And while that's our assessment of the Briceno Administration's first year performance, the UDP continued to heap scorn on the Government for the high cost of living that the Belizean public must struggle with, despite the continuous pain brought on by the COVID pandemic.
Here's the Tracy Panton, the Party's representative for the Albert Division, calling for the Government to reduce the tax take on the price of fuel, something which the Prime Minister advocated for when he was in Opposition:
Hon. Tracy Taegar-Panton - UDP Area Rep., Albert Division
"These are not my words. This is out of the Plan Belize manifesto. [We] would ensure that Belizeans have access to relevant education, affordable and universal health care, adequate housing and, improved citizen security. A plan essentially that would improve the quality of life and the conditions for living, instead, one year later we are all grappling with the crippling costs of commodities. [It is] yet another wicked problem, already added to the list of three. And if this continues unabated, it will lead this country into abject poverty. Ladies and gentlemen, the rising cost of goods and services are taking their toll on Belizeans. Week after week, almost day after day, they have been sharp increases in fuel costs. The government has failed to keep the price of fuel below the $10-per-gallon mark. The number of increases in. Fuel alone the number of adjustments in prices 44 times in one year."
"The fuel tax intake from the government is almost 41 % of every gallon that is imported into this country."
"We, the United Democratic Party, call on this Blu PUP Administration to reduce the tax."
