And, Shyne Barrow's other question was for the Minister of Finance and Prime Minister, John Briceno. He asked the Prime Minister about the funding for the COVID 19 unemployment relief fund and food assistance program. The PM said they are finding the money - as best they can:
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"We had to find another 7.9 million dollars to keep this pantry now grocery bag program go through until the end of this financial year. 7.9 million dollars we had to find, because you all went with all the money and now you dare come and ask what we will do, when you all spent all the money."
"As we speak, Madam Speaker, grocery bag supplies are rolling out. This week, grocery bags are being given out to thousands of needy Belizeans and this will continue up to the end of March. Next week we will start to roll out the Belize COVID-19 Cash Transfer Program. This program will be funded through the World Bank and it will provide assistance for the next six months to about twenty-one thousand households."
But, of course, there had to also be finger pointing back and forth. And the Prime Minister said that the government intends to audit the COVID 19 relief funds disbursed under the last government:
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"This government will audit all of the Covid funds that have been spent by the previous government. And it is going to reveal some shameful acts of what happened during that time of crisis. The minister of human development just disclosed to me hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent from that ministry that are unaccounted for. She just told me. All of that is going to come. Don't get too excited."
Hon, Shyne Barrow
"Prime Minister, the different between the previous prime and this prime minister is a lack of accountability and transparency. You are not a dictator sir; you have to account to the Belizean people how you are spending the money."
Hon. Francis Fonseca, PUP Freetown Area Rep.
"Point of order, the member has to appreciate that this is not a club in New York City. This is the house of representative, we have rules."
