Last night, we told you how Prime Minister John Briceno chaired a virtual Cabinet meeting to continue his isolation while he recovers from COVID-19. Well, more than 24 hours later, a Cabinet briefing says that they got quite a lot done using the virtual portal.
That press release says that during yesterday's meeting, the Cabinet received a full report from Michel Chebat, the Minister of Health and Wellness on the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 in Belize.
That government statement says, quote, "Cabinet considered the report, noted the dire effects of the pandemic, the fact that there is no plan in place to address the crisis, and approved the new measures to be implemented with a view to arresting the spread of the virus." End quote.
The Ministry of Health will hold a press conference tomorrow to provide an update on the pandemic, and the PUP administration's plan to address it. GOB says that there will be an announcement of new measures, including an increase in the number of testing centers, and an aggressive awareness campaign. There's no suggestion of any lockdown so far.
And, Orlando Habet, the Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management briefed the Cabinet on NEMO's preliminary report on the rains associated with Hurricanes Eta and Iota. The preliminary estimate of losses exceeds 150 million Belize dollars countrywide, and it includes losses to agriculture, housing, and infrastructure.
The alleviate the needs of people affected by the flood situation, Cabinet approved a request for funding from Minister Habet for food assistance to 5,000 Belizeans.
Julius Espat, the Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing made a request for funding to begin road works, with a specific focus on major roadways and highways that were significantly impacted by the recent rains and floods. The Cabinet will revisit this issue at its next regular meeting. No word on where money for this will come forma since, Government has stated its credit is maxed and it is borrowing to pay its wages.
The Cabinet did agree to present a new budget for the remainder of the financial year. That new budget is supposed to be tabled at the first working session of the House of Representatives early next month.
And, the Cabinet brief also confirms what we first reported last week - that Central Bank has approved the Belize Bank acquisition of the Bank of Nova Scotia. But it is cleverly worded; the press release says, quote, "The Cabinet noted that this approval was granted by the Central Bank of Belize under the Domestic Banks and Financial Institutions Act, and not by the Former Finance Minister, Prime Minister Barrow."
The original release had said approval was granted on the 11th November - which was election day - but an amendment was then sent out to say that The Central Bank granted the approval on November 18th.
It is unclear whether the Broad of the Central Bank approved this since we know three members had already resigned by the 18th - and it is unclear if the board's had a quorum.
Finally from yesterday, the Cabinet considered a letter from the Public Services Union, which is calling for an investigation into the alleged "fire sale" of the Government's assets by the outgoing Barrow administration.
You'll remember that the PSU complained loudly last Friday that government vehicles, highly prices furniture, and electronics were allegedly being sold at "obscenely low prices" to former government ministers, and quote, "their political cronies". End quote.
The Briceno Cabinet has agreed to meet with the PSU to look into setting up a committee to further investigate this matter.
