Espat: Budget keeping it real
In his government’s defence, Minister of Tourism Mark Espat rose to address the assembly. While Espat’s presentation did not directly confront the numbers presented by the Opposition, he spoke of Cabinet’s intention to serve the best interests of all Belizeans.
Mark Espat, Minister of Tourism
“When we point the finger of blame to the world, we should always be mindful, and we should not be oblivious, that the other finger of blame points back at us. Madam Speaker, in terms of the performance of the economy and the projections, amidst all of these raging international issues, the Prime Minister in addressing the nation’s economic performance in 2001 gave us, as we say, the castor oil and the honey. He gave us the good and the bad. He gave us the sweet with the sour. Kept it as real as he could.”
“It is not that next year’s budget will be without challenges. There will be halving of capital revenue as compared to last year. And financing required for so called capital three projects, will increase by twenty-one million, from fifty-four million to seventy-five point two million. That we know will be challenging, given today’s credit climate. And Madam Speaker, the Prime Minister’s budget contemplates allocating a full forty-five percent of recurrent revenues in salaries and in benefits. In personal emoluments, valued at some one hundred and sixty-eight point six million is the most significant single line item in the entire budget. This will enable all nine thousand, five hundred and nine public servants to remain securely on government’s payroll.”
“The budget after all is the people’s money. The priorities theirs to direct, the sacrifices theirs to endure, and the benefit theirs to enjoy. This connection between the people and their budget should start with their representatives.”
