BELIZE CITY, Tues. Feb. 23, 2021– The People’s United Party has already completed one hundred days in office as of February 19. It is no secret that the new administration took the helm during a period that was chaotic for the country of Belize. Thus far the party has had to face the COVID-19 pandemic, dire economic and financial restraints caused by inherited debts of historic proportions, and the harmful effects of unfavorable weather patterns that led to flooding throughout the country during the 2020 rainy season.
During a virtual address, the Prime Minister, Hon. John Briceño, lamented on a few of these obstacles that his party has had to maneuver around during their first hundred days in office:
“After hearing from the former prime minister and the Financial Secretary, it was revealed that a hundred and twelve government vehicles were sold off for an average of only $2,600 — some as low as $200. This is beyond shameful. Our starting point is clear: our economy has collapsed. Personal income has fallen to 1992 levels. Sixty-eight percent of our labor force is either unemployed or underemployed. Unemployment is at thirty percent. Eighty-six cents of every dollar that government collects is spent on wages, salaries and pensions. Our debt to G.D.P. ratio is at 134%, and the U.D.P. left us this year alone with a five-hundred-million dollar deficit that we will all have to pay. This is our inherited starting point. This is what the U.D.P. did to our country,” stated Hon. Briceño.
Nonetheless, the new administration has made some strides toward reaching some of the goals laid out in their PlanBelize Manifesto. These include the exportation of six hundred heads of cattle across the border, the disbanding of the Gang Suppression Unit (now rebranded as the G13), and most importantly, the drastic flattening of the COVID-19 curve. The Prime Minister highlighted these and more in his address.
“Already in just three months, many positive results are showing. Our Health team is leading the way to flattening the Covid curve. We have amended the legislation to strengthen the Public Accounts Committee. Our agriculture team is aggressively promoting our farm-to-table policy. Our National Security Ministry is moving towards innovation. Our Foreign Trade Ministry is opening up markets for our products. Our Education Ministry is preparing for schools to open safely. And our economic recovery team are all-hands-on-deck to implement our recovery strategy. Our vaccine plan is ready and being fine-tuned for when the first vaccine arrives next month. These things were possible because we consulted, and we are facing the challenges head-on using the Plan Belize, our north star.”
The new administration now looks forward to getting the country vaccinated against the virus by the end of the first quarter of 2021 as well as finalizing the budget, which will be presented by the Cabinet next month.