But first, we go to the streets of Belize City where an estimated 1,500 youths accompanied by another 500 adults staged a peaceful protest. It's the first time that young people have come forward in such numbers to publicly protest against the budget, and they told us why they felt it necessary to take it to the streets.
Alfonso NobleReporting,
Junior college, university and high school students are the new addition to the sections of society that are now openly demonstrating against government's new tax measures that are to become effective in two months time.
[Protestors Shouting 'Reform']
But what has happened for this section of society, students, to have become so conscious all of a sudden, they say nothing, it is just a matter of now becoming involved.
Youth #1: We've been translating it into language that the youths can understand and we've created information channels across the country that can help us so that's why the youths are now aware of it.
Youth #2: We've always been aware of what's happening but the problem is that Belizeans people have not been active enough and we are tired of sitting down and being complacent so we've decided to make a change.
Youth #3: We are at an educational institution and we are aware of what's taking place and we need affordable education. We are at sixth form level and we know that everything is going on right now and we really need to take a stand for the better.
Youth #4: We are tired of it, each day we are being taken advantage of and we are tired of it.
Youth #5: We were conscious from the beginning but the thing is hype now because it's the fourth day that we don't have school. We are almost going for a week and we think its unfair for teachers and its unfair for us because a lot of us have A-levels and CXCa, PSEs, and everything going on. So everybody needs to just get together. Government needs to talk to the people.
Youth #6: We have the media that has been exposing a lot of things. I think students are paying attention to these things. But I don't' think that everybody is fully aware of what is going on yet but its part of the growing process as I see it. As our country develops we will become more and more aware and the youths are listening and they are learning a valuable lesson here that they could never ever learn in a classroom.
And today's lesson is pro-activity, to take to the streets and actively become involved in a process that often takes these young people for granted. But today they said no more and openly and eloquently expressed their concerns.
Youth #1: We expect reform and we expect no taxes. Students cannot have an affordable education with these taxes because the cost of living will go up meaning there's less money for education so we do not want any more taxes.
Youth #2: I am here to make a stand for my country. I think that the new taxes will only bring more poverty in our country and the government needs to make a stand; make a change reform. We want reform and we will not stop until we get it.
Youth #7: The youths are speaking out right now, enough is enough and we want affordable education so we'll be able to pay. The government has to do something about what's going on so we are here to protest and demonstrate about what we do not like. Hopefully the government will see that enough is enough and we are tired.
Youth #4: We are being taking advantage of and we are tired of it so we need reform and if get don't get it then no tax.
Youth #8: We are out here today because we just want everybody knows that if the government can't reform there cannot be taxes because how are we to know that if they raise all the taxes the money will be used wisely.
Youth #9: Our teachers are suffering severely and as a part of the support for our teachers we need them to know that we are with them and as the taxes increase we the students are suffering severely. We want betterment. Betterment and we hope the People's United Party and the Prime Minister hear our voices.
Youth #10: On behalf of the youths I speak by saying that later on in life if we don't do something now that later on in life we will feel the wrath of what's happening right now.
But while his concern was for his future, students were not the only ones demonstrating today, among them were union members with whom the objectives of the demonstration coincide. They say that increased taxation is simply unbearable.
Protestor #1: I think its time Belizeans fight against what's happening to us right now.
AF: What's happening to us?
Protestor #1: Well the taxes and so we cannot afford it right now so we have to stand up because we working class will feel it. We need to send a message to Said Musa and those men that we can't take it no more. So have strong support for the teachers them because me personally can't afford no more taxes.
Protestor #2: Me and my co-workers just trying to send a message to Belmopan and to Musa and Fonseca because we can't afford no more taxes, no more taxes.
But that bottom line is clearly the government's headline as they are dependent on the taxes for closing the financial deficit that the country finds itself in. But with agitation like this it seems that even with a passed budget there will be continued and varied resistance.
And that's not the end of it, unconfirmed reports say that another demonstration is planned for Sunday.
