Government Moves to Rename DFC as Development Bank of Belize

The Development Finance Corporation is getting a new name, but not everyone is convinced that a rebrand is enough. Government wants to rename the DFC as the Development Bank of Belize, presenting the change as part of a broader effort to strengthen the institution’s role in national development. But Mesopotamia Area Representative Lee Mark Chang challenged the move during debate, questioning whether a new name can erase the controversies of the past. His remarks sparked a heated exchange with Prime Minister John Briceño, who defended the proposed change.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“So basically what we are doing is changing the name from the Development Finance Corporation to the Development Bank of Belize. So, I urge the support from both sides of the house.”

 

Lee Mark Chang, Area Representative, Mesopotamia

“I sound simple like a name change Mr. Prime Minister, but what about the past. Why the name change. Why we want to change this name? So we have to look back in the past and see what happened to see why we want this name change?”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“This is a topic about changing the name, that is all we are talking about.”

 

Lee Mark Chang

“Yes, I know we are talking about the name change, but we need to talk about why all of a sudden the name change. Reputational risk yes, but we need to bring back also what happened in the past DFC and why we have to do all these name change right now.”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I think we can understand the honorable Member from Mesopotamia ‘s instance to not be able to grasp what we have bene trying to tell him. He is under heavy medication right now, so I know sometimes it clouds your judgment.”

 

Lee Mark Chang

“On a point of order Mr. Speaker, when I ask for a point of order I sat down. First and foremost, when the PM insinuates I am on heavy medication. Since the second day of my operation I have not been on medication. But what he is insinuating is that since I am taking pain medication I am not think right Mr. Speaker.”

Prime Minister John Briceño

“My good friend from Mesopotamia has problem thinking without medication, so I don’t know what is the issue.”

 

The Development Finance Corporation was established in 1963 and maintained that name until today.

 

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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