“Not Even I Was Aware”: PM Responds to Late Supplementary Budget Approval

Prime Minister John Briceño has rejected claims that his administration acted unlawfully by bringing supplementary budget approvals to Parliament late, a practice previously criticised under former Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s administration.

Asked whether his government had repeated the same mistake by incurring costs without prior parliamentary approval, Briceño responded bluntly: “I would not accept that.”

He explained that the delay occurred during the transition period following elections, when a new administration was being set up. “You know, as you’re coming close to elections… some costs were incurred, nothing out of hand,” he said, adding that once the government was sworn in, attention shifted to organising the new administration.

Briceño admitted he was not immediately aware of the outstanding financial matters. “Only when the financial secretary brought it to my attention, not even I was aware to be honest with you, to say you know what, we have this outstanding. And I said we need to get it done.”

While admitting the process was delayed by a few months, Briceño insisted it was ultimately handled properly. “It is something that should have done immediately, but as soon as it came within a few months late, we got it done,” he said.