We take you now to a few excerpts from the rest of the debate in which other parliamentarians either endorsed or refused to support it due to the faults they found. Here are those comments:
Hon. Tracy Taegar-Panton - UDP Area Rep., Albert Division
"Anti-corruption and oversight - and this one that I pay keen attention to. The perennial complaint about oversight mechanisms, such as the Auditor-General's Office - and I can tell you that the Auditor-General and the Accountant-General have met with the Joint Public Accounts Committee, outlining their concerns about access to the resources that are required, so that they can continue to conduct an independent review of public expenditure. Madam Speaker, in my careful review, of the budget estimates, they're no additional resources allocated to these key oversight functions. It is time for us to accelerate the housing program for low-income families. It is time to provide greater fuel subsidies to our small farmers, and other members of our local productive sector, so that our commodities can remain competitive - because you said, sir, that you would do it differently. There have been 54 price adjustments in fuel costs since November 2020."
Hon. Kareem Musa - Minister of Home Affairs
"As those with criminal intent infest cyberspace, we are preparing to police the borders of Digital Belize, with the assistance of our partners at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The cybercrime center gives us the capacity to identify, seize, acquire and analyze electronic devices related to cyber-enabled offenses from which we can extract digital evidence, that evidence that will be presented in court, during successful prosecutions. Another exciting initiative we will see during the upcoming fiscal year is the upgrading of the SIMS platform, which will now allow for GIS capabilities. GIS is the ability to analyze real-time data through crime mapping. It will assist us in efficiently and strategically deploying police personnel and resources. Under the leadership of Mr. William Dawson, the team at the Leadership Intervention Unit, including concerned citizens, educators, pastors, businessmen, and women, we now have 2.9 million dollars dedicated solely to stemming the tide on the gang culture that has ravaged Belizean families and homes."
Hon. Oscar Mira - Minister of State, Nat'l Defense and Border Security
"With the support of this budget, we will continue the work that was started over the last 12 months. The infrastructure in different camps has been upgraded. We have worked tirelessly to ensure that our soldiers have adequate infrastructure at the different camps, and we're talking Camp Belizario, Price Barrack, down south in PG, Fair-weather Camp, Aisle Camp in Orange Walk, ensuring that our security forces are adequately looked after."
Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai - Minister of Agriculture
"The sugar roads, that were abandoned for 13 years, were upgraded in 16 months or less, not only patchwork but culverts, which have been missing for 13 years, Madam Speaker, have been replaced. Let us not forget the abandonment of the once-great citrus industry, the pride of the south, the industry, in the hands of the UDP. It is still in the ICU at this time, and we're doing all we can to revive the industry."
Hon. Anthony Mahler - Minister of Tourism & Diaspora
"As leaders, during a very difficult time in our history, we have to find the balance between fiscal prudence, and social and economic development. What you won't see in this budget is unbridled and irresponsible borrowing. What you won't see in this budget is wasteful spending. We're doing the right things in the best interest of the Belizean people."
