U.D.P. Calls for G.O.B. to Address High Cost of Living  

As the Trump Administration in the United States continues to shake up the global economy with increased tariffs, vulnerable nations that rely heavily on imports are feeling the heat. These tariffs threaten to spark an international trade war, which could have a ripple effect on investments, exports, and the overall cost of doing business. At today’s U.D.P. conference, Mesopotamia Area Representative Lee Mark Chang highlighted the looming challenges these tariffs pose to Belize. He emphasized the urgent need for the country to brace itself for the potential economic impact and find ways to mitigate these pressures.

 

Lee Mark Chang, Area Representative, Mesopotamia

“Despite these looming realities, our government remains silent. Silent on inflation, silent on the cost of doing business. Silent under the rising pressure that families and businesses are about to face. This is not leadership. This is reckless, and it’s the belief in people who will pay the price. The United Democratic Party is now sounding the alarm before the damage is done. We are calling on the government to act urgently and responsibly. There, there are solutions there are way forward. The UDP proposes the following immediate steps, diversify our trade partners. We must open new doors in the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe. So we are not dependent on just a few countries. Support small businesses and medium businesses. Strengthen our local industries. Make capital easier to access for entrepreneurs the true drivers of our Blue economy. Boost agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing. The more we produce and sell ourselves, the stronger our independent we become. Simplify doing business, slash unnecessary custom delay, lower the cost of moving goods across the borders. And create real incentives for export. Police cannot afford to stand still while the world shifts around us. We must be proactive, not reactive. We must lead with vision, not panic. We must protect our people, all workers, all business, and our families from the storm that is coming.”