Is Belize really stuck in the past when it comes to economic progress? That’s what a new study from the University of Belize suggests, but Prime Minister John Briceño isn’t convinced. Earlier this week, renowned economist Professor Victor Bulmer-Thomas presented a bold claim: that Belizeans’ living standards haven’t improved in over two decades. The research, titled ‘The Belizean Economy in the Twenty-First Century’, is sparking serious debate. But the Prime Minister says hold on. He hasn’t read the full report yet, but he’s already questioning its conclusions. In fact, he’s suggesting the researchers check with the IMF before making such claims. So, is this a wake-up call or just academic noise?
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Well then I think they need to go and talk to the IMF. It is not us doing that. It is the IMF not us, so go and talk to the IMF and if they know than the IMF that is fine. I have just got in touch with the professor. I have just started reading it. But what it points out is that under the UDP this country has regressed. We are finally catching up to where we were in 2007 when it was a PUP government and in four years we have done that to turn things around and we are building on that that. We are working the BPOs, tourism, agriculture, exports e have in agriculture we have never seen before. We have Guatemalans coming in to buy eggs, milk, chicken, coconuts, everything we have and we need to take advantage of that.”
