KHMH to be rehabilitated with EU funds

The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital will be rehabilitated through a three-point two million-dollar grant from the European Union. This week cabinet reviewed the proceedings of a meeting between members of the ministries of health, works and budget planning to determine the scope of the work. Cabinet will also be asking the Inter-American Development Bank to provide one hundred and fifty thousand US dollars for consultants to enhance Belize’s disaster preparedness. The consultation will look at disaster legislation, a hazard and risk assessment strategy. Under the Ministry of Budget Planning, cabinet was advised that KPMG Peat Marwick and Luis Lue are preparing a prospectus for the sale of BEL security holdings. Under the proposed public offering, the public will be invited to purchase shares formerly held by the government and Social Security Board. In an effort to make housing more affordable, the Development Finance Corporation has agreed to reduce the lending rate for residential homes from 13 to 12 percent. It was also announced that lotteries and gaming, which has been under the portfolio of the Minister of Finance, would be transferred to the Minister of Budget Planning and Economic Development. Cabinet has approved a proposal by the Ministry of Economic development that businesses and other agencies, which use Belize’s internet domain, BZ, pay a registration fee. Economic Solutions Incorporated of Florida would promote Belize in each transaction and UCB would continue to be the resident administrative contact for the BZ domain.