Yesterday we told you that the LIU program was put on an indefinite pause. According to the CEO in the Ministry of Home Affairs, they're planning to reassess the program since they believe people are on the payroll who aren't actually working. But for those who were on the program, they say they found out about the pause through Facebook. And one former member says he doesn't know what he will do without that check every two weeks. He came to our studio today and chose to remain anonymous.
Voice of: Former LIU Member
"By they taking away this stuff from us now, it will be attention, it will be a problem because where will our next income come from? Do you understand? I am a born Belizean. Do you understand, friend?"
"I am a born Belizean. So, I think it is wrong for whoever, the minister or so to take this opportunity away from us. They're supposed to come around as our supervisor and say XYZ, this is what is happening. We are closing the program. We are putting it on a pause because of XYZ."
Reporter
"How did you find out that they are putting the program on a pause?"
Voice of: Former LIU Member
"No, I see it on Facebook. I see it on social media. It is something that is blowing up on social media. So I read it and I get to understand that it is because they put it on a pause, because they say that the individual who are working, they class us as gang member. People are saying, you know, I don't know where it is coming from."
"But people just run with things that they do not know. They are saying whenever we get our income every two weeks, that we take the money and we buy guns and weed and all sort of stuff that is negative."
"Do you understand, friend? We cannot buy a firearm out of $342. The next thing is that they are taking out social from our money from a couple of years aback. And we went to social security and there are no contribution they paying for us."
"Every two weeks, every 14 days, they take out $8 out of our money. $16 a month. Where is that money going? I don't know what the system want you do. The system want you to be a monster, it's like there is no-love in this."
"You understand? Everybody gets selfish, like we are in Belize and like we don't have no say. We was getting $342. It's supposed to be $350 Belize currency. Every two weeks, every 14 days."
"But we are getting $342. They are taking $8 money for what? Right now we can't go get one job because some of us went to prison. We have record. If you go for a police record, it will show on your record. You can't get a government job."
"Do you understand? So that's hence the reason why they bring out this program for us."
LIU has been in place since 2021 with over 500 members on its payroll.
