The Opposition leader has his say on the 2008-2009 budget
The House of Representatives convened in Belmopan today to debate the eight hundred and twenty-five million dollar Budget for 2008-2009 presented on July fourteenth by Prime Minister Dean Barrow. At news time when the debate wound up, most of the Opposition had taken the floor except for the former prime minister Said Musa. Francis Fonseca of Freetown was notably absent from the opposition benches. P.U.P. leader, Johnny Briceño making his debut statement to the budget debate, threw punches at the government side of the House and where he found it necessary he joined the chorus in support of some government projects. And in an act of attrition rarely seen, the opposition leader had commendations for what he said were his party’s efforts to “correct its mistakes”. As expected there was enough criticism by the opposition and plenty accolades from the government side in a debate that many times had nothing to do with the budget. Here are some highlights of today’s proceedings from the National Assembly.
John Briceño, Leader of the Opposition
“What we see in this budget falls somewhat short on innovation. It is a budget, bleached white with caution, so to speak, and not reflecting the kind of spirit that one would expect from a budget that will help Belizeans to “feel” the possibilities. Because we agree with the prime minister that we are in changing times, we expected to see reflected in the budget, some measure of boldness. Mr. Speaker, the rising cost of living did not magically start in February of this year; it was something that rose out of the results of instability due to natural disasters like droughts, floods, and instability due to international conflicts. But most significant, is the undisputable fact that Belizeans in February 2008 were better off. The G.D.P. pre capita was the highest on record at $8,180.50, the ratio of outstanding debt to G.D.P. was at 76.6%. Yes, Mr. Speaker, we were working on fixing the problems and the performance of the 2007/2008 budget was an indication of that.”
“I would like to share with you, Mr. Speaker, something the then Leader of the Opposition said from this very spot where I now stand and made his reference to the P.U.P. budget. He said, and I quote: “that the people of this country was caught between the Scylla and Charybdis, confronting the twin monsters of that 4.5% spike in the cost of living over the last year that I spoke about and the payment of $21 million more in additional taxes squeezed from their already empty pockets.” end of quote. Well Mr. Speaker, I wonder what he would say if he were on this side of the isle to the projected 4.7% spike in the cost of living for this financial year and the additional $10 million dollars he will squeeze and I quote his words “from the already empty pockets” of hard working Belizeans. And that is only a part of his close to $100 million dollar increase in revenues for this financial year. Indeed Mr. Speaker, judging from the numbers, “life noh just haad out yah, life haada out yah!”
“I wish I could tell them their government is taking serious steps to address the rising cost of living and show them an example like the Basic Needs Trust Fund. Instead I will have to tell them all their government did was to put $6,600 more in the budget than was allocated over last year for the Basic Needs Trust Fund, even as the Prime Minster is admitting that the cost of living continues to rise. And as for village councils, remember they claimed to have won in most of the village councils; well you all will get a reduction, yes a reduction of $20,000 and as for improving your water supply and sanitation, well that too has been reduced over last year’s figures by $7,000. ARE YOU BEGINNING TO IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES?”
“Mr. Speaker, did you notice that in this budget the Women’s Department is only getting $4,026 more for the entire year? Did you do the math and notice that the average being spent on single mothers comes out to a whopping $3 each? Single mothers no doubt will imagine the possibilities. And what is this about reducing the tax on cigarettes? Sorry, I cannot be convinced given all we know about the negative effects of cigarettes that any so called right thinking government would lower the taxes on cigarettes. Especially at a time we ought to be convincing people to smoke less and not more. Mr. Speaker, we are happy to see the U.D.P. administration is willing to acknowledge that the P.U.P. is capable of generating projects and of advancing in areas of Cap II and III. After all Mr. Speaker, it appears that almost the entire Cap II and Cap III of the Prime Minister’s first budget is comprised of work that was started or initiated by the P.U.P..”
“The $6.5 million for the Placencia Road, da P.U.P. set dat up. The $4 million for the completion of the Southern Highway, da P.U.P. set that up. The $5.3 million for the Belize City South Side improvement Project, da P.U.P. mek dat happen. The $4.8 million for the rehabilitation of the sugar roads, da P.U.P. staat dat. The $8 million in support to the banana and sugar industries under the European Union Programme, da P.U.P. negotiate dat. The $6.5 million for the health reform project, da P.U.P. find the money fu dat. The $11.9 million to fund programmes under SIF, the Social Investment Fund and the Basic Needs Trust Fund, all projects dat P.U.P. started. Finally, $3 million for the completion of the ITVET project, something we all know was started under the P.U.P. So we support these efforts and thank the Prime Minister for recognising our work.”
“We know that although we are but six on this side of the isle, the Belizean people expect no less than a rigorous defence of their interests; to hold the government to their promises, to wave the U.D.P.’s twenty-one pledges before this Honourable House, to keep them to their manifesto promise. But always to do so in a manner that is respectable instead of arrogant. The hot seat is not the one in which I sit; it is the one facing me. It is the U.D.P. who must now, account to the Belizean People for their Campaign Promises. They must now make the bacon.”
