Earlier in our newscast, we brought you some of the highlights of a budget debate which was largely uninspiring and lacklustre. Still, the Opposition managed to get in its jabs at the government and at a budget which it called a “Tax, Borrow and Spend” budget. The budget does indeed make reference to increased spending […]
Former P.U.P. Albert Area Representative and current United Democratic Party insider, Mark Espat, may have left the overtly political arena years ago. But there’s no doubt his parting has left open wounds in the P.U.P. Espat’s name came up in different presentations, most pointedly in Julius Espat’s presentation. The current P.U.P. Area Rep took the […]
The Prime Minister reserved a special dose of vitriol for Public Accounts Committee Chairman, Julius Espat. Espat on Wednesday said that the Bill, if passed, would in effect allow the Prime Minister to write a one million dollar check to his family. That got the PM’s attention in a hurry, and it was clear he […]
With that out the way, P.U.P. Leader Francis Fonseca got the budget debate started. He lashed out in short order, stating that not only was the 2015-2016 Budget the shortest ever, it is also the emptiest. According to Fonseca who pointed to the rising cost of basic goods, PM Barrow’s budget is actually devoid of […]
Fonseca ended his presentation on a passionate note, claiming that the People’s United Party may be down, but they are not out. Rolling on the Petrocaribe bounty and unprecedented spending, Government has boasted that it will win a historic third term whenever general elections are called. But while Fonseca stops just short of saying “Call […]
Former Prime Minister and Fort George Area Representative Said Musa this morning echoed the words of Party Leader Francis Fonseca, claiming that the budget is all glitter and no substance, a borrow and spend budget. According to Musa, while rhetoric is one thing, the reality on Belize’s streets is that the rich are getting richer; […]
One particular area of interest to Musa is the debt profile of the country. He says that in 2008, the U.D.P. met manageable debt, and in less than ten years they have racked it up to a point where it is unsustainable. Said Musa, Area Representative, Fort George “When the U.D.P. came into office […]
Like with most things political, facts depend on who’s doing the talking. Earlier in the newscast, you heard Fort George Area Rep, Said Musa, say the P.U.P. did well where debt is concerned and that it is the U.D.P. which has taken it to unsustainable levels. But Collet Area Representative, Patrick Faber, got up to […]
We end today’s coverage of the Budget debate with the presentation from member for Orange Walk Central John Briceño, who broke down what he says are severe deficiencies in an empty budget. Briceño took issue with the U.D.P.’s mantra of transforming Belize, saying that in this budget, and by its actions, this government is about […]
There is a lot of political news tonight. We’ll come to that shortly, but we start with a rather unprecedented proposed new law. This Thursday, Belize’s Parliamentarians go to the House to debate the 2015-2016 Budget. But even before that gets underway, News Five has gotten wind of a bill which Government intends to pass […]
It’s official. Albert constituency Area Representative Herman Longsworth is out. The wanna-be Area Rep., Phillip Willoughby, is also out. And Tourism C.E.O. and first-time, full-time politician Tracy Taegar-Panton is in. The announcement came today at U.D.P. headquarters, complete with all the bells and whistles to welcome the woman, Prime Minister Dean Barrow says will deliver […]
Panton comes from a traditionally P.U.P. background, and even worked for years as Manager of the P.U.P.’s Belize Times. She has been affiliated with the very successful Mark Espat era in the Albert Constituency and received her first official tourism posting under the P.U.P. So how does that true blue history get reconciled with the […]
So, the United Democratic Party formally introduced its new standard bearer for the Albert Division this morning, much to the surprise of many who believed that the candidacy would have been a duel between councilor Phillip Willoughby and Minister of State Herman Longsworth. One man who’s equally as taken aback, not by the abrupt change, […]
Thompson also says that he will be re-strategizing in the wake of the recent development and remains confident of his chances in his stomping grounds. Isani Cayetano “Does the familiarity of this new candidate force you in any way to change your campaign or to restructure or reorganize your approach to winning the upcoming […]
Back to Panton…She says she is confident that she can deliver the Albert constituency, and has committed to do just that. To have any chance at all, she will have to capitalize on any mileage made by Longsworth and even Willoughby, who has been working in the division for months. Both men’s sudden fall from […]
Most would say that Longsworth’s stint as Albert Area Representative has been unremarkable, and while Willoughby wanted it really bad, he’ll never get his chance to shine in the Alberts. But neither man seems particularly unhappy to be pushed out, and that’s probably because the favour of their stepping aside will likely be rewarded with […]
With Panton set to be installed, PM Barrow is setting up conventions in Belize Rural North, Orange Walk South and Caribbean Shores. Like we said, it’s all fine-tuning for general elections which Barrow really can call at his whim. Today he confirmed that it won’t be this year…or will it? Dean Barrow, U.D.P. Leader […]
The 2015-2016 Proposed Budget by the Barrow Administration will be heavily debated in the next two days at the National Assembly Building where it is expected that the Opposition will poke holes at the proposed expenditure and revenues of public funds. But even before the debate, which is expected to be a fiery one, the […]
BYM also touched on issues affecting the youth such as education and crime. Micah Goodin and Alberto Vellos spoke of not getting the monies worth out of what has been spent. Alberto Vellos, BYM “We call for value of money at the ministry of education. Does the investment match up with the results? Clearly […]
Following a massive loss in municipal elections, the executive and key players in the P.U.P. have been circling the wagons around embattled leader Francis Fonseca. And today, in culmination of that defensive manoeuvre, the executive, standard bearers and the Parliamentary Caucus of the Party met to endorse Fonseca’s leadership, unanimously. The announcement was made after […]
Executive members, parliamentarians and standard bearers today, but former Party Leader John Briceño was conspicuously absent. Briceño, last Friday, very publicly, supported the call for a national convention of the P.U.P., though he has not gone so far as to say he would throw his hat in the ring. Since there won’t be any contested […]
There has been some criticism of the party for its refusal to let go of certain persons considered the old guard. But if you expected any mass jettisoning or serious shakeup, it didn’t happen – because, says the Campaign Manager, the P.U.P. is a party of inclusion. Godfrey Smith, Campaign Manager, P.U.P. “If you […]
The People’s United Party National Executive has been convened to independence hall this Wednesday, a week after it last met. All day today, there have purportedly been reports that the party will be making changes to the executive in the wake of the massive defeat at the polls in the March fourth Municipal Elections in […]
Today’s sitting of the House of Representatives was reserved for the presentation of the 2015-2016 Budget, the eighth of the Barrow administration. Later in our newscast we’ll have an extensive look at that, but first we deal with another matter which dominated the political scene inside and outside the House today. We refer, of course, […]
With that acerbic statement, it was on to the reading of the Budget, and there is where it would have ended today. But the man to whom many of the allegations in the leaked recording are pointing decided to have his say. Former Prime Minister Said Musa is a veteran debater in the House, but […]
