PM Barrow – Outside Financial Aid A Little Slow to Come By

Are there sufficient medical equipment and supplies to take us through this period of national shutdown, amid the COVID-19 crisis?  According to PM Barrow, there is enough to last the country for a six-month period.  As far as financial aid, in the form of loans from the Inter-American Development Bank, the prime minister admits that help is a little slow to come since the I.D.B. and other international financial institutions are also busy rendering assistance to other countries that are also battling COVID-19.

Dean Barrow

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“The second point I must make is this, our local health team and the Ministry of Health are so plentifully resourced that we could theoretically reach the point of equipment oversupply.  I hasten to add though that there can never really be too much.  I’m just trying to underline the fact that we are completely prepared for the battle on the health front.  So, the Ministry of Health forecasted their requirements for a six-month battle against COVID-19 at around twelve to fifteen million dollars, Belize dollars.  We already have in hand close to twenty million dollars and thirteen million dollars more is arriving from the I.D.B. in a matter of weeks.  Therein though lies the beginnings of a possible problem.  All the international financial institutions, perhaps understandably, are laser-focused on the health front on this fight against COVID-19.  As critical as that is though, what I keep telling our international partners is that it is equally important for us to feed and clothe our people.”