The story of 2020, is, of course, the story of COVID-19 - and all that it has brought to ruin, form the tourism industry to the national economy.
GDP is down, exports are down, imports too - while unemployment is up, and we'd guess, so is the misery index, while all data points in between speak to a deepening economic crisis.
That's the situation the Briceno Administration inherited, and today, the Office of the Prime Minister announced the appointment of an Economic Recovery Advisory Team.
It's a star studded lineup of the captains of commerce, industry, banking and the merchant class.
Christopher Coye from the Ministry of Finance and Sean Feinstein from the tourism industry will act as co-chairmen of this Advisory Team.
Other members include Gilbert Canton Jr. from the agro-productive sector; Reynaldo Magana from the International Financial Services Sector; Dr. Henry Canton, who works with traditional commodities; Sandra Bedran from the Bank sector; Christopher Roe from the Insurance sector; Michael Bowen a representative from the manufacturing sector; Nubia Ramirez, who works in Business Process Outsourcing; Dr. Victor Rosado, who works in Health; Narda Garcia, the CEO in the Office of the Prime Minister; Katherine Meighan, who represents small businesses; Corrine Robinson-Fuller, who works in the credit union industry; and Mandela Wade, a representative from the National Trade Union Congress of Belize.
A release says that this group - with its broad, multi sectoral representation will make recommendations on how to generate sustainable economic activity, protect and create jobs, and successfully navigate the ongoing economic crisis.
The Advisory team will submit its recommendations and strategies to the Prime Minister for urgent consideration and action - but no timeline is stated.
