By: Omar Silva

Editor, National Perspective Bz, DIGITAL 2024

www.nationalperspectivebz.com

Belize City: Friday 27th October 2024

As Belize enters its fourth year under the People’s United Party (PUP) administration, a glaring crisis of accountability has emerged, reaching critical levels with Minister of Public Service Henry Usher’s recent admission: this government has failed to plan for key succession in critical oversight positions, including the role of Auditor General. Minister Usher concedes that when the PUP assumed office in 2020, succession plans were missing across multiple government departments. Yet, it took four years—and only after public outcry from the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) about the government’s choice of Auditor General—for the Minister to address the obvious. Why did it take four years to realize these oversight gaps?

This absence of planning is not only negligence; it’s a blatant disregard for the principles of good governance. The role of the Auditor General is indispensable for scrutinizing government expenditures, ensuring accountability, and guarding against the misuse of public funds. In a country where every tax dollar should be meticulously accounted for, the PUP administration has chosen to operate in a fiscal vacuum, sidestepping critical oversight mechanisms that are fundamental to any democratic system.

No Accountant General, Yet More Spending Bills

Even more troubling, this administration has allowed the role of Accountant General to remain vacant for its entire term. This role is not an optional luxury; it’s essential for the government’s day-to-day financial operations. Without an Accountant General, Belize’s fiscal health hangs in the balance, with government spending largely unmonitored and unaccounted for. Yet despite this glaring vacancy, the government has pushed forward with a Supplementary Appropriation Bill and a Capital Infusion for the Development Finance Corporation (DFC).

Introducing a Supplementary Appropriation Bill at this point in the fiscal year—without the fundamental oversight that an Accountant General provides—demonstrates a complete lack of responsibility. Supplementary bills should reflect urgent or unexpected fiscal needs, but with no financial steward to review or report on these expenditures, Belizeans are left questioning: Where is this money really going? Without transparent checks, these funds could be rerouted for political expediency rather than genuine national interest.

DFC Capital Infusion: Strategic Boost or Financial Smokescreen?

The Capital Infusion for the DFC, Belize’s government-sponsored financial institution, further amplifies concerns. The DFC’s mission to support Belizeans through affordable credit for housing, agriculture, and small business is crucial. But with no oversight from an Accountant General, how can the public be assured that this capital is strengthening Belize’s economic future, not merely disappearing into the financial abyss? The timing of this infusion hints at deeper issues within the PUP’s fiscal priorities and highlights the dangers of unchecked government spending.

The Cost of Negligence in Leadership

The NTUCB’s recent objections to the PUP’s rushed appointment of an Auditor General underscore the government’s disregard for institutional integrity. Belizeans deserve transparency and accountability in every dollar spent, and without a clear succession plan for these critical oversight roles, the government leaves the nation vulnerable to financial mismanagement. Belizeans must ask: Is the PUP government truly committed to financial transparency, or are they sidestepping accountability while claiming to champion the people's interests?

A Public Call for Transparency

It’s time for Belizeans to demand more from their government. Oversight roles like the Auditor General and Accountant General are pillars of public trust, acting as watchdogs over our nation’s financial health. The government’s lax approach to these roles reflects a troubling pattern of negligence. Belize cannot afford to overlook this; public debate and scrutiny are essential to ensure that elected officials adhere to the promises of transparency and integrity that brought them into office.

Belizeans deserve a government that prioritizes accountability, not one that operates behind a fiscal smoke screen. This administration’s failure to address fundamental succession planning should serve as a wake-up call. Without strong oversight in place, we risk fiscal chaos and government spending shrouded in secrecy. Now is the time to insist on transparency before Belize’s future is irreparably compromised.