PM Briceño Eyes Transparency Law After Budna Investigation Fallout

Following widespread criticism of the botched police investigation into the abduction of Joseph Budna, the Briceño administration is exploring new legislation aimed at strengthening accountability in government. Cabinet discussions have centered on the appointment of an independent investigator, an approach inspired by successful models in the Caribbean, particularly Jamaica. Prime Minister John Briceño says the aim is to build a framework that guarantees transparency without turning into a political tool for any current or future government.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“We’ve discussed that in Cabinet and feeling that maybe it’s time to be able to look at what has worked in the Caribbean as opposed to United States, because most of the times we Belizeans we see American tv, so we think about Law and Order and all them kind of stuff. And looking what’s happening in the US Congress but the idea is to be, like, for instance, one that has a – one that’s fairly successful is one in Jamaica. So we wanna take a look at what Jamaica has done and see what, how we can use that to make it to Belize, but at the same time, and I repeat, it has to be done in such a way that present nor future governments can use it politically just to go after political enemies. We have to ensure that there’s that safeguard.”