Dr. Dylan Vernon, a political scientist and former chair of Belize’s 2000 Political Reform Commission, suggests that an official political party registration law could have provided legal guidance on addressing the ongoing United Democratic Party’s (UDP) internal rift. Such a law could include campaign finance regulations, or be done separately.
Vernon, Belize’s former ambassador to the European Union, likened such a law to those governing Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and business companies, which provide structured processes, clear criteria for recognition and guidance for conflict resolution.
Reflecting on the UDP’s current factional disputes and issues over party color designation, Dr. Vernon argued that comprehensive party registration laws could provide procedural clarity, adding, “If such laws were in place, they could have included elements that guide law enforcement officials and judges on how to deal with such internal disputes as the UDP faces .”
He emphasized that political party registration legislation would establish guidelines to resolve conflicts over party identity and resources, likely limiting disputes like those currently unfolding.
The Reporter newspaper has covered political party regulation and campaign finance reform efforts over the years, and Dr. Vernon’s remarks add momentum to the ongoing discussion.
As we have reported previously, in 2020, former Senate President Darrell Bradley had put forward a draft Bill. His draft bill, titled the Political Parties (Registration and Financial Reporting) Act, called for party registration and detailed financial reporting.
The draft proposed disclosure requirements for donors and limits on contributions, aiming to create a transparent campaign finance structure.
In July 2023, then union senator Hon. Luis Luke Martinez urged the Senate to expedite campaign finance legislation, stressing the need for transparency to curb political corruption and conflicts of interest. Martinez pointed to instances of questionable financial dealings in politics, commenting, “Run the campaign finance legislation, leader of government business.”
Belize’s business community has also championed campaign finance reform. The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) proposed an amendment to the Representation of the People Act in early 2023, which seeks to regulate donations, campaign budgets, and spending limits. BCCI’s then President Marcello Blake had voiced concerns over the slow progress, despite campaign finance reform being a priority in the administration’s initial promises.
In terms of Vernon’s thoughts on this matter, they date back over two decades. For instance, in his former capacity as Chair for the 2000 Political Reform Commission, the below were his written comments on this subject:
“Registration of Political Parties: (Recommendation 78)
I strongly disagree with the recommendation that political parties should not be registered and regulated in Belize. Political parties in Belize have evolved to play an extremely dominating role as mediator in Belize's societal relations. They are powerful organizations that affect and infiltrate almost every aspect of national and local life. They have been a part of what is wrong with democracy in Belize. They seek the most important job in the entire nation: to democratically administer the state of Belize. Yet, when most other organizations in Belize are required by law to register and be subject to some regulation as a part of the 'social contract', political parties are completely unregulated by law.
"It is my view that the organizations and group of individuals who seek our authority to govern should be required to abide by regulations that help to ensure democratic control, give enforceable rights to members, and promote financial and institutional transparency and disclosure. Registration also will further clarify what is the entity that is legally liable, what is the liability of its members, and what entity is it that seeks legal action when such is required. Related to all this is the urgent need for campaign finance regulation that is at the heart of official corruption in Belize.”
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