PM Lays Out Financial Crisis in Budget Presentation

John Briceño

Once today’s House Meeting was adjourned, the press met Prime Minister John Briceño outside the National Assembly chambers. As viewers may be aware, while PM Briceño has debated numerous budget presentations as Opposition, today was his first budget presentation as leader of the country. His presentation went on for approximately eighty-three minutes, a personal record.  But the Prime Minister felt that it was important to lay it all on the table for Belizeans to appreciate the current economic crisis. Here is what he told reporters.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“It was important for us to be able to lay on the table exactly what we have gone through and for Belizeans for fully appreciate the challenges we are facing at this time. The financial crisis the U.D.P. left the country and by extension us as a new government. It is something that we just can’t play over or breeze over it. It is important for Belizeans to fully appreciate what we are trying to do. We cannot continue in the ways where we are spending and spending, without addressing the underlying issues affecting the country. How are we going to grow the economy? How are we going to create job? And by extension it can help us to get into fiscal sustainability within the government.”