Briceno: Economic situation “unacceptable”, GOB commits to 10% salary cut

Published by BBN Staff at December 11, 2020

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Posted: Friday, December 11, 2020. 11:41 am CST.

By Aaron Humes: COVID-19 is not entirely to blame for the cratering of Belize’s economy, Prime Minister John Briceno reminded.

Nonetheless, having close to 65,000 of the labour force out of work and revenues heavily down, leaving the former Government to take on additional debt to service, is simply “unacceptable.”

Matters were not helped by the visit of Hurricane Nana in September and rains from Hurricanes Eta and Iota, costing the nation a further $93 million in damages.

The burden of climate change will continue to wreak havoc, Briceno said, citing forecasts of drier conditions across the region combined with rising sea levels by the end of the century.

He cited UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres who called on nations to embrace the opportunity to “reset” the world economy and a broken governance and climate.

It is time for all Belizeans to act for all to survive, he concluded, announcing that he and his Cabinet will take a 10 percent salary cut at the turn of the year.

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