And, indeed, if the PUP can flip those UDP strongholds - and that is a big "if" - it can form the next government.
But, if the PUP does cross that threshold and gain a majority in parliament - for sure, taking over in 2020 - after COVID has cratered the economy and government's revenue base - is not going to be easy. In fact, it's going to be the most difficult job of governance in Belize's history. We asked Briceno abut one tough decision he'll have to make which is trimming government's bloated wage bill - which is over half a billion dollars annually:
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"What would be your message for public officers? They have already sacrificed their increments. It's clear the wage bill is unsustainable, even before Covid. What is in store for these public officers and if you intend to keep all of them on while certainly hiring some of your own good PUPs. How will you afford it? How will the government afford its existing and burdening wage bill as the economy contracts?"
Hon. John Briceno, Leader of the Opposition
"That is certainly going to be a challenge for any government and certainly it's going to be a challenge for us. We are not the government of retrenchment. We are not the party of retrenchment. Retrenchment is a UDP word. But we do have to go in and take a hard look and all the hard working public officers that have been in the system all these years they are safe. They have nothing to worry. The hanger-ons that the UDP has brought in that I am told that many of them just collect a salary and do nothing - obviously we can't afford that."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"So you accept that you will be sending some people home, those who the government judges to be hanger-ons or people who are only there to take a salary?"
Hon. John Briceno, Leader of the Opposition
"Any government. I am sure that if the UDP government were to get in by any chance they would have to do some of that and bring in whoever."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"The reality is that government cannot afford to pay its workers as is. Every week the borrowing from the domestic sector increases, you know this. It is unsustainable. Hard decisions will have to be made and you are right around the corner from another expectation of the annual increment. Are you prepared to give a hard message?"
Hon. John Briceno, Leader of the Opposition
"I repeat it's not going to any easy job. It's going to be tough and we need to find approximately 45 million dollars a month to be able to pay salaries and that tough decisions will have to be made once we get into government."
We'll have more of his interview on 7news tomorrow.
But you can also see exclusive content on our 7News Facebook page where he answers the question of whether a Briceno administration would consider switching alliances from Taiwan to mainland China.
