LOO Says High Cost of Living is Burdening Belizeans

Leader of the Opposition, Moses “Shyne” Barrow, says skyrocketing inflation on basic necessities is weighing on the shoulders of Belizeans. The United Democratic Party (UDP) recently sent out a press release calling on the Briceño Administration to call a state of emergency on food. Barrow says that while inflation remains a global crisis, taxes remain on the rise causing people to have to cut corners on their expenses. He adds that the high cost of living coupled with low wages is a contributing factor to corruption and crime.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition: “Quality of life contributes to crime. Quality of life contributes to corruption. You look at police officers, I have long been an advocate of paying our security forces more because if our security forces, if our police officers are living cheque to cheque, maybe missing meals and there is nothing in place to buttress that, to soften that fall then they become exposed to corruption because the people that are engaged in illicit activities they have the money and they could say well forget about law enforcement, forget about the oath that you’ve sworn look at how are you are suffering and I can make life better. But if we are taking care of our law enforcement then it puts them in a position where they can rely on their integrity and their oath to conduct the duty that they are bound to. So inflation if not addressed, inflation is a reality that all governments and all nations face, it is how do you respond to it? And as we’ve seen in other developed nations there are many programs, many temporary solutions that could be put in place because inflation doesn’t last so how you respond to it, to satisfy the need to provide a social safety net for the most vulnerable and the marginalized among us is critical and we are not seeing an adequate response at all.”