The Special Sitting of the House of Representatives has been temporarily suspended due to a power outage that is affecting several parts of the country. Prime Minister John Briceño had risen to introduce the bill to amend the Social Security Act when the power outage happened.
Affected areas include Belize City, Belmopan, and San Pedro.
At the start of today’s special sitting, Briceño outlined what his administration has accomplished in the past four years. He reflected on the task his administration faced in “fixing what was, at the time, a broken nation.” He acknowledged the overwhelming mandate the People’s United Party (PUP) received, describing it as “not an occasion for wild celebration,” but rather a “sobering and humbling experience,” as they were entrusted with leading the country through one of its most challenging periods.
Although significant strides have been made to steady the nation, PM Briceño stressed that the work is ongoing. Progress, he said, is incremental, and his administration is keenly aware of Belizeans’ concerns over the cost of living. Briceño pointed out that even a superpower like the United States grapples with inflation’s impact, underscoring how challenging it is for smaller nations like Belize to combat global inflation pressures. Nonetheless, he reaffirmed his commitment, declaring, “We are not afraid. We will not give up on the Belizean people.”
