BELMOPAN, Belize, CMC – Prime Minister John Briceño says his ruling People’s United Party (PUP) has rescued the local currency from devaluation as he touted the progress made in Belize since it came to power in November 2020.
In a nationwide broadcast in observance of the mid-term of his first five years in power, Briceño said there had been a turnaround in the country’s economic fortunes, also noting the implementation of the five-dollar minimum wage at the start of the year.
“Together, we rescued our Belizean dollar from devaluation. Our new policies reduced the public debt by more than 50 percent. Together, we take credit for reviving a national economy that was gasping for life, and together, we have restored confidence in who we are at home and abroad. None of these are exaggerations. These are bold achievements.”
He said the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) would report shortly that during the first quarter of 2023, the Belizean economy continued a historic rise, growing by 11.5 percent, with the dynamic tertiary sector of tourism and services surging by 16.5 percent.
He said 2023 would extend the expansions of 2021 and 2022, with unemployment reaching nearly three percent.
“Our focus on jobs has been deliberate; we know that for you to win at life, the opportunity for work at a livable wage is paramount. For this reason, we raised the minimum wage by 50 percent at the start of this year. This is benefiting 43,000.”
Prime Minister Briceño spoke on the progress within the cruise tourism sector, even as controversy continues regarding the Definitive Agreement signed between the former government and Portico Enterprises in October 2020.
Briceno had openly discarded the original document during the last sitting of Parliament. Despite numerous requests by attorneys for Waterloo Investment Holdings through the Freedom of Information Act, more needs to be forthcoming to obtain information from the government on the issue.
In a letter to the prime minister, dated June 16, Senior Counsel Godfrey Smith wrote, “I am obliged to point out that this adamant refusal by your government’s relevant officials to respond to our client’s requests for information under the act highlights the unfair treatment of our client is being subjected to by the Government of Belize and will be relied upon as a ground in support of our client’s subsidiary companies claim under the UK Bilateral Investment Treaty of 1982”.
But in his broadcast, Prime Minister Briceño said, “The recent controversy highlights the unique demand for the Belize product.
“One cruise port is under construction, and developers for two additional ports seek approval. Indeed, these hundreds of millions being talked about would not be proposed if Belize did not offer a world-class product whose natural luster we must safeguard for this and future generations.
“In this regard, we will not be distracted, we will not be intimidated, and we will not be bullied. My administration will do what is in the best interest of our nation and the Belizean people,” he said.
In the broadcast, the government leader also spoke on the issue of constitutional reform, alluding to the importance of this exercise.
The most exciting process in our young administration is the mandate for constitutional reform. The national committee is ready for broad public consultations, the outcome of which I eagerly anticipate; boosting citizens’ rights and participation and ensuring greater accountability for those sworn to serve will make our democracy more prosperous and more resilient.
“Change is often said to be the only constant, whether in our own or the nation’s life. To nudge that arc of national change to your favor is our untiring passion as servants of the people,” Briceno added.
Meanwhile, the chair of the People’s Constitution Commission, Anthony Chanona, spoke of the role of the Belizean diaspora in the constitutional reform exercise.
“We were fortunate to team up, and they will present tomorrow. There are nine influencers in diaspora Intercontinental United States. There is diaspora in all other regions – Mexico, Europe – but we chose to begin there as a start. Then we will be partnering with the Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations to sign an MOU where we can partner with the data,” he added.
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