Belizean songwriter, Joseph Wagner penned the patriotic song, “We’ve Come A Long Way”, a celebration of our country becoming independent in 1981; and looking at what has transpired since in respect to our economy, quite a number of Belizeans can say their financial status is much advanced from what it was 43 years ago. It was a promise of our political leaders when we gained independence in 1981 that, with born and bred Belizeans taking control of the reins, better would come, there’d be more money in our pockets; and indeed it has worked out well, for some.
Notably, it is groups that are relatively new to the country that have taken the most advantage of the opportunities that independence brought. These groups have made a mint in commerce, agriculture, and tourism, and they have done so by being tight-knit, by putting the group’s interests first. But many roots Belizeans have “come a long way” too, none more than our educated elite. Here and there, Belizeans close to the ruling powers have received plums, and a few roots business folk have made it beyond their wildest dreams. But the roots Belizean group that has done the best is our educated elite — our doctors, lawyers, accountants, engineers, agricultural scientists—not necessarily in that order.
Unacceptably, among our well-off Belizeans there are some who aren’t too satisfied with their material lot. That’s because they compare their finances with the rich and famous, instead of counting their blessings. They complain, even though they live in comfortable homes, drive quality “rides”, eat the best food, have money in their pockets to spend on luxury goods and entertainment, have insurance for medical care, and all of that while living in a country that has clean air, plenty elbow room, a peaceful people, pristine forests and unpolluted rivers and creeks and lagoons, a country on the shore of the Caribbean Sea, a country near the hemisphere’s largest reef system.
If Belize guards its environment and promotes social justice, it won’t produce millionaires at a high rate. We are a small, former colony with a small population and an oil well that isn’t delivering more than a trickle. We are not Kuwait, which has oil gushing out of its pores. We are not Singapore, a densely populated country with strict discipline that controls shipping in its region, and is a major producer of manufactured goods, an economic activity that a country with a tiny population like ours cannot competitively exploit.
As a country we have riches that are the envy of the world. There are things money can’t buy. For the majority of Belizeans, it is not all about short-term material gain; that is why they resist exploring for oil in the reef system, caution against turning loose the bulldozers to raze more forest to raise cattle and grow corn, refused the green light to Vulcan to mine our limestone hills after geologists advised that that activity would contaminate our ground water, and oppose turning our mangrove islands into sandy beaches.
There are people, a sizable number, who have a lot to be thankful to Belize for. It is good that some of us have “come a long way”, that for some independence wasn’t an empty promise.
The present government coined the slogan, “Everybody Fi Win”, a promise that resonated with the thousands of us who are still waiting 43 years later for the better that our leaders guaranteed when we became independent. Overwhelmingly, the people put their hopes in the leaders who promised that they would win. In 2020 the people returned the PUP to office in a landslide, 26 seats to 5.
Because the world was in the grip of a pandemic, the present government had its back to the wall when it started out on its mission to deliver victory to those who haven’t yet won. This government has been busy. Some of its notable activities are negotiating, or completing the negotiations that led to the majority of Belize’s foreign debt being converted to the far more manageable Blue Bond; rolling out the National Health Insurance scheme to more districts; working tirelessly to deliver on their promise to provide land for Belizeans who don’t own any; providing quality starter homes for several hundred low-income families; and increasing the minimum wage by over 50%.
This government has also been bold. Among their initiatives they have refocused the education system to make our young people more competitive in this changing world; introduced electric buses in a pilot project; taken back the Boledo gaming franchise from a private company that was not producing the returns the government projected; gained a market for our cattle in Mexico; restructured the court system to increase its efficiency; and tackled the unsustainable pension system for persons paid from the public purse.
This government has had its share of shortfalls and missteps. It hasn’t won many prizes for the way it handled redistricting and, by embarking on a full review of the Constitution it downscaled a manifesto promise to deliver reforms that would give us more transparent, accountable governance. Manifesto promises to expand the teaching of African and Mayan history in schools, and establishing a fixed date for general elections, have not yet been delivered.
In an address to the nation on Tuesday, PM John Briceño said his government would be delivering financial relief measures to the middle class, relief measures that he said are sustainable because the national pie is the largest it has ever been. He also said his government continues to emphasize the growth of small businesses, and to that end they will be giving tax exemptions to small businesses to encourage them to become a part of the formal sector.
This government deserves points for delivering the minimum wage increase, but unfortunately, much of that has been eaten up by inflation. In his address, the PM said the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) reported that inflation had decreased significantly, from 6.3% in 2022 to 3.8% in 2024. While the rate of inflation has slowed, the fact is that any increase is piled on to already high prices. On the ground, the purchasing power of the Belize dollar has eroded severely since the pandemic. Many Belizeans are feeling the pinch, and especially for those who are still waiting for the better that was promised by independence, life haad out ya.
Our government boasts that Belizeans are working. The SIB reported that 97% of Belizeans who are interested in working have a job. It might harm the rosy picture, but the SIB has to declare how many people are not working, not looking for a job, and why. The progressive state is interested in the welfare of every man, woman, and child. That is both compassionate and sensible. Not everyone can work at BPOs or serve at tables. Indeed, some people should NOT work in those industries. If ignored, unemployed people who want to work, but don’t fit well into the society we have built, will engage in illegal and degrading activities.
If there is an excuse for our present leaders for not making all of us win, it is that the pandemic was a massive setback for our economy. Still, the present government is confident of victory at the polls whenever they call the next general election, and that’s because we’ve certainly come a long way—since 2020.
The promise of independence has come for some. Government must put greater effort into delivering the goods for those who are, 43 years later, still waiting on the quay. Our people remain hopeful. We are “A Nation Proud and Free: Belize@43.” Happy Independence Day, Belize!