Photo: Dr. Osmond Martinez, CEO of the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment

The Medium-Term Development Strategy seeks to bring to fruition the goals set out in the PUP’s Plan Belize manifesto 

by Marco Lopez

BELIZE CITY, Mon. Jan 23, 2023

After months of preparations, the Government of Belize today launched its Medium-Term Development Strategy (MTDS) – a working document that was prepared to encapsulate the goals of the Plan Belize manifesto in a “rational and achievable” plan, according to Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño. In August 2021, the inaugural meeting for the working groups who put together this document was held, but according to the PM, this plan has been in the making since late 2020, shortly after his administration took office.

In his comments today, he described this completed document as the vision of Plan Belize coming to life and explained that after several years of consultation with Belizeans from all walks of life, this document could finally be launched and put into action.

“Today, we took that Plan Belize, and our technical people … all the different Ministries, tore it apart and put it together into an actionable plan, and that was presented today,” Prime Minister Briceno said.

This implementation document for Plan Belize that was officially launched today will touch on 6 major areas: Poverty Reduction, Economic Transformation and Growth, Trade Deficit Reduction, Citizen Security, Protection of the Environment and Natural Resources, and Good Governance.

CEO of the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment, Dr. Osmond Martinez said during his presentation at the official launch today that while the finalization of this implementation document is a milestone, it is no reason to celebrate as yet – since the work of achieving these goals is the next frontier.

This document will guide the decision-making of the government over the next 5 years and is the first home-grown Medium-Term Development Strategy, CEO Martinez said. 

“I am proud to announce that this is the first in-house strategy developed by a determined team.” Dr. Martinez said. “It is imperative to reiterate that this is a homemade plan, delivered by Belizeans, for Belizeans,” he further stated.

The CEO caucus of the government has agreed to establish a core working committee to ensure the implementation of these plans set out in the MTDS. It will be responsible for the “implementation, monitoring, and reporting functions under each strategy on a quarterly basis,” Martinez said.

This is in line with the spirit of the process, which has been collaborative since its inception. Of note, Martinez mentioned that even members of academia, a proverbial sleeping giant in our society, contributed to the development of this MTDS.

“I assure all Belizeans, that we will push for the most effective implementation,” Martinez said.