By: Omar Silva

Editor: National Perspective Bz, DIGITAL 2024

www.nationalperspectivebz.com

Belize City; Tuesday 12th November 2024

The People’s United Party (PUP) government under Prime Minister John Briceño has presented a billion-dollar budget with great fanfare, claiming it will fund the nation’s development and address Belizeans' needs. But six months into the fiscal year, this lofty budget has already fallen short. With no Auditor General to scrutinize spending and accountability appearing to be an afterthought, the administration has returned to the National Assembly, requesting an additional $106 million in supplementary funding—leaving the people of Belize wondering if this is responsible governance or merely political theater.

This latest request has not gone unchallenged. In a recent Senate session, UDP Senator Michael Peyrefitte sharply criticized the move, calling it evidence of poor planning. “Bad planning,” he said, “for 2023/2024 until it put you where, in Kriol, you ‘howe’… That's unacceptable." His words underscore a glaring issue: how can a government that so readily overspends within the first half of the fiscal year claim it has a well-conceived development plan for the country?

The concerns run deeper than just budget overruns. Business Senator Kevin Herrera highlighted the continuing disregard for the real needs of the Ministry of Defense and Border Security. "It’s not a surprise…our soldiers and security forces are complaining about the conditions under which they have to work,” Herrera said. “The head of these areas…should take this process very seriously.” Indeed, while the government requests millions more, essential ministries like Defense are left "chewing on bones," as Herrera aptly put it. The PUP government’s supposed commitment to security rings hollow as our nation’s defenders struggle without basic resources.

In defending this supplementary request, Leader of Government Business Eamon Courtenay brushed off concerns, insisting that the allocation includes “good works required for the people.” Yet, the hastily passed appropriation suggests something else—a shortfall in strategic planning and a government that believes it can simply ‘top up’ at will, without accountability or transparency.

The inclusion of over $300,000 earmarked for a general election hints at another pressing question: are Belizeans being quietly ushered toward an early election, possibly before the fiscal year’s end in March? Senator Peyrefitte raised this point, encouraging the government to stop hiding behind closed doors and announce a date if it is indeed moving toward early elections. When questioned on this, Prime Minister Briceño sidestepped, neither confirming nor denying the possibility, leaving Belizeans in suspense about when they will next exercise their democratic rights.

Perhaps most concerning is the boldness with which the government moves forward without an Auditor General. In a country already struggling with economic challenges, inflation, and a pressing need for sustainable development, the absence of an independent authority to monitor government spending is a dangerous precedent. With no one to watch over how taxpayer dollars are spent, is the PUP government setting itself up to be held accountable only by its own discretion?

The recent Senate objections are not just political posturing; they reflect a deeper issue with the government’s governance philosophy. Rather than careful planning, transparent budgeting, and a commitment to long-term development, we see a government rushing to spend in haste, patching gaps with supplementary funds, and seemingly preparing for elections instead of governing with integrity.

Is this the development plan Belize needs? Or is it a façade—a continuation of promises made and abandoned once election day has passed? As the people of Belize, it is our duty to hold our leaders accountable, to demand that our resources are used wisely, transparently, and for the public good. Anything less is a betrayal of the trust placed in the PUP government when they came to power.

With each new request for funds, we must ask: Where is this money truly going? How is it benefiting Belizeans? And most importantly, when will our government prioritize accountability over extravagance? In the absence of answers, Belize’s billion-dollar budget looks less like a tool for development and more like a political ploy—with the bill left for the Belizean people to pay.