By Omar Silva

Editor: National Perspective Bz DIGITAL 2024

www.nationalperspectivebz.com

Belize City: Saturday, 19th October 2024

As the new fiscal year 2024-25 dawned on April 1st, Belizeans expected a clear path forward, with transparency and accountability at the forefront of government policy. Yet, here we are, halfway through October, with the PUP government presenting a new Supplementary Appropriation Bill and a Capital Infusion for the Development Finance Corporation (DFC)—moves that should raise more than just eyebrows.

The timing of these actions could not be more suspicious. After nearly four years without an Accountant General, the government has operated without proper financial oversight, leaving a gaping hole in the country’s fiscal management. This position is critical for tracking expenditures, ensuring transparency, and maintaining trust in public finances. Yet, the PUP government has not only failed to appoint someone to fill this vital role, but now seeks to push through additional financial bills under these dubious circumstances.

What’s in the Supplementary Bill?

The details of this new Supplementary Appropriation Bill remain murky. However, Belizeans should question why the government feels the need to introduce another supplementary bill at this juncture. Are we experiencing unplanned expenses, or are these moves designed to cover financial gaps that remain unseen by the public eye?

Supplementary bills are typically used to adjust expenditures midstream when the government needs more funds for unforeseen events. But where is the transparency? And more importantly, with no Accountant General in place to monitor and report on the status of public funds, how can the people of Belize be certain that these funds are being allocated responsibly?

DFC Capital Infusion: A Lifeline or a Cash Funnel?

The Development Finance Corporation (DFC) serves a valuable purpose in Belize’s economic landscape, providing critical credit to housing, education, agriculture, and small businesses. Yet, with this Capital Infusion, Belizeans should be asking, why now? What has triggered this sudden need for increased funding?

The timing suggests that this move could be part of a broader attempt by the government to maneuver funds without sufficient scrutiny. Without the checks and balances provided by an Accountant General, it is difficult to discern whether this capital infusion is being used to stabilize a struggling institution or if it is merely a conduit for unmonitored spending.

The Public’s Right to Accountability

The PUP came to power on the promise of transparency and financial prudence. Yet, as we approach the end of their fourth year in office, Belizeans are left with more questions than answers. How is it that a government can continue to operate without an Accountant General and still propose significant financial bills that affect the nation’s budget? Is the public being kept in the dark about critical fiscal missteps?

The timing of these recent moves raises serious concerns about whether the PUP government is truly working in the public’s best interest, or if they are using their majority in the House of Representatives to pass bills without the proper checks and balances that should accompany them.

A Call for Debate

As Belizeans, we must demand answers. Our hard-earned tax dollars deserve to be managed with care and integrity. The introduction of these bills so late in the year, without proper financial oversight, signals that something may be amiss.

Why is there such a rush to introduce another Supplementary Appropriation Bill and push through a Capital Infusion for the DFC? Are these moves motivated by economic strategy or political expediency?

Belizeans have the right to know where their money is going, and we must demand that the government appoints an Accountant General without further delay. Without proper financial stewardship, we risk heading down a path where fiscal mismanagement becomes the norm.

This is a debate that must happen now. Belize cannot afford to have its financial future clouded by questionable practices and a lack of transparency. As we move forward in this fiscal year, the people of Belize must hold their government accountable before the nation’s coffers are emptied in the dark.