Prime Minister John Briceño of Belize has firmly rebutted allegations of governmental misconduct concerning the belated submission of supplementary budget approvals to Parliament. This controversy emerges amidst comparisons to similar practices previously condemned during ex-Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s tenure.
When confronted with accusations that his administration had replicated these fiscal missteps by authorizing expenditures without prior parliamentary consent, Briceño delivered an unequivocal response: “I would not accept that.”
The Prime Minister attributed the delay to the transitional phase following national elections, characterizing it as an inevitable period of governmental reorganization. “As we approached elections… certain expenditures were incurred, though nothing excessive,” Briceño clarified. He emphasized that upon assuming office, the primary focus shifted to establishing the new administration’s operational framework.
In a notable admission, Briceño revealed his initial unawareness of pending financial obligations. “The matter only came to my attention when brought forward by the financial secretary,” he stated. “I must confess, even I was unaware of these outstanding issues. My immediate directive was to resolve them promptly.”
While acknowledging a procedural delay spanning several months, Briceño maintained that the situation was ultimately rectified through proper channels. “Ideally, this should have been addressed immediately,” he conceded, “but within months of the delay being identified, we completed the necessary approvals.”
The development occurs alongside the reappointment of Nestor Mendez as Belize’s Representative to the Organization of American States, signaling continued stability in the nation’s diplomatic corps amidst domestic fiscal scrutiny.