Medium-term Development Strategy Almost Complete

In tandem with Belize’s economic performance is the medium-term development strategy that was scheduled to have been completed by the end of February, but the government was engaged in consultations with all relevant parties. There was a delay in the time frame some of the stakeholders responded and now the strategy is in the final stage. C.E.O. in the Ministry of Economic Development, Dr. Osmond Martinez shared with News Five that the core working group is preparing the final draft, which will be submitted to the Cabinet within the next two weeks. He agreed with the Financial Secretary that for Belize to continue to see a brighter economy, it will require discipline.

Dr. Osmond Martinez

Dr. Osmond Martinez, C.E.O., Ministry of Economic Development

“It’s not easy to follow a strategic plan, especially when you have limited resources, but I must say that some of the points that are within the strategic plan, for example, the building of houses – the Ministry of Infrastructure Development has built over a hundred and twenty-five, a hundred and thirty houses already and they are still ongoing, building new houses. Another strategic point is the protection of the environment. I think the government is already taking advantage of the environment, even as the famous transaction of the Blue Bond was one that we capitalized because of the environment as well and so there are a lot of things that are coming well but there is a lot of work that needs to be done, a lot of discipline that needs to be put, but more important is the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of this strategy that will be key in the way forward for the Government of Belize.”