And in other news, the budget debate continued today - but over in the Senate where the general revenue appropriations bill was tabled.
UDP Senator Patrick Faber explained in his speech that there are two versions of the story being told: the government's version presented in the budget, and the reality on the streets. He also criticized the government for its tax take on the increased fuel prices. Here's a snippet of his speech.
Patrick Faber, UDP Senator
"The government's version tells us that inflation fell to 1.1%, it tells us that the economy grew by 1.9%, it tells us that unemployment is at a history low. It tells us that it is at 2%. It tells us that Belize is surpassing all regional performance except for Guyana. Maybe Jamaica now. The public debt has been cut in half since 2020. Belize shines as a distinctive land. This is what the government's version says. But for the people on the street, electricity bill went up in January. For the people on the street, water rates went up, my water bill went up about triple what it used to be. Something is going on at BWSL with these new rates. And I don't understand how you can say with a straight face to this nation that inflation is 1.1%. Fuel at the pump has risen so sharply that bus fares will shortly go up as well, I'm confident. Not because I said so but because the prime minister tell the students at UB, "you ain't seen nothing yet.""
"Barbados, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda have introduced measures to cap their government's take from the fuel prices because I don't know I listen to them, the deputy prime minister said no new taxes. If the prices of gasoline are going up and it's a percentage that you take then the take that you get as the government also goes up."
"So the only explanation that we can hear when you say there is nothing you can do about it is that there is nothing you want to do about it."
The debate continues at this hour.
