TNAG-1001-FCO40-1237-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-including--Report-of-the-1981 — Page 40

REPORT OF THE BELIZE CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE HELD AT

MARLBOROUGH HOUSE IN LONDON IN APRIL 1981

1. The Conference met at Marlborough House and held 18 Plenary

Sessions between 6 and 14 April. A list of delegates, officials

and advisers who took part in the Conference is at Annex A. An

invitation to attend the Conference was extended to the Leader

of the Belizean Opposition and representatives of the United

Democratic Party but this was declined. The Minister of State,

Mr Nicholas Ridley, presided at the opening session and some of

the Plenary Sessions. At the other Plenary Sessions the Chair

was taken by the Alternate Chairman, Mr John Hickman.

2. At the opening session speeches were made by Mr Ridley and

by Mr Rogers, the Deputy Premier of Belize. The text of these

speeches is at Annex B.

The Constitution for an Independent Belize

3. The Conference had before it a White Paper issued by the

Government of Belize containing "Proposed Terms of a Constitution

for the Independent Belize" and the Report of a Joint Select

Committee set up by both Houses of the Belize Legislature to

which the White Paper had been referred and which had been

directed to canvass the opinions of the Belizean people. The

Committee met and received oral and written evidence in all

district towns of Belize. The Report, which recommended a

number of amendments to the proposals in the White Paper, was

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