BELIZE: ELECTION COVERAGE PLAN

UNCLAS BELMOPAN 000063

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CEN - ROIS BEAL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC BH
SUBJECT: BELIZE: ELECTION COVERAGE PLAN

REF: (A) BELMOPAN 008, (B) BELMOPAN 057


1. Summary: Post has prepared a plan to cover 22 of the 31
constituencies in Belize for the general elections taking place this
Thursday, February 7, 2008 (reftel A). In total, 16 election
observers from U.S. Embassy Belmopan will travel throughout the
country. Each observation team is expected to visit 10-12 polling
stations during the day. End Summary.


2. On Thursday, February 7, 2008, 16 Embassy employees, both local
and American staff, will travel within assigned districts to observe
the general election process in Belize. Six observer teams have
been established and each is expected to visit at least 10-12
polling stations on Election Day. Four local employees have also
volunteered to report on their experience voting to the central
coordinator at Embassy Belmopan. The central coordinator will
remain at the Embassy to take calls from the field. The coordinator
will compile information and periodically e-mail WHA/CEN with
updates.


3. Embassy personnel will be able to report from all of the six
districts in Belize - Belize (City),Cayo, Orange Walk, Corozal,
Stann Creek and Toledo. Post expects to be able to coordinate and
provide information on 22 constituencies throughout the country.


4. In past elections, polling stations have opened at 6:00AM and
closed at 6:00PM. However, the Election Commission has delayed the
opening time to 7:00AM due to the additional referendum on the
elected Senate (reftel B) and the anticipated extra time required to
set up a second ballot box in the polling stations. This is likely
to result in some confusion and potentially long lines in the
morning for those who are uninformed of the change. Post plans to
observe several openings and report the status to the central
coordinator.


5. Employees are scheduled to observe several openings and multiple
closings on Election Day. The ballots from all polling stations in
a constituency will be counted in a central location at times
ranging from 7:00PM to 8:00PM. In years past, there were issues
with the movement of boxes to a new location for counting including
long delays for the box to arrive a short distance for unknown
reasons and power blackouts at the counting stations. Although
Embassy personnel will not be permitted in the counting stations,
several employees will also observe the transportation of the ballot
boxes to the counting stations. Closing reports will also be
called-in to the central coordinator.


6. We are not expecting violence or major demonstrations while
voting is taking place. It is possible that the outcome in some
constituencies may provoke demonstrations once results are known.
The police and defense force will have a significant presence in
potential hot spots, and Embassy observers have all been advised to
return to the Embassy if there is any sign of violence.


HILL