Samuels: Budget fulfils basic needs

Minister of Home Affairs Maxwell Samuels was more specific, responding to the financial issues raised on the other side of the aisle.

Maxwell Samuels, Minister of Home Affairs

“The question raised by the Leader of the Opposition on speculation fee, import duty, excise duty increases and so on are all indicators he does not understand this budget and that in fact he’s trying to second guess what this budget is all about. This is a well-balanced budget in so far as government’s policy on economic management is concerned, our concern for the interest of our international financial partners. It shows that we take great effort in satisfying the basic needs of the Belizean people in these difficult times. We are hard pressed in this country, we are hard pressed in the region, and internationally things have been less than good. But having listened to Minister Mark from Albert, it is clear that we have had the wherewithal, the means, to make things happen. The fact that we are the only country in this region to show development, to show improvement, to show productivity in tourism speaks volumes for itself.”