Politics Fuel Debate Over Gas Relief; Zabaneh Defends Government

A political jab over fuel relief is heating up beyond Belize Rural Central. When asked about UDP’s Edward Broaster rolling out his own fuel initiative, Dangriga Area Rep Dr. Louis Zabaneh didn’t hold back. He welcomed the effort but challenged Broaster to take that generosity nationwide. Zabaneh also pushed back against comparisons, reminding that a single-constituency effort can’t measure up to the government’s responsibility to serve the entire country. And while he acknowledged the gesture, Zabaneh made it clear that the Briceño administration is also doing its part.

 

Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Area Representative, Dangriga

“I would invite him to use his resources across the country. If he is able to do that, everybody needs relief. So, not just BRC, let’s do it all. Come to Dangriga and do that, we would love that. Obviously in my view, anybody that can come and assist in a way like that regardless of what party you are on. But for us to say that here we are doing this and we have compassion for the people and everybody else does not, I think that is crossing the line, because we know that this is a matter outside the control for the whole world. We just discussed that today, where we understand that small countries like Belize has to adapt to adverse impacts from across the world. So across the country every community is feeling that. For you to be able to truly have an impact across the country, that will take millions and millions of dollars. So the government is doing its best.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Would you support the call for Mr. Broaster to reveal the name of his donors and the budget?”

 

Dr. Louis Zabaneh

“I would not want to get into all of that and what he is doing. In this environment, in any environment where you are having a crisis, you should never do I for personal and political gain. If you do something out the kindness of your heart then great, but it does not have to cross the line where we are saying, if I can do it here then it should be done across the board. That crosses the line.”

 

News Five reached out to BRC Area Rep Dolores Balderamos-Garcia for comment, and she didn’t mince words, calling the fuel relief effort a “political gimmick.” Meanwhile, we’ll be on the ground tomorrow to see what impact, if any, it’s actually having in Rural Central.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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