And while the Leader of the Opposition doesn't take issue with the money being spent on a distillery, he is concerned that it isn't being used for more important matters, such as housing and healthcare.
Today he criticized the government for receiving yet another grant from the Taiwanese government of 1.4 million dollars, that will be used for the launch of phase 2 of the low income housing project. He believes that SSB would do well to invest in the people of Belize, rather than distilleries and office buildings. He added too that the timing of the grant is suspicious.
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"This recent grant of $1.4 million for housing, 114 days before municipal elections, specifically designated for Belmopan City. It is very alarming. I support the Taiwanese. We have a long history with the Taiwanese."
"But again, there are people like Alberto August that have been complaining a long time that the activities of the Taiwanese have passed the line of helping Belizeans and helping a political party. But what I would say is imagine, 9 million for spirits."
"I think 30 million for buildings at Eleanor Hall. And only 1.4 million for housing. So far, I believe the government has spent in three terms. I don't believe they've spent the entire 15 million that was supposed to be earmarked."
"They claimed that last year they didn't spend anything. So let's put them at 7 million because no member of the opposition constituencies has received a house from this government. So I don't know where the houses are going."
"But imagine we're at about, they're going to spend 50 million on the Eleanor Hall projects. 9 million they're giving to the spirits. And still we have a housing crisis. And since the SSB has so much money to invest because now they claim there's a $100 million problem, right?"
"That is the argument that they have $100 million that they have to lend. But I could give you hundreds of Belizeans that have large scale worthwhile investments that have gone to SSB and have been turned down."
"So is this an instance of them picking and choosing who they will give, where they will spend so that they could have that municipal elections money? It definitely begs the question. Why can't SSB invest or buy shares in KHMH?"
"And why can't the government figure out how to make KHMH operate in the black?"
