By: Omar Silva

Editor/Publisher: National Perspective Bz – Digital 2025

www.nationalperspectivebz.com

Belize City: Thursday 23rd January 2025

Prime Minister John Briceño's recent announcement that he plans to retire after potentially serving a second term marks the beginning of what appears to be a calculated exit strategy. After over three decades in politics, Briceño seeks to abandon a ship many believe is steadily sinking under the weight of unmet promises, a disillusioned electorate, and mounting public criticism.

Despite his claims of managing the People’s United Party (PUP) and government with a “firm hand,” the cracks in his administration's foundation are evident. From ignoring the social class that propelled the PUP to power in 2020 to prioritizing external financiers over local industries, Briceño’s tenure has left many Belizeans feeling betrayed. Plan Belize, once heralded as a beacon of hope, has devolved into what many now view as an empty political ploy—a collection of ambitious promises with little substance or implementation.

The PUP’s Financiers and a Question of Loyalty

As the 2025 general election looms, the PUP is once again looking to its financiers to bankroll an expensive campaign. While Briceño boasts about his administration’s economic growth figures, the skepticism among political financiers is palpable. The fallout with Mike Feinstein—who reportedly contributed over $700,000 to the PUP's 2020 campaign—illustrates a growing mistrust. The government's controversial handling of Feinstein's Stake Bank project has sent a chilling message to potential backers: loyalty and contributions do not guarantee fair treatment.

Lord Michael Ashcroft's quip about financiers "taking a vacation with their money" underscores the growing hesitation among donors to invest in a government that has alienated even its closest allies. Briceño’s dismissal of Ashcroft’s remarks as “tongue in cheek” fails to address the broader concern—this administration’s diminishing credibility among its supporters and financial backers alike.

Neglecting Belize’s Social Class and Local Industries

One of the PUP’s most glaring failures under Briceño’s leadership has been its neglect of Belize’s social class and small local industries. Instead of addressing the dire needs of working-class Belizeans, the administration has focused heavily on servicing external loans, leaving little room for meaningful investment in local economic growth. Small-scale farmers, artisans, and entrepreneurs—pillars of Belize’s economy—have been left to fend for themselves, receiving scant attention in the government’s economic policies.

For a government that claims to champion the people, the disparity between rhetoric and reality is glaring. Many constituencies, including Briceño’s own Orange Walk Central, are beginning to voice their frustration. Once hopeful voters are now disenchanted, questioning whether the PUP ever intended to deliver on its promises or merely used Plan Belize as a deceptive campaign tool.

Plutocracy and Political Paralysis

At 43 years of independence, Belize remains shackled by a political system that has failed to evolve. Instead of working toward decolonization and genuine reform, the PUP has perpetuated a plutocratic system that benefits the political elite and their financiers while leaving the masses behind. The Briceño administration has not only ignored calls for constitutional reform but has actively upheld a governance model that prioritizes self-interest over national development.

While the prime minister touts the PUP’s “deep bench” of potential successors, Belizeans are left wondering whether any of these names represent real change or merely a continuation of the same broken system.

The Reality Behind Plan Belize

What was sold as a visionary roadmap for national development has been exposed as a long-term manifesto of continued deception. Five years after its launch, Plan Belize has failed to deliver on key promises, particularly for the social class that forms the backbone of Belize’s electorate. Instead of ushering in the transformative change the PUP campaigned on, the government has doubled down on political theatrics, using grandiose rhetoric to mask its inability—or unwillingness—to deliver.

Briceño’s Exit Strategy or Preemptive Retreat?

Prime Minister Briceño’s announcement of retirement after a potential second term raises questions about his motives. Is this the graceful exit of a leader confident in his legacy, or a preemptive retreat from the growing backlash against his administration? With internal dissatisfaction within his own constituency and across the country, Briceño appears to see the writing on the wall. Like rats abandoning a sinking ship, he is preparing to step away before the PUP faces the consequences of its actions—or inactions—at the polls.

As Belize heads toward the 2025 general election, the PUP must grapple with the reality of its record. Despite Briceño’s assurances of party unity and strong leadership, the cracks are undeniable. Whether the PUP can survive the mounting discontent remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Belizeans will not easily forget the broken promises and unmet expectations of the Briceño administration.