Belizeans residing on the island of Caye Caulker are on Wednesday voting to decide whether marijuana should be legalised for production and sale three years after the process had been shelved.
In 2022, Belize almost legalised recreational marijuana with the government being forced to re-think its position, despite have legislation ready.
The authorities faced a backlash from churches and some medical practitioners and despite plans for a national referendum, the cost forced the idea to be shelved.
Now, three years later, the debate is back, but on a smaller stage with Caye Caulker’s village councilor, Ilya Rosado, securing an island-wide vote to decide if the community should allow a regulated cannabis industry.
‘My community has many needs and most of that are things like infrastructure. I have people in my community living without water and electricity. We need proper streets. Our schools need help in terms of their own facilities, their own infrastructure, and we never have enough revenue to be able to render the assistance that I’d like to help,’ Rosado has said.
Caye Caulker is a small, laid-back Caribbean island in Belize known for its relaxed ‘Go Slow’ motto, beautiful turquoise waters, and vibrant atmosphere, offering activities like snorkeling, diving, and sailing near the Belize Barrier Reef.
The island has a car-free policy, with golf carts and bicycles as the main modes of transport, and is a popular destination for backpackers and travelers seeking a slower pace of life
The Belizeans are voting on the question ‘Should the government of Belize pass legislation to create a responsible, regulated and taxable legal cannabis industry on the island of Caye Caulker, with a portion of the revenue going directly for the benefit of Caye Caulker and its residents?’.
There are 1, 444 registered voters in Caye Caulker Village and the Chief Elections Officer, Josephine Tamai, said normally the trend for a referendum is that ‘you have a lower vote there not, but because I know that this issue is one that is very dear to residents of Caye Caulker so I’m hoping that persons will come out to cast their vote.
‘We know that the result would be as majority, so whatever the result is, majority of the persons would’ve voted for either a yes or a no vote. I want to stay at home thinking that their voices will be heard, I want to encourage them to come out because that is the only way either your yes or no votes will be counted if you come out and cast your votes.’
Tamai said the poll will be monitored by individual non government organizations (NGO) to keep the exercise free of political interference.
She says given that Caye Caulker is a relatively small constituency, she anticipates that the results will be known quickly.