Prime Minister says 1999 will be the year for work
While people in Barbados are looking forward to their elections, Belizeans are looking back at the changes and challenges of 1998. Today the Prime Minister Said Musa gave his New Year’s message and said the government will spend 1999 making positive changes for the nation.
Said Musa, Prime Minister
“The pop artist formerly known as Prince in his 1982 song said, “we’re going to party like it’s 1999”. This government is going to work like it’s the year 2000. 1999, my friends, will be filled with much promise, challenge and excitement. In education, many scholarships will come on stream and plans will begin to transform the University College of Belize into a national university that will equip our young people with marketable skills and the technological know-how for this new information era.
In culture and the arts, the Government House will be transformed into a house of culture, the Bliss Institute into a contemporary theatre of drama and music, the old prison site on Goal Lane into an international class museum that will be an inspiration and a place of attraction for Belizeans and tourists alike.
The newly appointed political reform commission will continue to reshape Belize’s political and constitutional landscape to make it more democratic and just. Health reform initiatives will be implemented and new dynamic tourism policies will attract more hard currency to our shores.
The New Year will see the appointment of the ombudsman and the contractor-general. These offices will ensure that your government remains open, honest, transparent and accessible by all Belizeans. The establishment of a utilities commission will regulate public utility rates and we are resolved to work hard to bring down the costs of water, light and telephone.
But, of course, the pièce de résistance of the New Year will be the long-awaited abolition of the killa VAT. 1999, my friends, will see the ushering in of a low tax, high potential growth economy.”
The Prime Minister’s entire New Year’s message will be aired on Channel Five following this newscast. You can also watch it again tomorrow before and after the news.
