In a surprising turn of events that has rocked Belizean political circles this weekend, the nation’s reigning Miss Universe Isabella Zabaneh has found herself at the center of a growing firestorm, not over pageantry or public appearances, but over vocal partisan comments tied to the ongoing ‘Mira Millions’ public spending scandal.
Zabaneh, who represents a broad cross-section of Belizeans regardless of political affiliation, spoke at the People’s United Party (PUP) National Party Council meeting held in Dangriga, where she publicly called on the government to raise the existing $10,000 public spending threshold. This policy proposal sits directly at the heart of the ongoing ‘Mira Millions’ controversy, with oversight officials already flagging the current threshold as a potential regulatory loophole that allowed suspicious, unregulated payments linked to the Ministry of Defense to bypass standard Treasury scrutiny.
Addressing party delegates as a constituent of the Stann Creek West constituency, Zabaneh defended her position, arguing that the current $10,000 cap was set decades ago and no longer fits modern economic conditions. She characterized the low limit as unnecessary top-down micromanagement that places an undue bureaucratic burden on the Office of the Financial Secretary, which is tasked with reviewing all spending above the threshold. “We need strong oversight, but ten thousand is too low in this economy,” Zabaneh stated. “Great leaders are remembered for making hard decisions. So I urge this administration to consider making a hard decision. We are not a party of thieves, we are a party of love and we are not afraid of any other party or any other media propaganda that they will push.”
The comments immediately triggered widespread backlash from political observers and critics, who argue that a national titleholder like Zabaneh, who is expected to represent all Belizeans, should remain neutral and steer clear of divisive partisan debates—especially at a time when the ‘Mira Millions’ scandal has already fueled deep public distrust over government expenditure management.
Following the public backlash sparked by Zabaneh’s remarks, Prime Minister John Briceño addressed the controversy by announcing that the government is currently developing a new public procurement portal. Once launched, the digital platform will allow ordinary Belizeans to track all public government spending online in real time, a move designed to increase transparency and address public concerns over oversight of state funds.
This report is a direct transcript of an evening television broadcast, with Kriol language remarks transcribed using a standardized spelling system for accessibility.