Opposition Challenges PUP on Constituency Funding

And while that poll out of Dangriga raises fresh questions about political performance and public confidence, another issue stirring debate tonight is how much constituency funding Area Representatives receive and how those dollars are being used. Opposition Leader Tracy Taegar Panton is taking aim at the People’s United Party over how constituency development funds are shared. Her criticism flared after a leaked document showed some constituencies getting over twenty thousand dollars, while others receive ten thousand. She says the money should follow need, not voter numbers. The document also shows Orange Walk Central, Prime Minister John Briceño’s constituency, getting the highest monthly allocation at twenty-five thousand dollars, even though it isn’t one of the biggest. Briceño says he uses those funds to help communities across the country. Today, we asked Belize Rural South Area Representative André Perez about his share.

 

Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural South

“I am allocated a certain amount of funds as per for amount of constituents. I am the third, not me so this is the third largest constituency in this country. And it could well become the second largest. So until you decision it’s going to happen, which I’m sure is going to happen, every single dollar that I use for my constituency is accounted for on a monthly basis by my secretary and provided to hand it over to the cabinet secretary. The funding is allocated for many different things. For example, I have several senior members, senior people that help here in cock and benefit from financial assistance on a monthly basis. I have many students who are provided by way of financial to assist different students, boy, be it Junior college, beach high School, primary school. Even at the university level, that’s part of the fundamental goals there. We do assist in people having their repairs for the homes. That is also important. There are people who need assistance to travel to Belize, right? I have right now, in fact, we have in San Pedro and peacock, there’s approximately 14 people traveling three times a week for dialysis. We assist these people, right? There’s everything that comes in. People who need medical assistance that come in immediately, we assist. There are many things for sports. There are things that are social, for events that happen. There’s different programs. We support these things, so it’s our goes. In fact, let me tell you something, it’s never enough. I could use more and that is why something I have to rely on friends. But let me clear something. With the constituecy development funds that exists to assist the people, can you imagine? Previously having an area that does get any CDF has to rely on certain friends to give them some funding. You’re tying that politician to that friend who’s assisting you. So with that fund that comes from government is actually making your hands free to move forward and make sure giving people so you have no commitment to anyone who’s giving any funds to assist you Don’t go around. Yes, I can beg and ask for assistance, but that funding puts me in a position that I can assist people and no commitment to anybody that says I need a cut from this.”