Government Expands Basic Food Basket

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia

In Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, it was agreed that government will be expanding the list of goods that are subject to regulation under the Supplies Control Act.  An additional thirty-four items have been included on that list, many of which will be price controlled.  This morning, Minister of Human Development, Dolores Balderamos-Garcia provide additional details on the latest effort to address the steep cost of living affecting Belizeans.

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Human Development

“It is with pleasure that I speak on the decision made by Cabinet recently to expand the basic food basket of regulated food items from only nine to a comprehensive forty-three items.  This initiative, Madame Speaker, aims to help to alleviate the burden of the high cost of living on our Belizean people.  As we are all aware, the cost of living around the world has been a pressing concern and Belize is no exception.  The five dollar minimum wage has helped over thirty thousand of our Belizean people, but the rising cost of living is at our doorstep everyday.  Many families struggle to make ends meet, particularly when it comes to putting food on the table, and the rising prices of essential food items has eroded the purchasing power of households and has put a strain on their overall wellbeing.  It is our duty, I believe, as representatives of the people to address the issue and find practical solutions that will make a positive impact on their daily lives, and this, Madame Speaker, is what our government is seeking to do.”