EDITORIAL

By: Omar Silva

Editor: National Perspective Bz – Digital 2024

www.nationalperspectivebz.com

Belize City; Friday 29th November 2024

Belize, let’s call it what it is: a government asleep at the wheel while the country drowns in crisis. Tropical Storm Sara wasn’t just a weather event—it was a harsh reminder of how far behind the People’s United Party (PUP) government has fallen in its duty to serve the people. The floods that swept across the West, South, and North have left devastation in their wake, but it is the chronic neglect, incompetence, and reactive governance that have crippled us the most.

A Broke Government Running on Empty

Seven months into the fiscal year, and the government’s financial coffers are already dry. The PUP had to crawl back to the House for another supplementary budget, highlighting what we’ve known all along: this administration is operating without a plan. While they scramble for funds, Belizeans are left to wonder how the country will recover—not just from Sara’s floods, but from the economic meltdown, the agricultural devastation, and the decline in tourism that have all collided in one catastrophic moment.

Floodwaters Rising, Leadership Sinking

In the wake of Tropical Storm Sara, villages like Crooked Tree, Rancho Dolores, and Burrell Boom remain cut off, submerged, and abandoned. Farmers in Cayo watch their crops rot under water, while families in the Belize River Valley are displaced, their homes unlivable. And what does the government offer? A few cleaning supplies, some groceries, and the hollow reassurance that “assessments are ongoing.”

Where is the urgency? Where is the leadership? Captain Daniel Mendez of NEMO admits they haven’t even completed damage assessments yet because many areas are still underwater. Meanwhile, displaced families wait for relief that seems to crawl in on the back of an excuse-laden bureaucracy.

Agriculture: The Backbone That’s Breaking

Belize’s agriculture sector has always been the heartbeat of the nation. Yet today, it’s on life support. The Ministry of Agriculture talks of assessments, but where is the action? Farmers in Cayo and the Belize River Valley have seen their livelihoods washed away, while cattle producers brace for the double threat of Fusarium and New World Screw Worm. These are not minor issues—they are existential threats. Without immediate support, Belize risks watching its food security and agricultural economy collapse.

Tourism: The Industry Belize Forgot

As if the storm wasn’t enough, the tourism sector faces its own reckoning. Global cruise lines are pumping millions into Riviera Maya, Mexico, while Belize struggles to compete. Why? Because our infrastructure is crumbling, our policies lack vision, and the PUP government seems content to let opportunities sail away.

Tourism has been a pillar of Belize’s economy for decades, yet under this government’s watch, it is being neglected and left to wither. Why hasn’t the PUP invested in making Belize a premier destination? Instead of leading the region, we’re lagging behind, watching our neighbors rake in revenue we desperately need.

Reacting Isn’t Leading

This is not leadership—it’s firefighting. The PUP has shown time and time again that it cannot plan ahead. It waited until deep into hurricane season to allocate a paltry $1.5 million for NEMO. It now scrambles to assess flood damages while farmers, families, and entire communities remain in limbo.

But let’s not forget: this isn’t just about Sara. It’s about a pattern of failure. From ignoring Fusarium and New World Screw Worm to mishandling tourism, from a crumbling infrastructure to a battered economy, the PUP has proven incapable of managing the crises it was elected to address.

2025: No More Promises, Only Answers

The 2025 General Elections are around the corner, and Belizeans are tired of promises. We don’t need manifestos filled with empty words. We need answers. We need a government that doesn’t just show up after the fact but anticipates challenges, plans ahead, and delivers results.

The questions are clear:

When will flood victims see real relief, not just rhetoric?

How will farmers recover, and what’s the plan to secure our food supply?

What is being done to revive tourism and attract investment?

How will the government rebuild trust and accountability with a people tired of excuses?

Wake Up, Belize

Belize, it’s time to smell the coffee. The PUP government has been reacting instead of leading for far too long, and the cost of their incompetence is being borne by every citizen who has lost a crop, a home, a job, or a dream. The floodwaters may recede, but the damage caused by this administration’s neglect will linger unless we demand better.

The time for excuses is over. Belizeans deserve a government that plans, acts, and delivers—not one that blames, delays, and hopes for dry weather. It’s time for leadership that works for the people, not just after the fact, but before disaster strikes.

The PUP government must understand: Belize is drowning—not just in water, but in neglect. And the people are watching, waiting, and preparing to hold them accountable.