PM Barrow Says Petrocaribe Spending is Aboveboard

Dean Barrow

On Thursday, the Ministry of National Security hosted a press conference to speak on important security issues. But the hungry lot that the media is, we also wanted to know about those Petrocaribe funds which have been the subject of so much contention, controversy and even legal action. Prime Minister Barrow has told us what he thinks of that suit by Pac Chairman Julius Espat. But suit aside, the reality is this…while the coffers are, in the PM’s words, bulging with Petrocaribe funds, are those funds being spent wisely? And since Belizeans will have to pay those monies back, are we getting value for money? Barrow says absolutely yes.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“When you come to infrastructure for example…when I say to the Financial Secretary – we need to do San Antonio Road, or we need to concrete from the Social Security Building to the other end of Corozal Town and contracts are given out by the Ministry of Works, they all go to the Contractor-General. So you will not find any contract awarded by this government and which is being paid for by Petrocaribe monies that has not gone to the Contractor-General except you’re talking about hundred dollar contracts or thousand dollar contracts. Again, the records which are so prolific are there. The Financial Secretary can sit down with the media and tedious though it may be, go over all the details. We are happy to have the public know how every last penny is spent.”