More Funds for Ministry of Social Development in New Budget

The Ministry of Human Development, Families and Indigenous People’s Affairs received a budget ceiling of roughly twenty four million dollars in the 2022-2023 budget. And while it may seem a sizable amount, fifteen million of it will be going towards paying salaries, travel and subsidies, utilities, and other operational costs. Approximately eight million dollars will be invested under Capital Two investments. Of the eight million, six million has been allocated to the food assistance program, the largest investment under Capital two. Three hundred thousand was allocated to Human Services, largely to assist vulnerable families, while seven hundred thousand dollars has been allocated to the Ministry for rehabilitation services under community rehabilitation. Compared to the last fiscal year, the government is expected to spend some five million dollars more in the Ministry, in both recurrent and capital two expenditures. On the other hand, nine figure investments are being made in Education, Health, Science, and Culture, significantly larger sums. We recently asked Minster Balderamos-Garcia for a comment on her ministry’s allocation.

Dolores Balderamos Garcia

Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Minister of Human Develop, Families and Indigenous People’s Affairs

“Of course it would be wonderful for all the ministries to have more money. But, with an over one billion dollar budget, I believe that I can support where the money is going. We must stress on self reliability, job creation, expansion of the economy and all of those things will make the country better. Actually, the right direction to go would be less spending on Human Development if all our people are at work. But it is necessary to provide our people with those social nets. I said in the House at the budget debate that this government will not forget the social safety net. We have some good successes along that line, for example the disability desk. Yesterday we just receive a real kind donation of a disability bus. So, we have wonderful donors and partners. So, that is to say, all though we won’t forget the social safety net, government must all stress on job creation and the growth of the economy, weh deh seh, a rising tide will float all the boats. That is how I see our direction in Belize.”