

The website has attracted over 70,000 hits.

In 2001, as an initiative of a member of staff, an EBC library corner was launched at the Corozal Library. Library corners have expanded to Benque Viejo del Carmen, Orange Walk, San Joaquin, Dangriga, and Belize City at the Leo Bradley, Thurton and Port Loyola Libraries. These corners feature the department's publications, and are updated regularly.

The department has also participated by offering information and registration services to the public… at an annual BDF day in 2001… at an all day Youth fair held at the BTL Park in 2002, and in a rally sponsored by students of the University of Belize to urge youths to participate in the pending Referendum, by providing posters and brochures, and by training seven of their leaders.

To transmit information pertinent to stakeholders the department utilizes print medium. Several publications have been produced. The department's newsletter, which was implemented in 2000 as an interdepartmental outlet, is produced monthly and has expanded to include articles relevant to the public. The newsletter is widely circulated and is hosted on the department's website.

Five brochures entitled All About Us, Voter Registration - All You Want To Know, The Election Process, The Referendum Act and Boundary Redistricting have been produced by the department.

Three manuals entitled Manual for Election Officers, Guide to Election Officials, and Election Day Guide for Political Agents, have been produced to sensitize Public Officers, Polling Agents and other stakeholders about rules and regulations pertaining to elections, and their roles in the process.

Annual reports, reports on elections, and on participation in electoral missions are produced and widely distributed.

The booklet being launched today, "A Framework for Voter Education" consists of a collection of salient, topical areas for voter and civic education. Our vision is to have this all-inclusive resource material utilized in our schools as a part of a civic education programme.

All publications produced by the department are hosted on the website, and are available for reference at all our offices, and at the EBC library corners.

The department's voter education campaign has extended to respective target groups, which includes visits to tertiary and secondary level institutions, non-governmental organizations, and other community group. Over two hundred schools and organizations have been visited to lecture on the Registration and Voting Processes and to apprise on the Role of the Department.

Training for Public Officers is continuous. In preparation for election over 1500 Public Officers have been trained to conduct elections.

In 2003, the department participated in the Clerical Programmes, which are coordinated by the Ministry of the Public Service, by presenting the topic, The Electoral Process, to fifty-seven Second Class Clerks. The department also participated in a two - hour presentation on the role of the Department and Commission, and Voter Registration, to police recruits at the Police Academy in the City of Belmopan.

Four workshops have been conducted for representatives from the media, civil society, political institutions, and church organizations, under the theme, National Dialogue for a Culture of Democracy. Topics discussed were, The Role of Stakeholders, the Registration Process, the Revision Process, and Boundary Delimitation.

In October 2003, a nationwide tour was conducted for students at the tertiary level and other stakeholders on the topic Boundary Delimitation.

Since its inception in 1999, Voter Appreciation Day continues to be an annual event held to honour

voters. Countrywide activities include Open House at every office, participation in talk shows, quiz contests, and dissemination of flyers, brochures and other publications.

The department continues to utilize the media as a communication tool for voter education. Talk shows are held countrywide on a regular basis. Press releases are prepared and transmitted to media houses to inform about events and other information considered relevant to stakeholders.

To provide more efficient service, an office was opened in the City of Belmopan in 2001, to offer registration and voter education services to the Cayo South Constituency, which was previously served from an office located in Benque Viejo del Carmen Town. Similar services for the Belize Rural North, Central and South Divisions, are now offered from an office located on New Road and for the Stann Creek West Electoral Division, services are now being offered at a sub-office in the village of Independence. Registration service is provided for San Pedro Town and Caye Caulker Village on a timely basis.

To ensure outreach, the department networks with individuals and public and private sector organizations. 

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Through a partnership with Vital Statistics Unit in 2001, a six-month AKA Amnesty Project was launched. The primary objective was to give electors, who registered in 1997/98, with AKA's or with mothers' maiden names, the opportunity to legally change their surnames to the surname of choice via deed poll.

For the March 2000 election, Central Statistical Office and several tertiary level institutions nationwide assisted with data collection at all polling stations.

The Vehicle Care Unit, the Ministry of Works, Women's Department, Rural Development Department, Immigration and Nationality Department, Archives Department, Police Department and the former Printing Department, have assisted the department in its many endeavours.

The National Library Service has assisted in providing space for our EBC library corners. The library staff also facilitate by maintaining the library corners.

From the private sector, individuals have facilitated in training of staff and presentations at workshops. The company, Netkom Internet Solutions, has been instrumental in maintaining the department's website.

Individuals from the media have facilitated by presenting at workshops. Media houses have facilitated by publishing press releases, advertisements, and articles.

The staff serves a unique clientele of past, present and future employers in an environment that is highly sensitive. "We are in the election business, where failure is not an option". In a continued effort to deliver quality, professional service, training is an integral part of the department's strategy. A holistic programme aims at developing the entire person and not only the skills to perform specific tasks. The department complements staff individual self-development with training in the rules and regulations relating to the job, and with training in Customer Service and Customer Relations.

Reflective of Belize's culture, the staff is ethnically diverse, and serves the public in four different languages.

The department's Voter Education and Community Outreach Initiatives have resulted in an increase in the public's confidence in the department. Voter registration and turnout is constantly increasing.

These initiatives, symbolize our commitment to accomplish our mission…our COMMITMENT to enhance and safeguard democracy for the future generations of Belizeans. We will continue to honour our commitment…we will continue to beg… borrow… force our way if we have to. Our success is contingent on the continued support of YOU the stakeholders.

Presentation by Hon. Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education

Senator Godwin Hulse, Bishop OP Martin, Ambassador Regla Diaz, Ambassador Charles Tsai, Dr. Joseph Palacio, Chief Elections Officer Mrs. Myrtle Palacio, Chairman Carl H. Menzies, Members of the Elections and Boundaries Commission, Distinguished Guests, Staff of the Elections and Boundaries Commission, friends.

It is indeed a pleasure and an honor to be here with you this morning as we launch the booklet entitled, "A Framework for Voter Education".

The booklet's stated objective is "to provide a resource for organizations or individuals who wish to educate Belizeans on the rights and responsibilities of electors, as well as those desirous of developing curricula in Civics". Having read the booklet from cover to cover late last night, I can say with confidence that this stated objective has not only been met; it has been surpassed.

The booklet takes its reader on a concise, yet engaging and stimulating journey through Belize's Electoral System from its often misunderstood constitutionally created structures to its more familiar public Voter Registration process. It is easy reading and its learned author was graciously economical in her use of words.

While politicians and party activists will find the book most useful, I believe its greatest beneficiaries will be our Nation's students and teachers. For them, I believe this booklet is a must read and the Ministry of Education will work to ensure its accessibility to them.

I have also found the booklet to be timely, coming at a time when as a Nation and a people, we have recognized the need to meaningfully develop and enhance our Civics Education Curriculum. With close to 50% of our population having been born in an Independent Nation State of Belize, it is easy for us to lose sight of how dramatically and effectively our democratic structures have evolved, and of the tremendous vision and courage displayed by those who worked and sacrificed tirelessly to create that Nation State we now so proudly call Belize.

Too many of our young people have opted out of the democratic and electoral process. For too many, voting is simply a means of ensuring an opportunity for access to an Area Representative for the next five (5) years. "If I no vote, the man no wa wan see me". This thinking is of course too often nurtured and supported by politicians who themselves have lost faith with the broader and more noble rights and responsibilities of the elector.

This booklet will be an important tool as we embrace the growing challenge of voter apathy and misinformation. Belize has a proud and rich electoral history grounded in the fundamental principles of respect, peace and integrity. This booklet captures that history and builds on it.

I congratulate Mrs. I. Myrtle Palacio for this important work which follows in the tradition of her other high quality, well researched contributions in this area. Mrs. Myrtle, you are a strong, proud Belizean woman. We are proud of you and thank you for your continuing commitment to Belize's social and political development.

Presentation by Myrtle Palacio, Author The Journey continues ‌‌.

There are two electoral management bodies in Belize-The Elections and Boundaries Commission and the Elections and Boundaries Department. Both work in tandem and are entrusted by law with the vital functions and exclusive powers to execute these functions to ensure free and fair democratic elections in Belize. The key issue in election organization then, is the ability of the Election Management Bodies to generate confidence in the electoral process. Ladies and gentlemen, Fellow Belizeans, THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE. We at Elections and Boundaries Department are in the business of elections, and FAILURE is NOT an option.

How can this best be achieved? Well welcome to the journey! Our journey at the Elections and Boundaries Department.

After conducting a situational Analysis in 999, the Department set out to create positive organizational changes and improvements in operational performance. Armed with a Mission, Goals and Objectives, we chose a direction of 1. Transparency and 2. Voter Education-both go hand in hand, because knowledge and participation is meaningful in any working democracy.

The Electoral List is the lifeblood of our democracy as it determines WHO will participate in the election long before Polling Day. Therefore the Electoral List is a crucial feature in the organization of free and fair elections, and as such, the Department has devised a strategy to include stakeholders as partners to help us ensure that those who get on the list are duly qualified to do so. The law also empowers individual electors to peruse the list and object to any person, with basis, who should not get on the List or remain on the Electoral List. BUT do we know these laws?

The trends towards economic globalization are having an impact on our social and political arena.

The electoral processes cannot escape this global phenomenon. Democracy is one of the most used terms in the international political jargon, and is highly promoted in the agenda of international bodies as an ideal to be pursued-the WILL of the people must be heard through their voice at the Polls. BUT the WILL of the people must be preceded and accompanied by the knowledge of our laws and in this case the laws that govern the election and registration processes. Do we know these laws? What are our rights and responsibilities under these laws?

We at the Department value you as partners-the Church, the political party/Activist, the private sector, Mr. Jose Citizen, Civil society-in building and maintaining our democracy. In this light I invite you to read and comprehend the contents of this book. There is no room for analysis unfortunately, as it is a book on the facts of law. The style and size is deliberate, so as to attract our younger Belizeans, a large percent of whom were born after Belize's independence. In particular I invite educators from both formal and informal institutions to use it as a resource for civic education. The book is not copyrighted, again this is deliberate, so that one can duplicate it if needs be.

Transparency + Voter Education --- Power to us as Belizean Electors

A Critique by Ms. Brenda Armstrong, Principal Wesley College

Presentation    

Conscious attempt to be pleasing to the eye Creative use of graphics, bullets and colour Good sequencing

i. Historical perspective presented before what exists ii. Definitions set out before terminology use Content    

Wealth of information Inclusive of every aspect of electoral process, both historical and contemporary info Provides view of responsibilities of persons involved in the process (including the objector) High value of the "What is" approach

Usability    

Level of language makes it suitable for wide range readers - teenagers to adults Valuable to the casual as well as the intense researcher Can be used by persons wishing to impart or gain knowledge Should become a part of personal as well as public libraries and definitely school libraries

Congratulations to the writer - research well done, presentation of data clear, and educational value promising. An investment that should produce great dividends.