P.M. Briceño Discusses World Bank Visit to Belize
On Monday, Cabinet also met with a delegation from the World Bank to discuss, among other issues, Belize’s eligibility to join the International Development Association, an arm of the World Bank that offers concessionary loans and grants to less-developed countries. The executive board of directors were in Belize on a fact-finding mission and to see for themselves the strengths and challenges faced by the country in its national development. Earlier today, P.M. Briceño discussed the meeting, as well as a field trip that saw representatives from other branches of the World Bank visit poverty and crime-stricken communities on the south side of Belize City.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“It says a lot about the work of our government that we have been doing over the past two years. Before that, Belize, people didn’t really look at us, so these IFIs they looked at us like we didn’t want to follow the rules, we’re not doing what is necessary and we’re just floundering and just, with no kind of vision or direction. Over the past two years we have changed that and so now the IFIs want to get directly involved, not only by us attending meetings but by them coming on the ground. The members from the World Bank, they were walking in south side Belize City wanting to take a firsthand look at what is taking place. It gives us a sense of fulfillment that they’re listening to us, they are looking and they are seeing our challenges and that they are prepared to work along with Belize to address these issues that Belizeans are facing every single day. The IMF representatives for the region, they all look at Belize as a middle income country when we are not necessarily a middle income country. We have many challenges and issues to address. Our population is too small for the size of country and that is why it requires a lot of infrastructural investments in Belize. We have about a hundred and ninety-six villages and they all want land, they want road, they want clinics, they want electricity, they want water and it is very expensive. And so, it is important for Belize now to be able to access conditional, two things, grant funding and concessionary funding.”
