As you saw, the UDP's Lead Senator, Michael Peyrefitte, did not oppose the appointment motions for the members of the Integrity Commission.
However, earlier in the Meeting, he did raise major objections to the Briceno Administration's 25-million-US-dollar loan motion. The government intends to borrow that sum of money from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. It will be used for a Climate Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture Project that will provide Belizean farmers with an infusion of capital to implement climate - resilient agricultural practices.
Here's that part of today's Senate Meeting:
Eamon Courtenay - Leader of Government Business
"The project will entail one, capacity building for key public agriculture institutions so that these are equipped to support a transition to more resilient, productive, and green agricultural development, and two, financing using matching grants for the adoption of improved practices and know-how by agricultural producers, as well as for collective share technologies and assets. And, whereas the bank has offered financing up to US $25 million for this purpose under the following terms and conditions; Lender: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development."
Michael Peyrefitte
"I'm glad that the government recognizes that from time to time, you do need to borrow. And when we used to borrow, it used to be a big deal as to why we were borrowing again, again, and again. Well, you need to borrow. You need to borrow to carry out the different projects you want to carry on. And, nobody is going to argue against assistance to farmers. We are at a loss as to how exactly you go about distributing this. And if you are talking about transitioning, how do you do it? Because it doesn't seem like you'll buy equipment for farmers. Are you going to buy even though there is an accompanying note on the document, it doesn't go into very much detail at all, as to take exactly the whole distribution is going to be done."
Kevin Herrera - Business Senator
"My support is for this bill and for this motion, Madam President, and as I said, I am hoping that we can do more of this in the future because I believe that given the makeup of our economy, given the dependence on agriculture for food security, for keeping people out of poverty in rural areas, I think it's very much needed."
Janelle Chanona - NGO Senator
"I know the previous Senator mentioned that this is timely. We would counter [that] we are late but better late than never. So, we certainly support this in a full manner. And we would actually ask to be included in the deployment of some of these studies and the work that will go into it. We have expertise within the network of NGOs and within the broader sphere of civil society."
Eamon Courtenay
"Madam President, I thank Senator Herrera and Senator Chanona for supporting the motion. The loan agreement specifically sets out how it is that we will become more climate-resilient and how we will be more scientifically based in terms of our agricultural development."
Michael Peyrefitte
"The farmers will get nothing out of this."
Eamon Courtenay
"You hear, Let me put on the record what he's saying. 'The farmers of Belize will not get anything out of this."
Michael Peyrefitte
"Right, they won't."
Eamon Courtenay
"Just like how they are against the villages, they're now against the farmers."
Michael Peyrefitte
"Nothing-."
Eamon Courtenay
"All they want is one farm in Cayo, where all the equipment ends up, where all the fertilizer ends up-."
Michael Peyrefitte
"-Only computers and consultancies."
Carolyn Trench-Sandiford - President, Senate
"Senator Michael Peyrefitte, I ask that we remember Standing Order 40B."
Michael Peyrefitte
"The 25 million will just disappear in consultancy."
All 3 pieces of government business have received the required parliamentary nod from the Senate for passage.
