… Eradicating Corruption to Prosper

By:  Omar Silva

Editor, National Perspective Bz DIGITAL 2024

www.nationalperspectivebz.com

Belize City: 11th November 2024

After four years of a People’s United Party (PUP) government and over four decades of alternating power with the United Democratic Party (UDP), Belize remains shackled to a political system that perpetuates dependency, corruption, and economic stagnation. With each election cycle, hopes for economic independence and transformation are reignited, yet the colonial structures that underpin our governance and institutions remain steadfastly in place. The unfulfilled promise to fully implement the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) is emblematic of this stagnation. While touted as a major pillar of the PUP’s campaign, it has yet to be thoroughly embedded within our institutions—a glaring failure for a government that pledged to eradicate corruption.

This prolonged lack of accountability and commitment to UNCAC underscores how Belize's political and economic elite benefit from maintaining extractive institutions that serve their interests at the expense of the people. Eradicating corruption requires a complete overhaul of Belize’s institutional fabric, yet those who have the power to initiate this transformation are the very ones who benefit most from the status quo. For too long, an extractive political and economic class has maintained control, keeping the country in a perpetual state of underdevelopment and crisis.

To achieve true transformation, we must draw from the framework proposed by economists Acemoglu and Robinson in their seminal work on inclusive institutions. This model, while dismissed by some as utopian, presents a clear path for creating institutions that truly serve the majority. For Belize, the strategy entails a combination of actions that must happen simultaneously to challenge and change our entrenched systems of governance and corruption. The following priorities should be at the forefront:

Encouraging Citizen Participation

Inclusive institutions require the active participation of citizens to hold the government accountable. Belizeans must not only demand transparency but also engage in monitoring government activities and reporting acts of corruption. National policy development should involve citizens at every level to ensure that decisions are not buried within layers of bureaucracy or deliberately obstructed by those with vested interests. If we do not press for change and actively participate, we risk further stagnation.

Strengthening the Rule of Law

A genuinely independent judiciary (OJ) is essential in the fight against corruption. By restoring independence to our judicial system, we empower it as a vehicle for accountability. Digitizing government processes can further enhance transparency, allowing citizens to access information and monitor government activities in real-time. An empowered judiciary and transparent processes are essential if we are to dismantle the extractive system that has held Belize back.

Reforming the Education System

The outdated, memorization-based educational structure we currently have stifles critical thinking, creativity, and innovation. We must replace it with a modern system that equips citizens with the knowledge and skills to foster a culture of integrity and responsibility. Such a transformation would empower future generations to participate actively in governance and economic development, rejecting the extractive mindsets of the past.

Improving the Health System

An efficient and preventive health system, accessible to all, is critical to inclusive national development. To achieve this, the government, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Education must collaborate to offer health and nutrition programs in public schools, laying the groundwork for a healthier, more resilient population. A comprehensive health system should prioritize preventive care, making healthcare a proactive service rather than a reactive one, and ensure it is affordable for all Belizeans.

Investing in Infrastructure

Inclusive economic development cannot happen without adequate infrastructure. Roads, ports, and airports are the backbone of national growth, facilitating commerce and ensuring the movement of goods. Yet, Belize’s infrastructure is in a state of constant disrepair, with roads that crumble at the first sign of rain. Our current infrastructure development practices are laden with corruption, as projects are routinely awarded to contractors with political ties, with little regard for quality or durability. It’s time for Belize to invest in infrastructure that genuinely serves national development.

Taking on Corruption as a National Priority

Eradicating corruption must be a “no prisoners” approach. It requires an independent judiciary and active citizen engagement. We must also strengthen institutions responsible for corruption oversight and implement transparency, monitoring, and accountability policies across the board. Corruption in Belize has deep roots, cultivated by years of unchecked power and extractive policies that serve a privileged few. It is time to address it with the urgency it deserves, as it is the primary obstacle to our nation’s progress.

The path forward for Belize has already been laid out; it’s now a matter of following it. The proposed changes are radical, but they are precisely what Belize needs to break free from a history of corrupt governance that has consistently sacrificed the interests of the majority. The current political elite will not champion this transformation, as they have everything to gain from maintaining the current system. Therefore, it is up to us, the people, to advocate for and implement change.

If we continue to stay on the sidelines, Belize will remain in the grip of corruption, poverty, ignorance, and dependency. By choosing to get involved, we take ownership of our future. Only then can we build an economically independent Belize, free from the need for foreign donations to survive. We must seize this moment, challenge the extractive systems in place, and embark on the journey to create a nation of inclusive institutions that serves all Belizeans. The time for change is now.