Tracy Panton: “The Numbers Presented by this Briceño Administration Do Not Signal Performance”

The national budget debate opened with strong criticism from the Opposition today, as members of the House of Representatives began deliberations over the proposed $1.78 billion budget for the 2025–2026 fiscal year.

Opposition Leader Tracy Panton criticised the Briceño Administration’s financial plan, calling it “optimism passed with selective statistics.”

While acknowledging the expansion of the National Health Insurance (NHI) to the Cayo District, she argued that the government has neglected key social support programmes, including housing, food assistance, skills training, and elderly care.

“I hope to make the case on behalf of all Belizeans that the numbers presented by this Briceno administration do not, and let me say that again, do not signal performance. Rather, it reveals a government that is obsessed with spending and allergic to accountability, reform and measuring the economic impact of their failing social protection policies,” Panton said.

The debate intensified when Panton questioned the allocation of $28 million in airport security contracts awarded under the Briceño administration, suggesting government favouritism and misuse of public funds. She criticised the administration’s spending priorities, stating it “can find the resources for all sorts of programmes and initiatives” but fails to allocate funds to meet the urgent needs of public servants. “Let us find the money to pay our teachers and public officers who are first on call to make sacrifices whenever the needs arise,” she added.