Excerpts from Budget Presentation 2014--Hon Francis Fonseca: This is a U.D.P. Government that is disconnected, out of touch and high on themselves. And the budget presented on March 7th by the Hon. Minister of Finance reflects that disconnect and arrogance. In 2013 the U.D.P. gave us 0.7% economic growth, the worst economic performance in some 20 years; a 2013 in which production of all of Belize’s major crops fell significantly, a 2013 in which petroleum production fell by 23%, a 2013 in which the prices of food, healthcare and transportation all increased, a 2013 in which massive foreclosures of homes and businesses continued, a 2013 in which Foreign Direct Investment fell to its lowest levels in the last 15 years, a 2013 in which more and more Belizeans fell into poverty and lost hope in the future. That is the Belizean U.D.P. reality today Mr. Speaker, and the 2014/15 Budget offers no change of course, no change in direction, no jobs plan, no investment strategy, no plan to reduce cost of living, no tax reform, no sense of purpose or hope. Like the Ringmaster at a cheap circus, the Minister of Finance smeared on the make-up and lipstick, sprayed himself from head to toe with some $5 Kush Kush, and for good order, even recited some Shakespeare but no amount of make-up can hide the ugly reality of the Belizean people and no amount of cheap cologne can cover up the smell of this rotten U.D.P.Government. The silence is deafening. No one is listening anymore!! The empty, flowery rhetoric is played out!! The game is over master!! The Ringmaster is standing all alone on center stage under the big circus tent and his pants are on the ground!! U try talk pretty Mr. Prime Minister but Belizean people reality ugly bad!! Mr. Speaker, the Budget for Fiscal year 2014/15 is a “Noodles Budget”. More and more Belizean families forced unto a steady diet of Ramens – pick u flava!! Each flava got wan Minister Name. Shrimp da Barrow. Beef da Montero… Chicken da Boots. More and more Belizean families crying out “Ends Nah a Meet Mr. P.M.” What World are you living in Sir? Dis da no Gucci, Rolex and TMZ Mr. P.M. Dis da haad time, pain and sorrow Belize in 2014 under the U.D.P.!! U di say things di get better but the Belizean people from North to South, East to West di say loudly “We no di see it”!! U di say money di run but the Belizean people di say “We no di feel it”!! Mr. Speaker, the 2014/15 Budget offers no solutions to the serious economic challenges facing Belize. With an increasing reliance on tax revenue, it further chokes the private sector out of the real economy. It offers no measures to improve productivity and competitiveness It offers no policy strategy for lower cost production. It offers no plan for expanding exports relative to imports.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 20:21:41 +0000
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