Also included in this supplementary appropriation Bill are funds that will go to the Ministry of Human Development for the Food Assistance Program. Once again, the Opposition's parliamentarians reminded the Prime Minister that there are Belizeans who keep complaining that COVID-19 relief has been slow to reach.
They also suggest that its roll-out has been politicized by the UDP.
Here's what the Prime Minister had to say about their critique:
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"With respect to the food assistance roll out it is true and I have heard that for some time now that the coverage which is to be extended because we are getting money from OFID that the coverage is not wide enough well we are trying to do something about that and there are also complaints about the slowness of delivery, that is also being addressed. I just had a word with the CEO in the ministry Judith Alpuche and she has explained to me what is the new structure, the new arrangements that they are putting in place so the distribution can be speeded up but that distribution will remain in the hands of the public officers because that is the most certain way to keep politics away from it. We are not going to foul what is a core program what is helping people to keep body and soul together by allowing or permitting any kind of political interference and the fact is madam speaker that I believe they know, if they don't let me tell them I believe that they know but they don't want to let on that they know, both the unemployment relief program and the food roll out, the food assistance program are being even as we speak audited by the auditor general of this country."
