Belize’s multi-year push for constitutional overhaul has reached a key legislative milestone this week, after independent external reviewers and the Attorney General’s Ministry whittled down 167 citizen-led reform proposals to just 53 advancing proposals for further consideration.
The proposals were originally crafted and submitted by the People’s Constitution Commission (PCC), a body established to collect input from ordinary Belizeans on updating the country’s foundational governance document, which was drafted ahead of Belize’s independence in 1981. Following months of closed-door scrutiny by legal experts and government officials, the trimmed 53-proposal package has now been formally tabled before the National Assembly, setting in motion a months-long public engagement process ahead of a national referendum.
In an official address outlining the government’s next steps, Prime Minister John Briceño explained that the dramatic reduction in proposals was the result of rigorous technical and legal vetting, emphasizing that it was not feasible to adopt every recommendation put forward by the PCC. “Not all of the original recommendations can be taken on board,” Briceño noted, adding that a deliberate, inclusive public education process is critical before Belizeans cast their votes on the changes.
Briceño outlined that the government will launch a widespread national public awareness campaign over the coming six to eight months, designed to walk citizens through the 53 remaining proposals, explain the government’s reasoning for retaining or excluding other submissions, and create a structured pathway for the public to submit additional feedback before the referendum is held.
“Over the next months as government engages in awareness campaigns, I encourage all Belizeans to assess and review the PCC reports with its recommendations, and participate in a sober and responsible manner,” the prime minister said.
The reform process, which was first launched in response to widespread public calls for updates to Belize’s governing framework, has faced repeated delays over the past several years. The upcoming public engagement period is expected to give civil society groups, community organizations, and individual voters time to debate the proposed changes before any binding national vote takes place.