“Free Education Will Not Happen”, Says Opposition Leader

Moses “Shyne” Barrow

The Opposition Leader also spoke on the education budget, criticizing the Briceño administration’s commitment to free education as an unattainable objective. He says the 2023/2024 budget should instead provide more channels for families and students to access financing for education. Here is how he puts it.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“Education, we need to, free education will not happen, certainly not under this administration and I am not sure if we form government if that is a practical manifesto promise. What needs to happen, there was capitalization of the Central Bank, we need to capitalize DFC, the National Bank, we need to find a way to strengthen these institutions so that access to finance becomes a norm. There are no hurdles; obstacles to the hard working financially challenged Belizeans being able to pay for their Belizean dream. This hand out ideology is archaic and it is a failure. It doesn’t work. All that happens is that the government in waiting promises these lofty manifesto pledges and it never comes to be. So rather than free education as  promise, why not ensure that there is access to financing so that a hard working family, struggling family, struggling student can have access to finance their education to put themselves in a position to be able to take care of themselves.”

Barrow also spoke on the need for greater investments in citizen security and housing.