Shyne Barrow: “The PUP (are) the worst nightmare of the Belizean people”

By BBN Staff: Shyne Barrow, UDP area representative for Mesopotamia in the House of Representatives, called out the PUP Government for victimizing Doctor Marvin Manzanero and for politicizing the Food Pantry and the COVID-19 Relief Programme.

At a recent UDP press conference called to deal with burning national issues, Barrow expressed outrage at the victimization and character assassination of Dr. Mazanero, the Director of Health Services. He also said the PUP Government is politicizing of the Covid-19 Food Assistance Programme, popularly known as the Food Pantry.

Barrow said that in his first presentation at the House of Representatives he brought up the plight of the Belizean people affected by the COVID-19 measures to control the pandemic. He said that the Minister of Human Development did not have a transparent plan and called on the Government deliver on their promises to depoliticize the Food Pantry.

“I express outrage at the disgraceful and shameful politicization of Covid-19 food assistance, Barrow said. “Many of you can recall that in my very first presentation in the House of Representatives, that was the first issue that I spoke about. And I was extremely concerned because the Minister of Human Development gave no plan, no transparent plan of which she could be held accountable later on.”

Barrow said he figured that the PUP would revive the Food Pantry just before the municipal elections. “I anticipated that, but I did not want to get ahead of myself, that is exactly what is happening now, one or two weeks the municipal elections, all of a sudden, the food pantry is being given out. But, it’s not being given out according to protocol, according to policy, as good governance would dictate. The People’s United Party have their operatives distributing the food pantry. And that, should not be the case.”

The Mesopotamia representative said that when the UDP was in government, though some representatives wanted control the Food Pantry, Prime Minister Barrow refused. “ I remember when we were the Government, members of the House of Resources were up in arms. The then Opposition saying that ‘only the UDP di get food pantry and the entire COVID Relief has been politicized.’ I know that to be completely false. And the Prime Minister went to great lengths, at the chagrin of many of us up here, who wanted, as area representatives, to manage the food distribution, but the Prime Minister refused to do so to prevent any appearance of politicization. So, what has happened is the last 100 days, we have gotten no account of the process to get food pantry. The process should not be “Come to Shyne Barrow, or go to Bernard Wagner, or go to Tracey Panton or go to any of the members of the House.”

He called on the PUP to live up to their campaign promises. “Remember, the PUP said that they were going to depoliticize everything. They were going to scale back on the Ministerial powers that were used to the disadvantage of the citizens of this country,” Barrow said. “But, they have done no such thing. It has gotten worse. There is no policy. There is no instruction as to how you as a citizen of this country should go about getting the relief that you need.” Barrow concluded that the PUP Government have become the Belizean citizen’s worst nightmare.

“And, I have to remind the PUP government that this is not a normal time. This a pandemic. People are suffering. People are desperate,” Barrow said. “You see crime is getting into a new level, home invasions like we’ve never seen before, tourist places are being robbed and shot up. This correlates to the lack of resources being provided to those who are in desperate need. So, unlike any time in our history we need that accountability and transparency and good governance that the PUP swore to give but they have not done that. I have no seen a more a dishonest campaign than that of which the PUP ran because they have come to be the worst nightmare of the Belizean people.”

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Belize ~ We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages. Your content is delivered instantly to thousands of users in Belize and abroad! Contact us at mаrkеtіng@brеаkіngbеlіzеnеwѕ.соm or call us at 501-612-0315.

© 2021, BreakingBelizeNews.com. Content is copyrighted and requires written permission for reprinting in online or print media. Theft of content without permission/payment is punishable by law.