LOO Says GOB’s Loan Motion Was No Surprise

Leader of the Opposition, Moses “Shyne” Barrow, was quick to rise to criticize Prime Minister, John Briceño’s supplementary appropriation bill and also said he had already expected such a motion to be brought forward. Barrow suggested that the Briceño Administration is using Hurricane Lisa as a ploy to seek more funding. He added that the initial budgets were merely a smoke screen to impress the citizens of Belize and the International Money Fund (IMF).

Moses Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition: “When you go through this supplementary Madam Speaker this has to be the worst administration in as far as budget and planning which is a very important part of the Ministry of Finance and that is what I used to think but I pay attention, I may not be as smart as the member from Cayo South I’m not an intellect like him but I pay attention and what I have realized Madam Speaker is that it’s not bad budgeting it is that the bogus budget as I rightfully deemed it that was presented in this honorable house was just that. It was a smoke screen for the IMF. They wanted to present a budget that appealed to the IMF so as he always does that’s why you could come with these written speeches all you want and they can sound as eloquent as you would like them to sound but the reality is the reality. The bottom line is the bottom line. Every single House meeting we have had a supplementary appropriation and that is because I surmise that that was the plan all along. Let’s put a bogus budge before the people so that we can check the boxes for the IMF and then we’ll go and get the money but I’m sure when they speak they’ll say “well unlike Prime Minister Barrow at least we’re coming to the House to ask for the permission.” That doesn’t make it any better.”