P.U.P. Unveils Rural Living, Housing, Transport and Infrastructure Policy
As the People’s United Party gears for national elections to be held sometime in November, it has been releasing its Plan Belize policies. This morning, the P.U.P. unveiled its blueprint for rural development, affordable housing and infrastructure, promising to create the right environment to improve the lives of citizens in rural communities and build ten thousand houses. In respect of infrastructure, the P.U.P. commits to rid the process of corruption that has become pervasive in infrastructural works undertaken by the current administration around the country. Here is Hipolito Novelo with a report.
Hipolito Novelo, Reporting
The Opposition People’s United Party today unveiled its policy for rural living, housing, transport and infrastructure. It’s the P.U.P.’s fifth policy plan launched under its PlanBelize initiative leading up to general elections in November. The rural communities have for the most part been neglected under past administrations for decades. But village resident and Area Representative for Toledo West Oscar Requeña says rural communities will no longer be forgotten.
Oscar Requeña
Oscar Requeña, Area Rep., Toledo West
“Our PlanBelize for rural development will work towards an enabling environment for strengthening governance, improve our rural infrastructure, develop agriculture, tourism, health and education for Belizeans who live in rural communities. Our plan for country living will priorities potable water in places where it is lacking. We will bring electricity to those communities who have waited for too long to flip the switch. Access to the internet in rural communities will be enhanced through public private sector partnership and we will roll out NHI to every Belizean man, woman and child no matter where they live in this nation.”
Then there is housing. Michael Finnegan has been the Minister of Housing for several many years but the P.U.P. says that his ministry hasn’t built a single house worth mentioning.
Julius Espat, Area Rep,. Cayo South
“The Ministry of Housing for the last twelve years, I might be wrong, I don’t think they have built a single house that is worthwhile even mentioning.”
John Briceño, Leader, P.U.P.
“I think they built some out of plycem that is already breaking up.”
Julius Espat
“That is worthwhile mention.”
John Briceño
“Right. Good point.”
Julius Espat
And the P.U.P. says they have a plan of affordable housing for first time home owners. The P.U.P., if they become the next government, plans to build ten thousand start homes.
Julius Espat
“It is a building or a house that will be designed taking in to consideration being architecture, vernacular architecture. The concept behind that is that we want a model to start off with. Basically twelve by twenty-six with a bathroom and a exterior laundry area. This will be a unit that anybody could afford to start with government’s assistance. If somebody at a different level of income would want to participate then the project is designed that it can increase. So it starts with a basic model. Second phase would be, you add on a bedroom to the same model. Third phase will be you add on another bedroom and the final phase you add on your master bedroom and a front veranda. In the end giving you a three bedroom, very comfortable three bedroom home.”
Then there is infrastructure, the hallmark of the Barrow Administration. The P.U.P. says that under the U.D.P. government, infrastructure has become synonymous with corruption.
Julius Espat
“I think infrastructure has not been designed for the last twelve years to satisfy the needs of the people that need it the most. I think we have to change that. I give you clear examples. We spend approximately two hundred million dollars. One portion of it on a road leading to Caracol; the other one on the bypass to the airport.”
John Briceño
“The Prime Minister said Caracol along is a hundred and eighty million dollars. I mean, his words.”
Julius Espat
“The bypass to the airport was thirty-three million dollars for five miles.”
John Briceño
Oscar Requeña
“For five miles.”
John Briceño
“For five miles? That is incredible.”
Julius Espat
“The problem is not only the expense of it. It is we are not prioritizing where our investment is going to satisfy the need of the people that need it the most. You have contractors bidding for projects that they have no qualifications, no knowledge of what to do. They do ghost formation of companies and in the end we get what is happening right now. All the contracts going to one persons as it pertains to road and most of the contracts for building going to one company because of the political affiliation.”
John Briceño
“Well the concert I have Julius, correct me if I am wrong is that we hear they set up people to apply so let’s have three persons to bid knowing full well who they are going to give. So the other two put in some ridiculous bids so they would not get it. So that is part of the set up.”
Julius Espat
“That’s because they are not using the public tendering on the proper way. They go back to the limited tendering. I think for the large majority we should back to public tendering.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Hipolito Novelo.
