Dramatic government cost increase for Lois Young’s New York Mission
John Briceno
The debate on the 2013-2014 budget lasted a full two days, closing late on Friday. There was a noticeable lessening of the venom and vitriol which has become characteristic of every House session, but there was very spirited commentary offered on the budget presented by Prime Minister Dean Barrow which was passed by the House and is going before the Senate in time for the new financial year, April first. One very pointed criticism was leveled at a dramatic increase in money allocated for foreign service, that is, our embassies abroad…and in particular our Mission in New York, where Lois Young, recently took up residence as Permanent Representative.
John Briceno, Area Representative, Orange Walk Central
“In the area of Foreign Affairs, we hear of no new cooperation initiatives with our regional, hemispheric or developed partners. Yet once again, we see more monies being disbursed to our embassies abroad. And we must single out New York, Mr. Speaker, and I know the PM has special interest in this embassy, but the sums that are being spent in New York are ridiculous. For instance, in allowances in 2011-2012, they spent three hundred and seventy three thousand, five hundred and sixty-seven dollars. In this new budget, they plan to spend seven hundred and twenty four thousand three hundred and ninety-two dollars, an increase of three hundred and fifty thousand, eight hundred and twenty-four dollars – a ninety four percent increase. In rent, for 2011-2012, they spent seven hundred and five thousand, seven hundred and seventy-two dollars. For this new budget, they will spend one million, twenty-one thousand, eight hundred and seven dollars, an increase of three hundred and sixteen thousand and eighty dollars, a forty-five percent increase. Now Mr. Speaker, you would think that the whap finished there, but it’s not finished, Mr. Speaker, because there is another line item that is called dwelling quarters. In 2011-2012, they spend two hundred and seventy-four thousand and ninety six dollars. In this new budget they will spend four hundred and twenty nine thousand seven hundred and ninety seven dollars, an increase of one hundred and fifty five thousand, seven hundred and one dollars, a fifty-seven percent increase. The New York approved estimates increased spending to two point two million dollars, and you know how many diplomats they have, Mister Speaker, they have three diplomats. They’re spending over two million dollars on three diplomats.”
In wrapping up the debate, the Prime Minister said that the New York allocation had gone up because the government was now assuming the entire costs for rent for the UN Mission. We note, however, that under the previous agreement with Lord Michael Ashcroft, which subsidized the rent was shelved about four years ago and should have no bearing on the current hike in allocation.
The PM and his cronies are very corrupt and vile. There is a clear case of conflict of interest here with the PM’s ex-wife living off of tax payer’s dollars. She has also been awarded monies from this PM in recent yrs for her role as lead lawyer in representing the GOB. This is a blatant violation of ethical behavior, there has to be other qualified people in the country that can do the things that she is getting paid to do. Here in the states this would be headline news.
People my belizean people wake up smell the roses this ya pm and gov. The thief Ina unu face and then spit pa u on top of it this is just plain corruption and thief plain and simple this million dollars could be used to help all the poo people of this country instead young the get this money fu live high off the hog and that no the count the money they are spending on her vehicle insurance etc. damm tha how they so thief and brazen bout it too.
Earlier this month Belize was embarrassed at the UN by official comment on our amateurish and incompetent EMAIL submission of a required report on human rights. That embarrassment was achieved by the same New York mission, Lois Young & Co. Do they really need almost twice as much money to fail at their jobs?
Before they get another dollar, let’s have a transparent public audit of the UN mission’s spending. Who could object to that?
Our PM’s policy of nepotism, keeping it in the family, is disgraceful and unsuccessful. Hopefully future PMs can look back and learn from Barrow’s shame and failure and follow a different path of integrity and patriotism.
This is one expensive old cow to maintain, I say put her out to pasture, once and for all.
Send all a dem to jail, enough is enough. How long can we stand aside and look?
no wonder we can’t get pay raise. LOIS get ALL.
The e-x-wife she getting lots of money,but, she is smart.. She a lawyer, just like most of the political, on both sides. lol, they can defend themselves.
Regular people cyant get hired for them kinda job cause when theCEO of the ministry decide fi have a hissy fit with them they will have to apologise and resign. He cant try that high and mighty way with this one. So my people we pay the price for pretty boys with simple self and dodo minister. All of our tax dollars hard at work.
Nepotism. Too bad I’m not related to them