P.U.P. Leader gets mathematical with P.M. on fuel prices

John Briceño

The cost of fuel, which is directly linked to the spiraling world market prices, was also discussed by the Opposition Party.  John Briceño reminded the Prime Minister about his no new taxes promise, but pointed out that there is a large increase in the price of fuel at the pump, particularly Premium gas which has gone up over a dollar.  Briceño believes that the P.M. could have worked out a better tax regime with B.N.E. and told the P.M. he could teach him a thing or two about math.

John Briceño, Leader of the Opposition

“The Prime Minister is projecting revenues of seven hundred and eighty-nine point three million which he says will come as a result of a three percent growth in GDP. How will this be accomplished? According to the Prime Minister, in 2010, total revenue was projected at seven hundred and thirty-nine point eight million and it was not realized. Where is the additional fifty million dollars coming from? I tell you where it is coming from. Two days ago, the Prime Minister put another whap on Belizeans. He increased import duties on fuel by an average of one dollar per gallon. He will try to squeeze out another fifty million dollars from his fuel tax increase on our overtaxed Belizean consumers, our over-burdened business community and our struggling productive sector. For every dollar that B.N.E. pays to the government in windfall tax, all that they are going to be putting that as part of their expenses. So instead of them paying fifty percent on windfall tax, they are going to pay thirty percent—not the fifty percent that this Prime Minister was boasting and lying to the people of this country Mister Speaker. And what makes it even worse Mister Speaker or even more painful to the Belizean people is that the experts from the commonwealth—from Trinidad who came to Belize to assist us, to assist Belize in putting together this legislation all advised government to set the windfall tax at sixty U.S. dollars and not to include the windfall taxes as an expense. This advice was given because B.N.E. themselves said that they would be profitable at thirty five dollars U.S. per barrel. If the Prime Minister had listened to these advisers, in 2010 alone, we would have been able to collect somewhere around an additional twenty eight million dollars in revenues from the people’s oil. Some of this money could have been used to give Belizeans a real break at the gas pump when they go to fil up. See the Prime Minister got problems with maths you know Mister Speaker and I di forgive him. He can’t add. Ih can’t add and multiple and subtract. All ih know dah to hurl in sorts of people, but let ih continue. But let me finish Mister Speaker. I could sit down with you and draw it for you make you understand. You yes. When it comes to dollars, I can explain that to you. You don’t understand. I could teach you ‘bout money, I could teach you ‘bout business so noh come with yoh. If you were to shut up for a minute then let me finish.”

Emil Arguelles, House Speaker

Emil Arguelles

“Honorable members, members of the gallery, I will ask you to stop the shouting… Members of the gallery, if the shouting persists, I will ask you to withdraw then.”