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Supplementary appropriation presented for relief and other issues; Opposition seeks further clarification

Posted: Monday, December 12, 2022. 2:25 pm CST.

By Aaron Humes: The main discussion item of the day at the House of Representatives is the fourth General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation for the financial year to date, seeking approval for around $70 million in new spending.

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance John Briceño noted that even before Hurricanes Julia and Lisa, there was the flooding in the Belize, Corozal and Orange Walk, adding to our high climate change risk which is one of the highest in the world, but “this is no time to lose hope,” he said, and the funds the Government seeks reflects a new energy and resilience that signals hope for a brighter future.

Approximately $25 million is allocated to direct Hurricane Lisa relief, including monies for “grocery bag”, housing repairs and new houses, the health and infrastructure systems, and fuel costs; the remainder is for new costs for nearly all Ministries, including a drawdown on funds for the Corozal-Sarteneja Road and $4 million for expenses for the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital.

While the Leader of the Opposition Moses “Shyne” Barrow could hardly disagree with the funds for Lisa relief, he argued that the Government should have anticipated the other new costs in the budget passed in March, and that they didn’t either smacks of rank incompetence or deliberate deception. What’s more, he pointed out, there is nothing in terms of increments for public officers, but plenty for purchases of new vehicles – ironic given that the cost of fuel remains high here compared to other countries.

Colleague Tracey Taegar-Panton noted that the Government has now sought up to $240 million in new expenditure by supplementary since the Budget was passed – but little has been said in terms of revenue collection and as with any household, “you can’t spend what you don’t have.” She also noted that families in her constituency came to seek assistance prior to Hurricane Lisa’s arrival for the first time that she can recall. “Greater attention and greater resources must be considered for the social protection programs [that exist] for the many vulnerable families living on the margins,” she stated.

Both Ministers of Infrastructure Development and Housing (Julius Espat) and Health (Kevin Bernard), as well as National Defence (Florencio Marin Jr.), argued that their allocations are necessary, and in the case of the second and third critical to their continued survival, as they were critical to the efforts against COVID and in support of damaged areas after the hurricane, respectively.

 

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