Civil society presents report to P.M.

There are too many workshops, planning committees and seminars, and not enough work being done in Belize. That’s just one of the latest findings from the civil society organisations of Belize. Armed with U.N.D.P. funding and following a series of consultations, today SPEAR presented the P.M. with the study, which will hopefully improve mechanisms for participation and positive input from all parties concerned. Team member Elias Awe highlighted the priority measures.

Elias Awe, Treasurer, ANDA

“As a responsible community of NGOs, we need to put the N.G.O. Act into action, because we do have an NGO Act, but we need more support from the monitoring side of it. And looking at resources, if the government can assist with us resources so that we can participate more fully in the various committees and sub-committees of government where we are asked to participate.”

Prime Minister Said Musa

“We are willing to give support through projects as opposed to just paying salaries of NGO people and so on. We feel that we can best contribute to the strength and viability of NGOs by working with them and getting them involved in implementing projects, particularly in the social sector.”

Elias Awe

“I must say also that the NGOs are currently undergoing some constraints with respect to finances. The funding community out there is pretty dismal now and what we need to do as NGOs is just try to coordinate our activities, our resources and see how we can maximise from this coming together.”

The final report, titled Civil Society Organisations in Belize: A Rapid Assessment of their Capacity to Influence and Monitor Public Policy, was prepared by consultant Herman Byrd and associate Ayesha Borland and completed in August 2003.