PM Briceño to Financially Distressed Belizeans: “We are doing everything possible”

Belizeans are paying more for basic food items at the store. According to the Statistical Institute of Belize’s Consumer Price Index report in May 2022, the overall cost of goods and services in Belize has increased by almost seven percent in the last year. For families across the country, this means a dollar is worth less than what its value at the market was a year ago. When asked what words he can offer to households experiencing trying economic circumstances, Prime Minister Briceño had this to say about his administration’s efforts in response to inflation.

Prime Minister John Briceño

Prime Minister John Briceño

“We know what they are going through. We understand and as a government we are trying to do everything possible to be able to try and help them. We are trying to see how we can control the price gouging. We are trying to work on the issues of the duty that are being charged on these products. The government has certain social interventions that we do yet with for instance grocery bags and so forth, and we are working on the minimum wage. We are hoping that by the end of this year we will implement the minimum wage that at least, and these are the things that can help, and also that we are doing everything possible to be able to get the economy back working again. Even this last first quarter we had growth of over five percent. It says something, we are moving in the right direction. As I tell everybody, the best social program we can have going in Belize is putting people back to work. That is what we have been doing and I want for them to understand that we are doing everything possible to make their lives better, that we everyday think about them and trying to find ways to improve lives and make it easier and that we understand and feel for them.”