Fonseca on GOB Rentals “A Better Solution Can Be Found”

On Wednesday night, News Five uncovered something that’s drawing attention, government is currently paying rent for one hundred and sixteen office spaces across the country. Most of those rentals are in Belize City and Belmopan, and interestingly, some landlords show up more than once on the list, meaning they’re leasing multiple properties to the government. But without access to the lease agreements, which the Ministry of Public Service has declined to release, we can’t say for sure whether taxpayers are getting value for money. We put the question to Minister Francis Fonseca: is this just a necessary cost of doing business, or could the government be spending smarter? We also asked him about reports that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is renting storage space in Belmopan.

 

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“Yeah a better solution can be found, but we have to invest. It will cost more money. We need to build more public buildings. We need to build a  government complex. It is an issue that we have been talking about in Belize for decades. How do we invest more in public spaces, public buildings. It is costing, as you all know, millions of dollars every year to rent these facilities. It is an ongoing challenge, but I know it is something we have discussed in Cabinet. I know the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Public Service have been reviewing these contracts, many of them we inherited and we are continuing with them. But there is no substitute for having your own building, ministries, spaces. So, it is something we are taking very seriously and looking at.”

 

Britney Gordon

“Can you share what the storage space being rented in Belmopan by the ministry of foreign affairs is being used for? It is being rented by a Barbara Ramos.”

 

Francis Fonseca

“Storage space?”

 

Britney Gordon

“The location says Belmopan Market Square.”

 

Francis Fonseca

“That must be NICH. I am not sure of that. I can check into it. I know NICH has some storage space in Belmopan, but I am not sure if that is what you are talking about.”

Britney Gordon

“So you would not be sure how much it is being rented for.”

 

Francis Fonseca

“No, no I wouldn’t.”