P.M.: “A budget to be proud of”
Come tomorrow morning, the nation’s attention will focus on Belmopan as leader of the nation, Prime Minister Said Musa, climbs Independence Hill to present his fifth budget speech to the National Assembly. With elections right around the corner, tradition dictates that the incumbent government will paint a pretty picture of the state of the economy, true or not. But this afternoon, the P.M. was confident that his facts and figures will hold up to the closest scrutiny.
Prime Minister Said Musa
“It will be a very realistic budget, and it will show that our prudent management in reducing the fiscal deficit has paid off and we’ll be able to show the nation that we have brought down the deficit that we said we would, within the targets that we set, and that this coming year, we are going to meet all our targets from what our projections show. It will also show that we had one of the best growth rates in 2002 in whole region. As you know the Caribbean and Central America has been suffering from mainly from the effects of the downturn in the U.S. economy, the September eleventh hangover and the whole Caribbean, Barbados in particular, has virtually had negative or little growth. But Belize will be able to boast a substantial growth rate relative to all that. So I feel very confident, very proud of the budget that we will present tomorrow, and in particular about the results that we will be able to show on the out turn for 2002.”
Janelle Chanona
Switching gears slightly to elections, the tone, some pundits have been alluding to the Southside strategy using the music and the P.U.P.’s is love. How do you respond to the allegations that it’s a little too lewd for the conservative Belizean voter?”
Prime Minister Said Musa
“I don’t think so. I think people don’t, in this day and age, don’t want any long speeches, no matter how articulate the politician. They are into music; they are into dance. This is our culture and I don’t find the music or the dance lewd at all. It’s exciting.”
Janelle Chanona
“Anything else about the tone of the election going into municipals and elections whenever they may be?”
Prime Minister Said Musa
“We’ve virtually completed the nationwide tour, we have just a few more areas left to cover. And I must say it’s been very fortifying or encouraging from the response we’ve been getting from the people. It has given me a tremendous opportunity, not only to see the many accomplishments over the past four and a half years, but also to see what are the present needs and challenges that we face as we prepare for the next term.”
It is expected that one week later the Opposition will get its chance to challenge Musa’s views when the House reconvenes for the budget debate.
