Briceno Administration Builds Over 400 Starter Homes Across Belize

The Briceno Administration says it has built over four hundred starter homes across the country for deserving Belizean families. The People’s United Party had stated in its Plan Belize manifesto that it was aiming to deliver ten thousand homes to Belizeans from low-income backgrounds. However, the government is nowhere close to that goal, but the Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing, Julius Espat, says his ministry is more focused on delivering quality long-lasting homes.

Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing: “For too long we have had all governments spend millions and millions of dollars and people don’t feel it directly. This is one of the programs that I believe hits the heart of the person that receives it immediately. It is a life-changing opportunity. When you are allowing somebody that is impoverished that has never or will never be able to have an opportunity to own a home and you give that person the key what are you doing? You’re changing their lives. You’re giving them an opportunity to be a part of the working force because it is one aspect in life that you have to worry about less. The people that criticize are the ones that have shelter on their heads. So if you put yourself in a position that you don’t have and you’re given an opportunity to have, it helps you in so many ways. You will be able to use that house and mortgage it with a bank if you want to be able to further educate your child. It gives you an opportunity, psychologically it affects you, because you have a shelter and the shelter comes with water which is another United Nations it is something that we need. It is a human right based on United Nations. Water is, shelter is, and it comes with electricity which is another thing that you need. We also help with the infrastructure. Some of these homes are built on properties that have never been able to have access, so we even put in the access.”

Espat added that while the process has been somewhat sluggish, the government is moving to increase the number of homes built by establishing new partnerships. 

Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing: “We are doing another hundred in the project we had in Boom and we have other projects that are on the table right now. We have different ministries, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, our ministry have been lobbying foreign governments to see if they are willing to assist. Some of them have shown and given us positive response. I’m optimistic. I have to be. But every key, yesterday we gave up one in Caribbean Shores and the lady made us pray more than we’ve ever prayed in our life. She was genuine, she was a campaigner for George Price in the 50’s just to give you an idea of the people that we change lives and good people. People that have believed in the People’s United Party, people who have believed in the Government of Belize, people that believe in Belize. So this government is looking at a different way of doing things. Instead of building all of these white elephant projects that people don’t necessarily benefit directly from we’re going to the heart and the foundation of the problem.”

Espat further explained that his ministry is also looking at ways of creating public-private partnerships to speed up the project.