John Briceño Says Budget is Band-Aid Style Economics

John Briceño

We end today’s coverage of the Budget debate with the presentation from member for Orange Walk Central John Briceño, who broke down what he says are severe deficiencies in an empty budget. Briceño took issue with the U.D.P.’s mantra of transforming Belize, saying that in this budget, and by its actions, this government is about anything but transformation.

John Briceño, Area Representative, OW Central

“My problem with this budget is that it is by no means a road to transformation. There is no transformation for the poor when you can only grow an economy by three percent and this coming year by two percent. There is no transformation for the struggling middle class when you say no new taxes, but expect to collect in taxes and goods and services an additional nine million dollars or three hundred and thirty-nine million dollars as compared to three hundred and thirty million dollars collected this financial year. We cannot have meaningful transformation if we continue to burden our children by borrowing on their future. There is no transformation if our children continue to go to bed hungry; when our hospitals continue to deteriorate because of waste and corruption in the Ministry of Health. We cannot have no real transformation if crime and violence continues to keep us incarcerated in our homes. No, Mister Speaker, these are not Halcyon Days; these are the days of political pork issued under the guise of Petrocaribe roll it and it is unsustainable. This is band-aid style economics.”

Our coverage of the Budget Debate continues on Friday.