Prime Minister Promises Big for 2024
Prime Minister John Briceño
As 2023 draws to a close, many are taking time to reflect on their achievements of the past year and goals for the approaching year. This includes the Government of Belize that, in a New Year message from Prime Minister John Briceño, reviewed the progress the country made this year and shared his administration’s optimism for the year to come.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“During these festive days, we take stock of the year that’s closing. and make fervent pledges for the one ahead. There is no greater goal than to protect the lives of our citizens, and so perhaps our foremost achievement was the dramatic reduction to violent crime and murders. The latter falling by 19 percent over last year. 2023 saw the highest number of Belizeans ever employed. Just over 182,000. 96 of every one hundred Belizeans who wanted a job was able to find work in 2023. And thanks to this government’s increase of the minimum wage, 42,865 Belizeans are earning more for their precious skills. A nation at work is worth celebrating and preserving in 2024. 2024 promises to be Belize’s best year ever for tourism, surpassing the 2019 pinnacle. In health, the fact that almost 220,000 Belizeans are covered by the national health insurance is impartial fulfillment of our promise to get every Belizean covered under the NHI program. Funding has been secured and plans are well on the way for the hospital in San Pedro and the tertiary level teaching hospital in Belmopan, Hundreds of miles of highways, rural roads, and village streets continue to be transformed by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development team. As 2024 begins, the new Haulover Bridge will be completed on scheduled and below budget. 50 new starter homes funded by Taiwan will commence early next year in the New Year. And just a few days ago, government allocated an additional 23 million for the Ministry of Health, including funding for the long awaited CT scan machine for the KHMH, as well as additional monies for improving public health services. Without a doubt, government’s boldest decision of 2023 was the buyback of the Port of Belize. The new board will move decisively in 2024 in collaboration with all stakeholders to commence the transformation of this vital public utility. With your continued support and with the blessings of the Almighty, 2024 will elevate Belize and her people to new heights of achievement and prosperity. Happy New Year to all Belizeans. Long live Belize.”
