Belize and Guatemala have called on the Group of Friends of Belize and Guatemala to continue to support the work of the Organization of American States (OAS) in the Adjacency Zone in keeping peace in the area. Belize was represented by CEO Amalia Mai, and Guatemala was represented by Francisco Villagrán Kramer.
The Group of Friends of Belize and Guatemala consists of more than a dozen countries, including the United States of America, Spain, Honduras, Mexico, and Jamaica.
The Group of Friends of Belize and Guatemala is the only civilian peacekeeping mission deployed in the Hemisphere within the context of a territorial dispute. The OAS Office in the Adjacency Zone plays a crucial role in maintaining peace on the ground, easing tensions, and thus facilitating the ongoing political dialogue.
The OAS also considered the report of the OAS Office in Adjacency Zone 20 years after its establishment. In her speech, CEO Mai thanked the OAS for keeping peace among communities in the area.
The Government of Belize announced that the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will establish “brand new offices in Belize City.” A release from the government says, “This development underscores the IDB’s deep commitment to Belize and marks a crucial step in our joint efforts to foster economic growth and multisectoral development.”
Strategically positioned to enhance synergy and resource utilization, the new premises will accommodate an expanding team dedicated to amplifying projects across diverse sectors.
The Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment says, “We are happy to hear about the IDB’s new location in Belize. This investment not only strengthens our partnership but also highlights the IDB’s role in supporting Belize’s journey towards sustainable development and economic resilience. We look forward to continuing our joint efforts with the IDB to address our country’s challenges and opportunities and the well-being of the Belizean people.”
IDB Group Country Representative, Rocio Medina Bolivar, said, “We are excited about this new chapter for the IDB in Belize. The new offices not only signify our growth but also underscore the IDB’s support to deepen our long-term engagement and commitment to the Belizean people.”
For over three decades, the IDB Group has been a cornerstone of Belize’s progress, offering comprehensive assistance through its three arms: the IDB, collaborating with the public sector on developmental endeavours; the IDB Lab, fostering innovation; and IDB Invest, the private sector arm. The IDB Group boasts a diverse portfolio in Belize, spanning initiatives in education, water and sanitation, social investment, agriculture and rural development, state modernization, private sector enhancement, healthcare, financial markets, climate action, natural disaster management, and trade.
The likelihood that Prime Minister John Briceño will launch a commission on inquiry into the sugar industry is dwindling. Last night, we told you about the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association’s condemnation of what they describe as poor excuses from Prime Minister John Briceño, almost three months after he committed to establish the commission. Tonight, A.S.R./B.S.I. is denouncing the idea of a commission of inquiry, contending that the decision is politically motivated. According to a release from the miller, it is not the only stakeholder opposed to the commission. B.S.I. says, three of the four associations are against having or participating in an inquiry into the sugar industry. And, the prime minister says it is their right and he cannot force them to participate. PM Briceño argued that members of the B.S.C.F.A. have been acting out of emotions and refuse to listen.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“That is their right if they don’t want to have a commission of inquiry but at the end of the day we need to have a commission of inquiry to look at the different challenges that industry is facing, form the planting to the harvesting to the transportation and see how we can make the industry more viable and I am hoping that everybody can participate in this proves. It is a process being done in good faith.”
Reporter
“Did you listen to BSCFA’s press conference. They had a lot of negative things to say about you.”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I don’t listen to them. The issue of the commission of inquiry I said to them that we are going to do it in one month, but one month later it came to my attention that there was not consultations with the associations and now BSI. If we had not done that then it would have gone to court and be squashed immediately. I was looking after their interest.”
Paul Lopez
“It seems that in spite of any consultations BSI and the other three associations don’t want to participate.”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“That is the very point I was trying to make to the BSCFA. So the BSCFA got what they ask for.”
Paul Lopez
“Notwithstanding their objective to participate, the commission of inquiry is still going to go ahead?”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I don’t know, because with the commission of inquiry you can’t force them to participate. I don’t want to be listening to one group and we can’t listen to others in the industry then it is of no use. What BSCFA has done is play in the hands of other people and because of thinking emotionally instead of looking at the facts and how we can get things done. They have refused to listen and this is the result.”
And, if you have been following the news then you know that this has been a busy week for PM Briceño. On Monday, he met with stevedores to address their concerns at the Port of Belize. On Tuesday, he was faced with sharp verbal daggers from the members of the B.S.C.F.A. And today, the Prime Minister had to face a group of retired public officers who are no longer interested in verbal promises. All this on top of the 2024 budget debate that will run into Friday. So how does he manage all of this? That was what he was asked today and, of course, he still had more to say to the B.S.C.F.A.’s membership.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“If it is one thing I must be grateful for is my father. He thought me hard work when I was a young boy and use to work in the cane field. So I am not fazed by hard work. But at the same time it is something I love doing to be able to see how we can solve problems and make the country move forward. Every step that I take in my mind I think I am doing the right thing about how we can move. I don’t want to go in a back and forth with the people of the BSCFA. My father was the leader for many years and I know the militancy of the BSCFA. But when they get personal it is best I ignore them, but I am not going to be in a back and forth. But they do have the right to say what they want. Do I agree with them absolutely not.”
Parliamentarians will spend the next three days inside the National Assembly debating the Draft Estimate Budget and Revenue for 2024/2025. Prime Minister Briceño introduced the budget during a House Meeting two weeks ago. As is customary, the Leader of the Opposition, Moses “Shyne” Barrow was the first to contribute to the budget debate. In his forty-five-minute address, Barrow touched on various issues in education, health, finance and other areas. And, as was expected, he began by denouncing the Briceño administration’s budget, referring to it as a budget of lies and deception.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“Madam Speaker, a budget of lies and deception that fails to meaningfully address the needs and aspirations of the Belizean people is the accurate description of this stay off track presentation of the draft estimate budget and revenue 2024 made by the prime minister and his government. This is not a budget that makes th4 necessary investments, short medium and long terms change our nation needs for the better. This budget will not increase economic growth, it will not safeguard the health and security of our country for generation to come. This government has not put forward a budget that will ease the devastation of inflation; nothing outlined in this budget adequately alleviates poverty and strengthens the guardrails that protect the working class form being driven pass the margins. This budget is tone deaf like the prime minister that presents it, disconnected is how you can only describe the presentation by a lame duck prime minister who has already checked out mentally and emotionally. This is a hallow budget that does not present any vision, no bold courageous policy decision and no numbers to support all of the lofty promises made by this government and I will say this, in 1993 the Right Honorable Said Musa won all the municipalities and called early elections and Sr. Manuel Esquivel trashed him. So I say to you Prime Minister, call the elections. You think that you are doing so well and your budgets and policies are doing well, call the elections.”
Barrow went on to counter the Briceño administration’s claims of economic growth. He contended that the Government of Belize has been presenting false statistics to Belizeans and that it has not realized any economic accomplishments that supersedes the performance of the former U.D.P. administration. Here is how he puts it.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“Before the worst crisis of our generation the debt was at sixty one percent of GDP under the barrow administration which is lower than this government had in 2022 when they were at sixty-three percent and only two percent higher is the 2023 fifty-nine percent. The lies and deception needs to stop, it does the people of Belize no good when the government projects these false statistics as accomplishments rather than accept the reality, own up to where you are, your performance and understand and appreciate that it has been less than spectator, it has been in some instance average, on par with what the UDP government was able to accomplish and in most instances, less. As the next government of Belize the UDP will not engage in this silly statistical game of deceit. The UDP will give honest assessments to the public so we can meet our targets and realize our full potential. On thing UDP governments have proven is that we know how to manage debt and grow the economy. That is why the people of Belize elected us for thirteen years. Three consecutive terms.”
Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Natural Resources, Cordel Hyde, was the second parliamentarian to contribute to the budget debate. Hyde, as all area representatives do during their budget presentation, first spoke on the works he accomplished in his Lake Independence constituency. He then proceeded to highlight accomplishments in his respective ministry. Minister Hyde noted that over the last year, twenty thousand first-time landowners received a plot of land. He then announced that another ten thousand parcels are being surveyed for distribution.
Cordel Hyde, Deputy Prime Minister
“At the ministry in just three years we have provided twenty thousand lots to Belizeans, to first time land owners, in just forty months, five hundred lots a month and guess how much we will survey this year to issue, another ten thousand. So the flood, the deluge of house lots will not stop and this is the achievement that makes us most proud of the ministry. It transforms the beneficiary. It is not just about a lot to build a house. You can go to the bank and borrow money to start a business, send your children to school. If you have an emergency you can bank that lot. When you have land you will not be poor, there are billions on this planet who work and die not owning anything. Eight hundred million people are living on less than four dollar a day. Yet in this jewel twenty thousand Belizeans have become land owners. Last year the prime minister focused on this incredible transfer of wealth that this represents a transfer that will only continue and gather pace. If we assume that each lot is valued at twenty thousand dollars then essentially this government has transferred four hundred million dollars in wealth to people who had no wealth before.”
Minister of Education, Francis Fonseca, in his contributions to today’s budget debate, announced that his ministry is assuming full responsibility for the payment of one hundred percent of the salary and benefits for all teachers in government aided secondary and tertiary institutions. He noted that this commitment has increased the ministry’s wage expenditure to two hundred and ten million dollars. Minister Fonseca also took a jab at the members of the Belize National Teachers Union who participated in a press conference in Belmopan a day before the municipal elections. Here is more.
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
“The government of Belize and the ministry of education commits to assuming full responsibility for the payment of one hundred percent salary and benefit for all government aided secondary and tertiary teachers and support staff effective 2024. That is in this year’s budget, minister speaker. This commitment will benefit over nine hundred teachers at the secondary and tertiary levels as we;; as one hundred and ninety-five support staff. The budget allocation will witness an increase in salary and benefits amounting to approximately fourteen million dollars resulting in a total expenditure on two hundred and twenty million dollars for teachers in salaries and support benefits over the next five years. With this initiative the ministry aims to incentivize quality teaching practices, implement result based education and ensure proper accountability among all secondary and tertiary institutions and their staff. This is big, this is something our teachers, Belize National Teachers Union and even managing authorities have been advocating for, fighting for, pushing for, seventeen years and it is this government that made the decision, not an easy decision. These are big money we are talking about. It is no wonder, if I can say this, because I have heard form a lot of teachers. There still a few UDPs who want to create mischief, there are a few left, shrinking day by day. So they tried to create some mischief before the municipal elections, but they were met with absolute silence form the teachers, because the teachers understand that we respect them, we are working with them and we are doing our very best to assist them.”
Accused murderer Jamie Young remains on the lam, several days after he shot and killed Damion Baptist during a vehicular pursuit over the weekend. As we’ve reported, Baptist and his new girlfriend were followed by an enraged Young as they drove from Maxboro en route to Baptist’s home in Ladyville. When they noticed that they were being tailed, Baptist and Amber Dawson attempted to drive to the Ladyville Police Station, but the couple did not make it. The vehicle that they were driving collided into a lamppost and that’s when Young exited his pickup truck and opened fire into the driver’s side window of Baptist’s car, killing him at the scene. According to Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, he was informed that Young would have turned himself in earlier this week.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I was told that he was to surrender himself to the police on Monday. We have been waiting and that has not occurred. We are still in search of him, the wanted posters are out and we are urging the public if anyone has any information that may be able to lead to his detention, please feel free to call 911, or the 922 number, and we would be most grateful if we can get him in custody so that he can face charges for what he has done over the weekend.”
Reporter
“Do you believe that he is being facilitated by [others]?”
Chester Williams
“Certainly, when we have people on the run they must have people who are aiding them in some way or the other. So yes, we do anticipate that he is being facilitated, but who, we cannot say at this time.”
A group of approximately one hundred retired public officers and beneficiaries of the Public Workers Trust Fund protested today in front of the Assembly Building. Parliamentarians were inside the chambers of the National Assembly for the 2024/202 budget debate while protestors stood outside with placards and horns that echoed through the chambers. Over the past four years, the association has been calling for the dissolution of the nine-million-dollar trust fund and the disbursement of the funds to its beneficiaries. Notably, they held a similar protest in 2023 around the same time, at the exact location where Prime Minister John Briceño committed that he would assist them in realizing their demand. But a year has passed without any resolution and so these retired public officers were back out once more. And again, they left with assurance from the prime minister that he supports their cause and that he will assist them. News Five’s Paul Lopez was there. He filed the following report.
Retired Public Officer
“Sixteen dollars and sixty six cents they are giving us. It is not good enough.”
Reporter
“As the grocery bag project.”
Retired Public Officer
“As the grocery bag. We nuh get paid in grocery bag, we nuh suppose to get paid in grocery bag. We want we money, we nuh want no grocery bag. We want we money now.”
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Protestors who stood in front of the National Assembly Building this morning echoed the same cry. These are retired public officers who are beneficiaries of a nine-million-dollar trust fund established as compensation following a wage freeze between 1995 and 1997. The trust controls shares in Belize Telecommunications Limited and other secure investments. In 2023, Prime Minister Briceno committed to assisting these beneficiaries in dissolving the trust and disbursing the funds, at their demand. But a year has passed with no results, a cause to protest for these retired public workers.
Hubert Enriquez
Hubert Enriquez, Former Public Officer
“We want to impress upon the prime minister that the government as settler, they have the authority to reconstitute the board of trustees, have an interim board, so that it would lead towards the dissolution of the trust. What we want to see is the trust dissolved, the liquidation of the funds and they can pay the beneficiaries who are owed these funds for twenty seven years, we are asking for nothing unreasonable.”
According to Enriquez that is the promise Prime Minister John Briceno made last year and did not fulfill. Lisbeth Castillo, also a former public officer, held up a placard saying that they have been waiting for three decades to receive their benefits, to no avail.
Lisbeth Castillo
Lisbeth Castillo, Former Public Officer
“Look at what the sign says, almost three years and still waiting, really tough, cause those monies are ours. We should not have to be out here fighting for this money. We don’t mind being out here representing the other beneficiaries but at least the government can come and if they promised something they ought to keep their side of the promise. We gave many years of good service to this country and the people of Belize and we except nothing better and nothing less in return.”
Prime Minister John Briceño left the National Assembly chamber where the budget debate was being held to meet and dialogue with protestors. Flocked by as many as six security guards, like he did exactly one year ago, he informed the retired public officers that he supports their position.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“We support the winding down or shutting down of this trust. The problem we have right now is that it is in the court. So the people that are suing right now if they could withdraw the case then, if whoseever it is, if these people could withdraw the case then we could wind it down and at the same time I believe we could do whatvere investigation to see if any money was spent. I agree with unu, especially some of unu, I know some of you need the money now, unu the get of age, unu the get sickly. We want to wind it up so that unu could get the money. But it is in court.”
Hubert Enriquez
“There have been two court cases previously, two court cases. And, that part is being appealed. The appellants want the same thing we want. They want the trust to be terminated and the want the funds to be beneficiaries. In that sense we have a common cause. So what we are saying is with the assistance of government that case can be withdrawn. What they want is also what we want. But they also want us to pay the cost of the legal services and we are prepared to do that.”
Enriquez and other beneficiaries are concerned that as the winding up of the trust fund is slow in coming, monies are still being used from the funds to invest in projects that they object to. He contends that close two million dollars have already been invested, much to their dismay.
Retired Public Officer
“Since this is in court, can there be an injunction to stop the spending?”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“And injunction for what?”
Retired Public Officer
“To stop to spend the money.”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“But still even if you do that, we still can’t wind up the turst and give unu the money. We need to take it out of the court system and then unu do what unu want. That is why what I need if unu could point a three or four to meet with the attorney general and he could take his time and explain the steps to do that. You have our support.”
Retired Public Officer
“PM, respectfully, you asked us to do that last year. We did, you know how many meeting we had, one with the minister usher, one with the Deputy AG. We keep asking and these people don’t want to meet with us. We can’t be reinventing the wheel and getting everyone together, cause right now we are wasting time.”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I will commit to you, after the Easter break, I am saying I will be in that meeting, I will call the attorney general, I will call minister usher, unu bring a three ah unu and mek we work it out together to get what unu want.”
