Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño is confronting serious allegations of governmental hypocrisy regarding his administration’s handling of public finances. The controversy emerged when supplementary revenue appropriation bills were presented to parliament after expenditures had already been made—a practice strikingly similar to those that Briceño’s opposition party previously challenged in court during Dean Barrow’s administration.
This fiscal approach mirrors the very scenario that prompted Briceño to initiate legal proceedings against the previous government, resulting in a Supreme Court ruling that declared approximately $1.3 billion had been spent without proper parliamentary authorization. As lead claimant in that case, Briceño’s current position creates apparent contradictions that opposition critics are highlighting.
The Prime Minister has vigorously rejected accusations of double standards, maintaining that the circumstances differ significantly. Briceño explained that the delayed budgetary approvals resulted from transitional challenges following elections and administrative reorganization rather than intentional disregard for proper procedure.
According to Briceño, the matter only came to his attention in September when alerted by the Financial Secretary. He emphasized that corrective measures were implemented promptly upon discovery, with supplementary budgets submitted to address both current and outstanding allocations. While acknowledging the procedural delay, Briceño maintains his administration acted responsibly by rectifying the situation within months rather than years.