PM Briceno Clashes With Opposition Over Spending Criticism

Tensions flared inside the National Assembly today as Prime Minister Briceno delivered a sharp rebuke to Leader of the Opposition Panton, questioning her moral authority to criticize the government’s spending practices.  The exchange came during the House Meeting in Belmopan, where the Opposition raised concerns about what it described as “excessive spending” by the administration. The Prime Minister, visibly stern, reminded her that it was the United Democratic Party that place Belize in the worst economic turbulence in Belize’s history.

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “When I hear the Leader of the Opposition come and pontificate in this House I have to have great restraint not to go after her because the minute you do she stands up and “Oh she’s a lady, she’s a woman.” And so you should not criticize her. But do your homework. What kind of moral authority do you have to come and talk about how we are trying to “we di bad spend the peoples money.”? Where were you when they bad spent the PetroCaribe money on tacos remember? Where were you Madam Leader of the Opposition ? Did you ever open you mouth and call your government out because they were bad spending this money ? She was spending. Where were you when you agreed with your government to give the Boledo to one of the leading members of the UDP ? You were in charge of that process and you gave it and you know to who. And you come and talk ? No. I’m calling you out. What did the Belizean people get ? For ten years $2 million a year. And then towards the end they said “we’ll sweeten the pot. We’ll give you $2.5 million.” And they didn’t even pay business tax. They were talking about suing the government and when they told them hold on about business tax you don’t hear from them again. Where were you ? You were a part of this thing. Where were you when Gapi Veg was stealing the land in this country ? Where were you ? Yes I am talk because I have the authority. I have the moral authority to tell you, yes.”

When the People’s United Party (PUP) took office in November 2020, Belize’s debt-to-GDP ratio was about 133 percent.  To date, the total public sector debt was 64.8% of GDP at the end of 2024.