Editorial: Democracy Requires Watchful Citizens

Two stories on this week’s frontpage highlight the work of public interest litigant Jeremy Enriquez. One follows his Freedom of Information request for disclosure of government legal fees spent on defending election-related litigation. The other covers the formal acknowledgement of his complaint to the Judicial and Legal Services Commission regarding the conduct of a sitting High Court judge.

Taken together, these efforts underscore an essential truth: democracy is not automatic. Constitutions and laws may prescribe the rules of governance, but those rules do not enforce themselves. They require citizens, acting individually or in groups, to demand compliance, transparency, and accountability.

Mr. Enriquez’s actions exemplify this principle. His FOIA request presses for a full accounting of how public funds are spent in cases that go to the heart of constitutional fairness. By insisting on itemized disclosures, he reinforces the idea that every dollar of state expenditure is subject to scrutiny, especially where political stakes are high. His complaint to the JLSC, meanwhile, highlights the need for impartiality and integrity within the judiciary. Together, these actions show how one citizen can use the tools provided by law to test whether institutions are living up to their responsibilities.

Democratic systems weaken not because flaws exist, but because indifference allows them to persist unchecked. Too often, silence or delay becomes the default response to citizen inquiry. By persisting through official inaction, Enriquez demonstrates that accountability is not a favor to be granted—it is a right guaranteed to all Belizeans.

The lesson is broader than one individual’s efforts. A healthy democracy depends on constant vigilance. It is sustained not only by those who hold office, but also by those outside government who insist that promises of transparency and fairness are carried out in practice.

Enriquez’s persistence reminds us that democracy must be exercised, not merely inherited. His efforts illustrate the responsibility each citizen shares: to watch, to question, and to act, ensuring that the system serves the people it was designed to protect.