Unequal Slices: The Hidden Disparities in Belize’s Constituency Funds

It’s money designed to uplift neighborhoods, strengthen our schools, and build the kinds of infrastructure communities rely on every day. But for many Belizeans, there’s still one big question: How is that money actually being spent? Tonight, we’re taking a closer look at the Constituency Development Fund, from how the dollars are divided, to the stark disparities from constituency to constituency, and why growing calls for transparency are putting the program under the microscope. News Five’s Paul Lopez has the story.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Back in October, social activist Jerry Enriquez decided to get some straight answers about a question many Belizeans have been asking: How much of taxpayers’ money goes to area reps every month for constituency work, and who’s making sure it’s being spent the right way? To find out, he filed a Freedom of Information request with the Office of the Prime Minister, hoping to pull back the curtain on a system that has long operated with very little public insight.

 

Jerry Enriquez, Social Activist

“Once an area representative wins and is representing his constituency, that does not mean he is serving only a few who voted for him. That is for the constituency. So how does he decide what are the important needs of the constituency and how does he report annually or monthly, how that money is being spent.”

 

 

 

It didn’t grab much public attention at the time, but back in October 2021, the Briceño administration rolled out the Constituency Development Fund, an effort to bring more structure to how area representatives receive their monthly allocations from the public purse.

 

File: October 27^th, 2021

Prime Minister John Briceno

“Under this program, unlike the previous government, each constituency whether represented by a PUP or UDP area representative, will receive an allocation based on the number of electors in the division.”

 

 

 

 

This money isn’t meant for the area representative’s personal use. As Prime Minister Briceno explained at the time, these monies are given to each area representative for them to address the needs of their constituents.

 

Prime Minister John Briceno

“Small scale infrastructure projects, like helping a school to fix windows or doors in your consistency, the community areas, maintenance, general cleanup, especially in the rural area where football is so important and that you have to constantly mow or fix lights, building parks, setting up free internet, libraries. Four, sporting programs, facilities and equipment.”

 

 

In short, Belizeans have every right to know how their tax dollars are being used. But what happens when the spending is kept in the dark? To get answers, Jerry Enriquez filed eleven detailed Freedom of Information requests, everything from how much each area rep gets to copies of vouchers, spending reports, and audits. The Office of the Prime Minister’s response? A single, one‑page document.

 

Jerry Enriquez

“It is just a one-page document, just saying what each area representative and electoral division each month. The information we received fell very short, disappointingly short of what we asked for.”

 

 

 

The numbers make one thing clear; the funds don’t benefit everyone equally, especially people living in the larger constituencies. Simply put, bigger constituencies have more people taking slices from the same pie. So, while Stann Creek West Area Representative Rodwell Ferguson receives twenty-thousand dollars a month for his constituency, which is on the higher end. When that is divided between ten thousand, nine hundred and twenty-two voters, you get a per-capita or person average of one dollar and eighty-three cents. On the other hand, Belize Rural Central Area Rep, Dolores Balderamos Garcia receives twenty-three thousand dollars monthly. With seven thousand eight hundred and thirty-three voter, the average per person average is around three dollars. So not only are these funds spread thinner across larger constituencies, Belize Rural Central receiving more than Stann Creek West even though the area is much smaller.

 

Jerry Enriquez

“It is average like, ten fifteen and twenty thousand per electoral division, even though there are less number of voters than Stann Creek west which is getting far less per capita.”

 

 

 

 

Prime Minister John Briceño promised accountability.

 

Prime Minister John Briceno

“Full records must be maintained as the program will be subject to audit.”

 

 

 

Together, these funds add up to more than six hundred million dollars every year. That’s a massive investment in public life. But without the information being released, it raises a serious question: Are area reps actually keeping proper records, and are these funds being audited as they should be? Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.