According to the recent poverty assessment: one third of the Belizean population is poor - and that's the problem that "SIF," The Social Investment Fund has been tasked with. It today launched the fifth tranche of the Basic Needs Trust Fund, which is financed by the Caribbean Development Bank and the Canadian Government.
The program will see the disbursement of 6 point 8 million u.s. dollars for development projects for the next five years. SIF's Executive Director Oscar Alonzo told us who will get money.
Oscar Alonzo, Executive Director SIF.
"The funds are aimed at providing assistance to communities for the provision of basic social services in the Education sector, Water and sanitation sector, the construction of roads, drains footpaths. The provision of skills training especially the youth and women. To provide them with capability for them to be able to gain employment either on their own or with employers throughout Belize."
Hon. Said Musa- Prime Minister
"We do have unacceptable levels of poverty in our country which we have to fight to eliminate, we cannot allow the present situation to continue."
The fund can be accessed by individuals who have projects aimed at community development.