Leader of Opposition Says G.O.B. Gutting Funds for Crime Fighting

Moses “Shyne” Barrow

Barrow went on to chastise the Government for what he says is the failure to address citizen security, crime and violence. Barrow noted that more money is being invested in the office of the Prime Minister, while the budget for the Ministry of Home Affairs has been cut. The Leader of the Opposition asserted that a U.D.P. administration under his leadership would ensure that security officers are well paid.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“We talk about crime in this country, the member for Caribbean Shores, I feel like deh set you up because deh know you want lead the party. I hear yow ah ker Prime Minister dah convention this year or next year. I feel like deh set you up dah dah ministry fih burn you and make you look bad. You have a task before you that I don’t think you appreciated. Deh nuh the support you. Deh cut your budget from the Barrow Administration. You are cut by ten million dollars. But we see increases in the office of the Prime Minister by ten million, increase in the office of the Prime Minister to have, I don’t know if dah wah village council slush fund, I don’t know what it is, because it is not described, Madam Speaker. Under a U.D.P. Administration, led by me, I will make sure that our security forces are well paid. For too long, we have mistreated our security forces. Then, what do you expect? How do you expect the crime scenes will be proceeds adequately? How do you expect our security forces will not be compromised when they are living pay check to pay check? So let us see what it is you promised, Madam Speaker. How can you have a criminal justice system that works when you refuse to increase the budget for the judiciary as you promised? Dah nuh me the mek it up. Dah nuh me the rail up with unu cause this dah weh I think. Next year you will see that. I will present my own budget and we will show the Belizean people how we will spend their money. You said you will do it, but again Madam Speaker the Belizean people need to realize, as the Member for Caribbean Shores said it, the government of the Prime Minister is talk, lone talks.”