Dr. Osmond Martinez Takes Charge of Economic Transformation
Dr. Osmond Martinez has helped steer the country’s economic transformation agenda as a chief executive officer and junior minister. Now, he will lead it. His promotion to substantive Minister of Economic Transformation gives him direct authority over the portfolio and removes the need to route major Cabinet proposals through Prime Minister John Briceño. Martinez says that streamlined approach will speed up decision-making while easing some of the pressure on a Prime Minister already juggling a long list of national issues.
Osmond Martinez
Dr. Osmond Martinez, Minister of Economic Transformation
“The Prime Minister, who has placed that confidence in me to continue to work in a ministry that is very dear to my heart because I was the CEO in that ministry, then the Minister of State and now the minister. And we serve at the Prime Minister’s pleasure, and he has placed that, that trust. And so for me is in addition of having that satisfaction and it also comes with a huge responsibility. Right away, I felt some mixed emotions. One of being excited and happy, but at the same time, knowing that we have a critical work to do for the people and country of Belize.”
Shane Williams
“What would the change be in terms of moving from Minister of State to being a full-time minister?”
Dr. Osmond Martinez
“So I think what changed a little bit from being a Minister of State to a minister is to a substantive minister, is the opportunity that I will have to have these discussions with the broader community within Cabinet. So as a Minister of State, everything, uh, I had the honor and privilege to run everything by our Prime Minister. And of course, uh, once he approve it, then he will take it to Cabinet, and he will table it in Cabinet. Now I will have that opportunity, and that’s what changed a little bit, but it will also expand my knowledge and understanding the challenges, the needs and opportunities that we have within Cabinet that every ministry and minister brings into the table. Any project that you see in Belize comes through the Ministry of Economic Transformation. As long as it’s a grant or a loan, it comes through the Ministry of Economic Transformation.”
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