Two weeks ago, the Millenium Challenge Corporation approved a two-hundred-and-fifty-million-dollar investment grant in education and energy in Belize. The government-funded institution’s priority is to reduce poverty through sustainable and inclusive economic growth. G.O.B. is expected to sign the agreement in September, but it must first establish the Millenium Challenge Account Belize Authority which will be the implementing agency for the education and energy projects. That is the primary reason why today’s Special Sitting of the House of Representatives was called. P.M. Briceño says it’s free money and an opportunity that the nation must take advantage of.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I must commend the people from within our government that were directly targeted with this. I have to commend the minister of education because they were going to go through a lengthy analysis and discussion to try to find out what our top five priorities. We said we know we don’t need to do any studies. We want to look at education, education, education, that we have to prepare our children with the economy of the future. At the same time realizing we want to grow the economy we have to look at addressing the energy of the country. This is the one time the opposition could not open their mouth because they are seeing we have been working on this from the day we got into government as to how we can address these challenges we are facing as a growing country. We went through the consultation and the analysis was undertaken. A proposed M.C.C. compact program was drafted, and negotiations were completed on the grant agreement in April this year. Two weeks ago the M.C.C. board approved two hundred and fifty million Belize dollars, a grant investment. Free money, two hundred and fifty million dollars. More than twenty percent of our entire national budget, to be invested in education and energy. This could have never happened under the thirteen years of the U.D.P. administration. Why you think they pick this government and not the next government?”
Prime Minister Briceño went on to explain that the Millenium Challenge Account Belize Authority will be led by a board of directors from government and civil society. P.M. Briceño noted that the Belize National Teachers Union and the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry will have representation on the board.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“The M.C.C. Belize Authority will serve as the implementing agency on and behalf of the government of Belize for education and energy projects. We expect to sign the compact agreement in early September, so it is important we get this bill to ensure we get the implementing agency when signing. All of the two hundred and fifty million dollars of the monies and the compact development funding and government country contributions will be directed through this authority to fund the projects. Given that the authority’s focus will be on education and energy, we have reached an agreement with M.C.C. that the authority’s board will not only include members of the government. It will also include representatives that are relevant to the projects. The B.T.N.U. representing teachers in education as well as the B.C.C.I. representing the private sector will have representation on the board. Given that the bulk of the funding will be education we have also provided for a representative from civil society relevant to education as well as a nonvoting member representing academic and educational organizations.”
Leader of the Opposition Moses “Shyne” Barrow also weighed in on the M.C.C. grant. He expressed that it is a moment of bipartisanship in parliament because investments are needed in both priority sectors. On the other hand, he called out the Briceño administration for not including a seat for the opposition on the M.C.C. Account Belize Authority’s board of directors.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“One of the primary concerns as I rose, I said I join with the prime minister. This is a moment of bipartisanship. We need this money. We need this investment for education and energy. But if you listen to the prime minister earlier, typical old school politicking. He threw the opposition under the bus. He threw the former minister of education on the bus from the U.D.P. as if it had something to do with his incompetence or inability that we did not get the Millenium Challenge grant. It has nothing to do, I will almost bet if you do the research that the conversation for this started under the U.D.P. Madam Speaker I have to correct the prime minister that the G.D.P. was growing about four percent, right before COVID, early 2020, 2019. This Briceño administration has not seen that type of growth. Now you look at the composition of the board, I direct the house to part three section eleven one. You look at the composition of the board, there is no seat on the board for the opposition. This is an afront to continuity, to transparency, an afront to good governance, the inclusion of the opposition, the top stakeholder of all the stakeholders has to be the opposition. We are the government in waiting.
Minister of Education Francis Fonseca, in his contribution to the debate on the two-hundred-and-fifty-million-dollar grant, highlighted several challenges in Belize’s education sector. He explained that significant investments will be made to improve the sector for young men, women and teachers across the country. Minister Fonseca also noted that he does not believe the opposition needs to have a seat on the board.
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
“One of the challenges we have is with males staying in schools and when they are there keeping them. There will be targeted programs for males, young men to make sure they go into secondary school, complete secondary school at a minimum to make sure they are kept there and while they are there that they will be equipped with the skills to participate in the national development of Belize and labor market in an effective way. One of the challenges we have with young women, as you know it is a very positive development, in that we have a lot more females attending school going to school, going to tertiary education, so we have a lot more educated women in our society, absolutely important. This is a reversal of wat use to take place fifty years ago. But what we find is that even though the young women are being better trained and educated, they are not getting jobs in the job market that meets their trainings, education skills. So how do we make sure we are improving work force participation by women in our society? One of the components is of course developing a quality assurance system, capacity building of education leadership and teachers. We have to keep improving and enhancing the capacity of our education leaders and teachers, providing teaching and learning resources.”
Also contributing to the debate was former Minister of Education and Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber. He says that he is not anti-American but questions what the U.S. wants from Belize in exchange for the two hundred and fifty million dollars. Faber cautioned Belizeans to stay woke and remain cautious. He also chastised the Briceno administration over the composition of the M.C.C. Belize board of directors. Faber contended that four handpicked government C.E.O.s will be appointed to the board.
Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collett
“The way how some of my colleagues get up and sing you would think America is doing this out of some great love for Belize. In fact, no they are doing it out of great love for the P.U.P., the wonderful Plan Belize that they put into effect. The Wonderful leadership of John Briceno, wonderful practices. This is why the U.S woke up and said let us develop this Millenium Challenge and let’s have Belize be a part of it. Please nobody misquote me or say anything contrary. In fact, the U.S have their ears to the ground for sure. I am not anti-U.S.A, but what I am saying is whenever you see the U.S doing something it is part of a larger plan. This is historical. I watched as President Biden laid out his plan to NATO and they are celebrating the seventy-fifth anniversary as NATO. They are clear of what the agenda is, to keep the U.S as a superpower and so everything the U.S does is geared towards and agenda for the U.S. We have long been struggling with poverty and the U.S has not changed its geographical location; in fact, I skip to Mexico and cross the border and we are in the U.S. And I don’t blame America, America has its agenda. We should have ours too. When they give us this gift, it is not a loan. Two hundred and fifty million dollars gift, you best believe there is some agenda. I am not saying it is a bad agenda, but I am hoping the prime minister can tell us what the U.S will get from this.”
Today, Leader of the Opposition Moses “Shyne” Barrow called for an amendment to the standing orders of the House of Representatives to say that no regular sitting can occur without five business days’ notice. As we have reported, the opposition boycotted the last sitting on grounds that they were not given adequate prior notice. This morning, Barrow contended that this lack of proper notice infringed on his privileges as a parliamentarian to present questions to the ministers. Speaker of the House, Valerie Woods recused herself for the privilege motion to be heard. Here is what Barrow had to say.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“Mister Speaker, I would like to draw the House’s attention to standing order nineteen three which is a privilege that is afforded members of the opposition in particular questions to ministers. At the last sitting of the house, June twenty-eight the opposition [parliamentary caucus wrote to the honorable speaker to bring to her attention that the notice given was not consistent with the established protocol under her tenure which was five business days’ notice before any house sitting. Why is this important? This is important because if the members of the opposition are not given the five days’ notice that immediately strips us of our privilege to raise questions to the minister. For a member of the opposition to present a question to the minister they have to give five clear business days’ notice to the ministers. In this honorable house the ministers are afforded statements by ministers where they get to report to the honorable house and citizens of this great nation what they are doing in this great nation. We as opposition travel all over this country. I as the leader of the opposition represent all constituencies. I travel across the nation and get many questions that the citizens have of the honorable minister. Mr. Speaker rather than coming to the house and cast aspersions and impute importer motive, rather than go to the media and say anything defamatory about my colleagues, since the beginning of this term of parliament myself and others have been using standard order nineteen three to ask questions to the ministers.”
In response to the motion, the deputy speaker of the House noted that the standing orders do not include a timeframe within which notice must be given. He further clarified that questions to ministers can be submitted at any time. Considering these facts, it was determined that the matter presented by the opposition leader does not affect the privileges of the House of Representatives. Prime Minister John Briceño also weighed in.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“This is a special sitting so the reason why is because we need to pass legislation. As you are aware by the end of this month all of this is going to be removed, demolished because we are going be refurbished. But the George Price Center where we will be having the meetings will not be ready by September. So we have to have a meeting now. So that is the only reason. It is not a matter that we are abusing. The only other time this happened was the last house meeting. I want to make it clear that our good friend the Cabinet Secretary reached out to you to explain what happened. It was human error. There was no ill intent or trying to pull something on you. It was a human error why you was not given enough notice.”
The National Security Bill was also debated inside the House of Representatives. The council has been in operation since the early nineties, but it has never been formalized. This bill seeks to do just that. Prime Minister John Briceño explained that the legislation gives teeth to this important arm. The Leader of the Opposition rose to support the bill. He also addressed the current state of citizen security in Belize, while once again calling on the Minister of Home Affairs and the Commissioner of Police to resign.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“I rise to support this bill. We do live in a constant state of emergency under this administration who promises citizens security. We have had anything but that yet the honorable member for Caribbean Shores will blame it on the media. He says it is social media that makes us feel like there have been a forty percent increase in murder. When you are talking about national security madam speaker the domestic threats that we have faced under this Briceno administration as far as the rampant crime waves, the increase in murder has been unparallel. Never before have I seen in the glorious years of the U.D.P. administration did the commissioner of police house get shot up, sprayed with bullets on the day that the S.O.E. was declared. One of the criticisms I put to the public is that we never heard from the chair of the National Security Council. Who is the chair of the National Security Council? That would be the honorable prime minister. He has a hapless minister of national security, worthless commissioner of police, they both should go. Both of their expiration date have come.”
Kareem Musa, the Minister of Home Affairs, responded to the Leader of the Opposition’s criticisms. Musa addressed Barrow’s call for him and the Commissioner of Police to resign. He also spoke to the opposition leader’s position that crime is the most rampant it has ever been in the nation. Here is a portion of what he had to say.
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“He spoke about leadership, but the cute thing about leadership and being a leader is that you have to have somebody that follows you, somebody that sees your vision, somebody that, anybody at all in the U.D.P. to believe in what you stand for. The current leader of the opposition is properly despised within his own party. Who would have thought that Yellowman would turn on the leader of the opposition? Who would have thought that the mob, Juliet Thimbriel would have turned on the leader of the opposition? All the Fat Joe parties, Diddy parties, DJ Khalid parties, none of that ever amounted to anything because he is a whotless leader. My brother Phillip Willoughby is sitting right up there. The leader of the opposition turned the lord of the ring, he wants back the ring. I cant believe that he has the nerve of leadership when absolutely no one, not even the member for collet. I am surprised you are here and not a part of the boycott, because the only boycott happening is that you are cutting that boy. Nobody is supporting him. So it is very strange that he wants to venture down a discussion of leadership when he has no followers at all. He also spoke about crime being out of control like never before. I don’t invent statistics. They are in black and white you cant cook those book. So, the black and white does not lie. When the U.D.P. was in government, we was ranked by Insight Crime, we were ranked under the U.D.P. by the third most deadly country in this region, in Latin America.”
Schools are out and children all over Belize are finding unique ways to pass their time. Among the variety of summer camps and programs available for students to participate in, Carlos Perrotte’s Music Camp has been a constant source of music education and fun for students for over two decades. In this week’s episode of Belize on Reel, we sat down with the man that has inspired a love for music in children and adults for over twenty-five years.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
For those with a passion for music and the essence of Belizean culture that is expressed through song and sounds, the name Carlos Perrotte is a very familiar one. For the past two decades, the Cuban transplant has spread his love for music through musical projects such as Omolewa Osain. The name of the album which translates to Powerful Mind, is a unique blend of Jazz, Garifuna music and the West African roots of Cuba. He has also played a hand in the beloved Pan Yaad Festival for several years. However, it is through teaching that Perrotte has always been able to connect with youths and spark a fire for music that would transcend to adulthood.
Carlos Perrotte
Carlos Perrotte, Music Instructor
“I believe this is the most important thing, to teach children in an early age, like yourself, you can remember your time at Grace Primary. Give me the opportunity to meet them, and feel the love that they give you. Those children they have more love than the rest. It is easy for you to reach them, and then the early age is the most important part of life, for them to get knowledge. I believe you should treat them well from a younger age, then they will grow with a different attitude and with a different approach of life and that’s what I try to do in terms of music.”
Perrotte has been teaching music in Belize for over twenty-five years, but his love for melody began at a much earlier age. It is his belief that children should be given the opportunity to develop a love for music while it can still be nurtured.
Carlos Perrotte
“I started when I was six years old. Although my mom and my dad were engineers and doctors, I have a uncle who told me don’t worry about that, just play music But, we have a system that allows you to do that. In my country, with all the problems we have, we have a system that makes music education from the beginning, to the end. So I started when I was seven years old and then got my master’s degree in music with no stop. So from the beginning age I fell in love with music, and that’s what I’m doing.”
Perrotte’s students describe his classes as fun and energetic. Six-year-old Elijah Lorenzo tells us that he’s been coming to Perrotte’s class since he was four years old and plans to keep coming back.
Britney Gordon
“Are you having fun doing these classes? What do you feel when you play the instruments?”
Elijah Lorenzo
Elijah Lorenzo, Student
“I feel great, I feel nice.”
Britney Gordon
“Do you really like music?”
Elijah Lorenzo
“Yea I do really.”
Britney Gordon
What do you like about music?”
Elijah Lorenzo
I like that it likes to make me dance and sing and do stuff.”
Perrotte’s love for music is also alive inside his home. His daughter, Ala Perrotte, says music has been a part of her life for as far back as she can remember.
Alma Perrotte
Alma Perrotte, Perrotte’s Daughter
“I would say from I came out the womb I’ve been learning music because of my dad. And, but playing instruments I’ve, it’s been like, around, I would say fifteen to sixteen years since I’ve been playing music.”
Britney Gordon
“What would you say is something admirable about the way your father goes about teaching music?”
Alma Perrotte
“I think it’s because of how much love he has for music and he, and how much he wants to give the love that he has. And he wants to teach it to other students, especially young kids, because the young kids are the future of our country. So him spreading his love about music to other students so that they could be also in love with music is what I think lets him go on like that. And that’s why everyone likes the way, the way how he teach.”
Perrotte’s Camp focuses primarily on percussion instruments such as drums and xylophones. Lourdes Mora, a student at this year’s camp, says that her favorite instrument is the steel pan and she enjoys hearing herself improve after every lesson.
Lourdes Mora
Lourdes Mora, Student
“I get to learn new stuff and I could remember it in my head, so the next day when I come I could remember it and do better from last year.”
Britney Gordon
“What’s your favourite part about making music?”
Lourdes Mora
“It’s cause I feel special. And what do you like most about Mister Carlos and his class?”
Lourdes Mora
“Because he is fun, about him, he lets us play music and once we ask a question. Like if I ask if I want play the drums, mister Carlos would let me play the drums.”
Perrotte plans to retire next year, but he does not believe that it will be the end of his time as an instructor. He says that once there is a passion for something, it does not simply go away.
Carlos Perrotte
“I say I will retire, but I didn’t say I would stop teaching. Teaching is something that when you passion, it’s hard to give up so easily. But I encourage others to bring up their talent and help others to build up their skill. It doesn’t have to be only me, so what I say, we have more camps now, but I don’t believe they have a camp like this. We focus in percussion instruments. The rest of the camps is a little bit of something. So I hope somebody else, comes on, we have more talent and they can do it too, I hope.”
