According to Fonseca, while our debt continues to grow, the economy is stagnant, and that is a recipe for disaster. He toed the Opposition line and assertion that whether it is a matter of public knowledge or not, the country is in recession. Francis Fonseca, Area Representative, Freetown “Debt is manageable in the context […]
Julius Espat, Area Representative of Cayo South and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, joined his colleagues in rejecting the budget presented by the Prime Minister. His focus was on supplementary appropriations. He explained that the figures in the budget presented by the Prime Minister means nothing in real terms. Julius Espat, Area Representative, […]
Espat concluded his presentation by taking a swipe at the Prime Minister, who in a prior session has used the privilege granted by the House to refer to Espat as a pig. The Cayo South Area Representative told the House that Barrow calling him a pig is indeed the greatest of ironies. Julius Espat, […]
And after complaining that Belizeans travelling to the Sarstoon as stalkers, and suggesting that those Belizeans are provoking Guatemalans, Elrington turned his attention to the media. He announced that he will no longer be granting interviews on his own, since the media apparently has an ulterior motive. Fortunately, as we found out, the views of […]
On March eighth Prime Minister Dean Barrow presented the budget for the 2016/2017 fiscal year under the theme – Stability in the time of change. He claimed that it was a bold statement by a government which had served the people well, and would continue to do so even when faced with real challenges. One […]
Briceño claims that the U.D.P. has deliberately refused to admit that Belize is actually operating in a recession, and there is no sign of the best that was to come but never did. John Briceño, P.U.P. Leader “The truth of the matter is that for each of the past two consecutive quarters of 2015, […]
The Leader of the Opposition, to bolster his argument of economic crisis, used the figures on employment between 2008 and today. Not surprisingly, Area Representative for Belmopan John Saldivar used unemployment figures during that same period to bolster his argument that the economy was looking good and getting better. John Briceño, P.U.P. Leader “Since […]
Saldivar, who publicly announced today that he intends to contest for the vacant post of first deputy leader in the U.D.P., boasted that if Briceño’s statistics and assertions are valid, the U.D.P. would never have won an unprecedented third term. He maintained that the people of Belize are still in a very loving, long-term relationship […]
But with all that said, Briceño ended his presentation to kick off the debate by extending the hand of cooperation, claiming that his party is prepared and able to assist the government in tackling issues which affect Belizeans across the board. John Briceño, P.U.P. Leader “We will help on initiatives that bring meaningful relief […]
In terms of the specifics as related to the Ministry of National Security, Belmopan Area Representative John Saldivar revealed that as it has every year, the budget for the departments under his portfolio will grow. Among other projects this year, Saldivar boasts that the Forward Operating Base will be completed in this fiscal year, thanks […]
Lake Independence Area Representative Cordel Hyde was the third to weigh in on the 2016/2017 budget. It is his first address in the House since elections of November, 2015. In fact, it is his first address in the House in over four years. Representing Lake I, one of the most impoverished areas of Belize City, […]
Hyde claimed that for all the rhetoric surrounding its presentation, and for all the money this government says it has spent, that money hasn’t reached the people who need it the most. Cordel Hyde, Area Representative, Lake I “Life for the elites and the chosen few has been so much better, while life for […]
Representative for Collet Patrick Faber spoke at length today, but interestingly the major portion of his presentation did not touch on the Budget for the fiscal year 2016/2017. He instead spent much time on the 2006 budget presented by then Prime Minister Said Musa. It wasn’t exactly clear why Faber chose to revisit a ten […]
Faber didn’t comment on the obsession, but he did take time to revisit the now infamous Petrocaribe-funded pibil and barbecue fest in Corozal. The young Minister has taken flak for using Petrocaribe monies to fund a party trip for Collet residents in Corozal. But as he pointed out in the House today, he’s still sitting […]
In his presentation, Musa took on the deficit in the 2015/2016 budget – a one hundred and eighty-two million dollar gap between revenue and actual expenditure. It’s an unprecedented deficit in the region of five point one percent of GDP, and Musa says that it is the hangover from what he called the bazaar spending […]
The United Democratic Party held its National Convention in Dangriga over the weekend. The biennial event should have been held in 2015, but that turned out to be a banner year for elections – two bye-elections, one municipal and one general – which caused the official party function to be pushed back. On Sunday, all […]
There’s no doubt that Vega’s departure from the political scene will have a significant effect on the U.D.P. Vega has generally held the fort in the north – pumping resources and considerable money into all election campaign machineries. Village Council elections will be held soon, and those in the know say that Vega’s heavy arm […]
There are two contenders to the slot of first deputy leader of the U.D.P.: Ministers John Saldivar and Patrick Faber. Within twenty-four hours of the national convention in Dangriga, Faber called a press conference officially launching his bid. At this early stage, he was supported by senior colleagues Michael Finnegan, Manuel Heredia, as well as […]
The Patrick Faber campaign was launched this afternoon amid much fanfare within the United Democratic Party. While a date for the convention is yet to be determined, it is expected that delegates will go to the polls no later than mid-July. But Faber is first out of the gate and is heavily supported by the […]
But what about his temper? Faber is known for his sporadic outbursts, a trait that has rubbed quite a few people the wrong way. According to the leadership candidate, it’s a character flaw he is certainly working on. Patrick Faber, Candidate, U.D.P. Deputy Party Leader “But what you need to realize Mister Vasquez is […]
The unanticipated letter of resignation from Deputy Party Leader Gaspar Vega, relinquishing his post as second-in-command of the ruling United Democratic Party, has created a leadership vacuum within the hierarchy of the U.D.P. The formal notice, ahead of Sunday’s endorsement convention in Dangriga, has taken everyone by surprise. Despite the timeliness of the announcement of […]
The resignation of Vega also came as a surprise to Minister of Education, Patrick Faber, who contested the deputy leadership back in 2013, but lost to Vega. Faber says despite Vega’s departure, Sunday’s convention will be a smooth process and the party will remain strong. Patrick Faber, U.D.P. Minister “It was a surprise for […]
It is highly speculated that Vega stepped down after the portfolio for the Ministry of Natural Resources was given to an unelected minister, Godwin Hulse. But was this what triggered his resignation from politics? Patrick Faber, U.D.P. Minister “That’s a question I think you best ask Mister Vega. From what is presented to us […]
Collet Area Rep Patrick Faber has not been bashful about his intent to become U.D.P. party leader. He believes that acquiring deputy party leadership is a stepping stone to his ambition to replace Dean Barrow as party leader and prime minister. But for Faber to get the post, he’ll have to defeat John Saldivar and […]
On Monday, the P.U.P. condemned the aggression of the Guatemalan navy. Today, another political party added its condemnation. Vision Inspired by the People denounced Guatemala’s military aggression toward Belizean soldiers and citizens. A V.I.P. release states that Guatemala’s government is pursuing a path of military intimidation in violation of its obligations as a member of […]
