Minister Anthony Martinez Defends Taiwan’s Rice Donation

Defending Taiwan’s rice donation was Minister Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez. The Minister says that anyone would prefer cash donation but in this case, the ten thousand bags of rice was donated due to the surplus of the grain in Taiwan. It’s part of the “Taiwan Rice Donation for Humanitarian Relief” project which according to Martinez, the Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation, and Poverty Alleviation has been tasked with distributing. In responding to the concerns raised by Jose Mai, Minister Martinez says Taiwan’s donation is being politicized.

Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez

Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez, Minister of Human Development

“Anybody would prefer cash donation for anything. It is what it is and what it is, is that there was a surplus of rice in Taiwan and they gave the donation. I don’t know about any surplus of money and they gave money donation. I think in the ordinary course of things, of course you would have wanted cash donation for almost anything. In my view, so the question I need to ask. Will we prefer not take the rice donation and have some people stay hungry? That will be the political game they wish to play. I am sorry. As a politician the main objective in my view is to serve.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Sir you do not believe at all that this donation negatively affects the rice producers in the slightest way?”

Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez

“How do you mean it negatively affects?
Hipolito Novelo

“It affects the local market.”

Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez

“Put it this way; anything will do. If you get a donation; a car, B.E.C., Bravo, all of them could say that there will definitely be an impact. So of course, nobody can dispute that some of these products or rice would not have been sold even if we did not get the donation. We cannot dispute that but we have to deal with what is the reality. You can look around. The easiest thing is to find fault. The hardest thing is to put solution to it. In my humble opinion I want to say also too that I would ask the rice farmers if they have surplus to please kindly donate some to the worthy Belizean. I have no difficult with that, who is their good customer and a part from that who I think would have want to see them to donate socially to the cause. We have a lot of homeless people who get feed through the various programs.

Reporter

“One of the issues is always who get it. I know you say that N.G.O.’s will receive it, feeding programs. But also individuals will receive it. I know how politics usually plays; you reward your friends. U.D.P.’s will receive… “

Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez

“No. No. No. We cannot speculate that U.D.P. will receive nothing sir.”

The rice will be distributed to over eight hundred governmental and non-governmental agencies and families countrywide.