Fourth Supplementary Budget for Fiscal Year 2022/2023

Prime Minister John Briceño

And while negotiations with Venezuela have saved tax payers millions of dollars, the Government of Belize presented its fourth Supplementary Appropriation Bill for this fiscal year before today. The need for additional funds was triggered primarily by the devastation left behind in the wake of Hurricane Lisa. The Government of Belize sought authorization for the use of twenty-five million dollars to conduct repairs to homes, road infrastructures, and the Belize Defense Force living quarters at Price Barracks. According to Prime Minister Briceño, the monies will also be used for the continuation of the Grocery Bag Program to residents in the Belize District.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“We seek authorization for nearly twenty-five million dollars funding for hurricane relief and recovery effort. This is includes but is not limited to two point three million for additional grocery bag assistance, primarily for the Belize District. Three point two million for NEMO related emergency relief, expenditures on various supplies including mattresses and other essentials, including funding for fuel and other essential foe the B.D.F. assistance in emergency cleanup and related efforts in connection with Hurricane Lisa. Three point two million in emergency relief including home repair supplies like zinc and plywood to those most affected by Hurricane Lisa in constituencies in the Belize District. Two point seven million for major repairs and construction works in Price Barracks in Ladyville and other national defense facilities. You should see the appalling condition that the B.D.F. is living in. It is shameful that we had Petro-Caribe money, we had the oil money and they did nothing you fix the living facility of the BDF, six million to support housing relief and construction and four point five million for emergency cleanup and repairs to road infrastructures. While addressing relief and recovery efforts other pr3ssing demands continue to arise. The higher cost of fuel and other goods and services had meant that other recurrent expenditure has gone up.”