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  • SSB richt commissie op voor ontwikkeling regionale voedselveiligheidsnormen

    SSB richt commissie op voor ontwikkeling regionale voedselveiligheidsnormen

    In a key step to strengthen regional food safety coordination and boost domestic public health protection, Suriname’s Surinaams Standaarden Bureau (SSB) has formally installed a new National Mirror Committee for Food Safety, tasked with representing the South American country in Caribbean regional food safety standard-setting processes. The newly formed body will take on the core responsibility of drafting Suriname’s national positions ahead of negotiations for new regional food safety frameworks under the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

    The creation of the committee marks a strategic shift for Suriname, moving the nation toward more active participation in shaping regional rules that govern safe food production and processing. Per the SSB, the updated regional standards that the committee will help develop are designed to deliver three core public and economic benefits: enhanced public health safeguards across the food supply, higher overall quality of food products available to consumers, and more streamlined, robust trade across the Caribbean region.

    During the official installation ceremony, acting SSB director Tanwir Hassankhan emphasized that inclusive cross-sector collaboration is non-negotiable to develop standards that enjoy broad buy‑in across Suriname. He noted that only through unified national input from all relevant stakeholders can Suriname claim a strong, influential voice in regional decision-making processes that will shape the country’s food sector for years to come.

    In its initial work plan, the committee will prioritize developing national positions for two upcoming CARICOM food safety standards: a set of overarching food safety and hygiene regulations, and a region-wide mandate to implement the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system for hazard management across the entire food supply chain. These standards are being developed under the oversight of the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality, and once approved by the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), they will be adopted as national standards for use across Suriname.

    The 21-member committee draws technical expertise from 16 different public and private sector organizations across Suriname, ensuring a diverse range of perspectives from regulators, industry operators, and technical specialists. In addition to selecting core governing members, the committee has named six delegates to represent Suriname on the regional technical committee that oversees the ongoing development of food safety standards. Claude Vinisie of Stichting Samaria Tour was elected committee chair, Jaleesa Tomoredjo of the Stichting Viskeuringsinstituut will serve as deputy chair, and Videsha Munusami will act as Technical Secretary for the body, representing the SSB in all administrative and technical functions.

    Per the SSB’s official mandate, the ultimate goals of the new committee are to build a safer, more transparent national food supply chain and solidify the competitive position of Surinamese food producers and exporters in the fast-integrating Caribbean regional market.

  • BRH : Analysis of the macroeconomic and financial situation and outlook for monetary policy (video)

    BRH : Analysis of the macroeconomic and financial situation and outlook for monetary policy (video)

    On July 21, 2026, Ronald Gabriel, the Governor of the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH), hosted a public press conference to deliver a comprehensive assessment of the country’s current macroeconomic and financial landscape, while outlining the central bank’s upcoming monetary policy direction.

    During the briefing, Gabriel outlined a series of key positive gains that the Haitian financial sector has achieved in recent years. Most notably, the country has sustained a steady disinflation trend that has eased cost pressures for households and businesses. In addition, the national exchange rate has held nearly three years of consistent stability, a rare and critical achievement for a small developing economy facing ongoing structural challenges. The central bank has also built up stronger international reserve buffers to shield against external economic shocks, while the domestic banking system has demonstrated unexpected resilience through periods of uncertainty.

    Beyond reviewing current economic conditions, the BRH governing board also walked through the central bank’s ongoing priority projects. These include a sweeping initiative to modernize Haiti’s outdated national payment system, upgrades to banking regulatory frameworks to improve oversight and risk management, and targeted structural reforms to crack down on money laundering and terrorist financing. The central bank has also prioritized expanding access to financial services for unbanked communities and boosting access to affordable capital for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which form the backbone of Haiti’s informal and formal economy.

    A key topic of discussion during the conference was the progress Haiti has made on its action plan to exit the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, a designation that has restricted the country’s access to global financial markets in recent years. The governing board noted that ongoing reforms have put the country on track to meet FATF’s requirements, though work remains to solidify those gains.

    Looking ahead, the BRH leadership emphasized that long-term economic growth and stability remain tightly tied to improvements in Haiti’s fragile security situation. Despite ongoing headwinds, Gabriel reaffirmed the central bank’s unwavering commitment to maintaining a prudent monetary policy framework, continuing to advance macroeconomic stability, and rebuilding public and investor confidence in Haiti’s domestic financial system.

  • Antigua and Barbuda backs new global AI governance framework

    Antigua and Barbuda backs new global AI governance framework

    Against a backdrop of growing global debate over how to manage the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, the small island developing nation of Antigua and Barbuda has publicly praised the signing of a historic international accord that establishes the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), framing the agreement as a critical leap forward in building a more unified, inclusive framework for global AI governance.

    The landmark signing ceremony took place in Shanghai, China, alongside the 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance, a gathering that brought together senior government representatives, leading technology industry figures, and heads of major international organizations to align on strategies for cross-border collaboration on emerging AI technologies. Representing Antigua and Barbuda at the event was Andrea Jacobs, the country’s National AI Focal Point and Crown Counsel, who delivered the nation’s official stance on responsible AI development and global cooperation.

    In her address, Jacobs outlined that Antigua and Barbuda stands firmly behind WAICO’s core structure, which is anchored to the United Nations Charter and prioritizes a human-centered approach to AI innovation and regulation. For developing economies like hers, open, collaborative multilateral platforms such as WAICO are not just advantageous—they are essential, she explained, to ensure small nations can play an active role in shaping the trajectory of AI, rather than being forced to adapt to systems designed without their input.

    Jacobs shared that Antigua and Barbuda has already taken initial steps to build a foundation for responsible AI adoption at home, including completing UNESCO’s AI Readiness Assessment and launching collaborative research initiatives with the University of the West Indies. Even with these domestic efforts underway, she stressed that no single country, particularly a small developing state, can tackle the complex cross-border challenges posed by accelerating AI progress on its own. “We need meaningful international partnerships,” Jacobs stated, reaffirming Antigua and Barbuda’s backing for a UN-led global AI governance process and a multilateral, science-driven regulatory framework.

    The nation also expressed support for the preliminary report released by the UN Independent International Scientific Panel on AI, noting that the panel’s evidence-based analysis gives member states a solid foundation to build effective national AI safeguards while contributing to the development of globally accepted standards.

    Jacobs issued a stark warning about the risks of a fragmented global AI ecosystem: without a cohesive global governance system, smaller, more vulnerable nations face major threats including digital exclusion, systemic algorithmic bias, and unregulated access to AI technologies that they lack the institutional and technical capacity to manage safely. For small island developing states, she emphasized, effective AI governance is far more than a procedural bureaucratic task—it is a critical economic and strategic priority that shapes long-term national resilience.

    AI carries transformative potential for Caribbean nations like Antigua and Barbuda, Jacobs explained, noting the technology can boost disaster preparedness, streamline public administration, expand equitable access to healthcare, and strengthen climate resilience—all priorities for a region on the front lines of climate change and rising sea levels. But these transformative benefits will remain out of reach for most developing countries if the global AI landscape continues to be divided along unequal lines, she cautioned.

    The 2026 Shanghai conference marked a key milestone in global talks, uniting diverse stakeholders to chart a shared path forward for AI governance that accommodates the needs and priorities of all nations, from the largest economies to the smallest developing states.

  • Troubling Images Put BDF Field Conditions in the Spotlight

    Troubling Images Put BDF Field Conditions in the Spotlight

    In the summer of 2026, newly circulated photos have thrown Belize’s national military force, the Belize Defense Force (BDF), into the center of a growing public debate over the allocation of national defense funding. At a moment when policymakers and the public alike are increasingly scrutinizing the millions of dollars allocated annually to national defense spending, the viral images highlight a stark, troubling gap between official government expenditure and the day-to-day realities of frontline service members.

    The photos, which have not been independently verified by BDF leadership, document a series of inadequate living and working conditions for lower-ranking BDF personnel. Observers can clearly see living quarters with severely damaged roofs that offer little protection from the elements, overcrowded sleeping spaces that force troops to share cramped, unsanitary accommodations, heavily worn and deteriorated combat boots that have not been replaced despite being unusable, and low-quality meal rations that multiple service members have described as nutritionally inadequate for active duty.

    These images have transformed an abstract policy debate about defense budget transparency into a public discussion with clear human stakes. Critics of current defense spending management have pointed to the conditions captured in the photos to back up longstanding claims that allocated funds are not reaching the service members who need support most. The revelations deepen broader questions about fiscal accountability and resource prioritization within the country’s Ministry of Defense.

    In line with standard journalistic practice, the local media outlet News Five reached out to BDF Commander Brigadier General Anthony Velasquez to request an official comment on the circulating images and the reported conditions. As of the publication of this breaking report, the commander has not issued any response to address the allegations. The public continues to await clarification from defense leadership on how the service will address the reported conditions and answer lingering questions about defense budget allocation.

  • Why Are Foreigners Filling Posts Qualified Belizeans Want?

    Why Are Foreigners Filling Posts Qualified Belizeans Want?

    A heated debate over judicial hiring practices in Belize has reignited after the country’s Association of Defense Attorneys publicly questioned why a string of recent judicial appointments have gone to foreign recruits while qualified, experienced local candidates are being passed over.

    The controversy centers on multiple open magistrate posts across the country, from Toledo District and Belmopan to Independence, San Ignacio, northern Belize, and Belize City. Association president Richard “Dickie” Bradley confirmed that all of these recently filled positions went to foreign applicants, despite the fact that dozens of eligible Belizean lawyers formally applied for the roles.

    Bradley pushed back against common arguments that local legal professionals lack the experience or qualifications to serve on the bench, noting that many domestic candidates are just as — if not more — experienced and credentialed than the foreign judges already appointed to senior judicial roles across the country. He pointed out that many Belizean lawyers attended the same legal institutions as the foreign judges currently sitting on the country’s highest courts, undermining claims that local candidates are unfit for service.

    Beyond questions of fair hiring, Bradley emphasized the unique role of the judiciary as one of the three core branches of Belizean government. He argued that foreign appointees may lack inherent familiarity with the country’s long-standing legal traditions, cultural norms, and local context that shape how justice is administered on the ground. Echoing a widely recognized ideological framing, Bradley noted that no individual operating within a national judicial system is fully disconnected from the cultural and social landscape around them — a factor that makes local experience an unreplaceable asset for judicial service.

    Importantly, the Association is not challenging the professional performance or inherent qualifications of the foreign magistrates already appointed. Instead, the organization’s core demand centers on increasing transparency around the national judicial hiring process, calling for clear, publicly defensible criteria that prioritizes qualified Belizean candidates for open domestic posts. As the conversation unfolds, pressure is building on the Belizean government to address concerns about equitable access to judicial roles for local legal professionals.

  • FLASH : The US Senate rejects the Democrat Bill to extend TPS

    FLASH : The US Senate rejects the Democrat Bill to extend TPS

    In a high-stakes vote that has upended the fate of more than 300,000 Haitian residents in the United States, Senate Republicans blocked a bipartisan Democratic-backed bill on July 22, 2026, that would have extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian beneficiaries for an additional three years.

    The legislation, which had already cleared the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year through a bipartisan process, was brought to the Senate floor by Democratic Senators Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Lisa Blunt Rochester, who requested unanimous consent to advance the bill. The attempt failed after Missouri’s radical right Republican Senator Eric Schmitt placed a block on the measure, just two days before TPS protections for current Haitian enrollees were set to expire on July 24, 2026.

    Schmitt defended his opposition in hardline remarks, arguing that the U.S. cannot function as an open-ended refugee camp and that what he framed as unauthorized residency requires immediate enforcement to remove individuals who have overstayed their permission to live in the country. This rejection marks a major setback for immigrant advocacy groups, which had pushed for the extension as Haiti continues to grapple with widespread political instability, gang violence, and natural disasters that make safe return impossible for most of the TPS holders.

    The bill’s path to the Senate followed a bipartisan vote in the House of Representatives back in April 2026, when House Democrats joined with a handful of House Republicans to advance the same extension proposal. That bipartisan momentum failed to translate to Senate approval, however, as partisan divisions over immigration policy derailed the legislation.

    Hours after the Senate’s rejection, the Federal Court of Appeals based in Washington stepped in to grant a temporary reprieve for the Haitian TPS holders facing imminent loss of their protections and work authorization. The court’s ruling ordered that all existing TPS protections for Haitian beneficiaries cannot be revoked before July 27, 2026, extending the status just long enough to align with the scheduled expiration of current work permits.

    The legal intervention offers only a short-term reprieve, leaving long-term uncertainty for the more than 300,000 Haitian residents who have relied on TPS to live and work legally in the U.S. for years. The outcome also adds to a years-long legal and political battle over TPS, which stretches back to a 2020 Supreme Court ruling that allowed the former Trump administration to move forward with revoking the protected status for Haitian enrollees.

  • Alex Noralez Stays Remains in Prison After Failed Stay Application

    Alex Noralez Stays Remains in Prison After Failed Stay Application

    A San Pedro educator convicted of sexual assault against underage students earlier this year will continue serving his prison sentence after a Belize court rejected his request to pause his sentence during the appeal process.

    Forty-seven-year-old Alex Jason Noralez, a resident of Barracuda Street in Boca del Rio, was handed an 18-month prison term in January following a guilty verdict on two out of three sexual offense charges brought against him. He was acquitted on the third count, and the judge ordered his two 18-month sentences to run concurrently, resulting in a total 18-month term of incarceration. Noralez has consistently maintained his innocence throughout the legal process, denying all allegations of wrongdoing.

    To secure release on bail while his appeal moved forward, Noralez filed an application for a stay of execution with the court as part of his initial appeal proceedings. That first request was denied on February 27, 2026, leaving Noralez in custody at Belize Central Prison where he has remained since his conviction.

    The appeal was scheduled for a hearing before Justice Candace Nanton on July 22, 2026, but the proceeding could not move forward as planned. Attorney Leeroy Banner appeared for Noralez, substituting for his original counsel Richard “Dickie” Bradley. Following the adjournment, the court set new deadlines for both legal teams to submit required court documents. Noralez’s legal team must file his formal grounds of appeal no later than August 14, 2026, and the respondent’s legal team has until August 28, 2026, to file their reply. The next hearing in the appeal has been rescheduled for September 25, 2026. Until that hearing, Noralez will remain in remand at Belize Central Prison.

  • Illegal Power Lines Pose Growing Safety Risk Across Belize

    Illegal Power Lines Pose Growing Safety Risk Across Belize

    By 2026, the persistent issue of unauthorized power connections and tampered electricity meters across Belize has evolved into a growing dual crisis, threatening public safety and straining the financial stability of Belize Electricity Limited (BEL), the country’s national power provider.

    What makes the problem particularly dangerous is the haphazard construction of these illegal lines across many communities. In high-risk zones, makeshift wiring is often strung directly through tree branches or left fully exposed in regions prone to seasonal flooding. This shoddy setup leaves local residents exposed to two major, life-threatening hazards: fatal electrocution and accidental electrical fires that can spread rapidly through residential areas.

    As the problem continues to shift between different districts across the country, BEL officials report that containing and resolving the issue has become increasingly resource-intensive, with operational costs to address illegal connections rising steadily. In a recent interview with reporter Britney Gordon, BEL Executive Chairman Lynn Young emphasized the utility’s deep concern over the crisis, confirming that the company is pursuing all available measures to curb electricity theft and unauthorized connections.

    Young declined to disclose specific enforcement strategies, noting that the operation amounts to a persistent cat-and-mouse game between utility inspectors and individuals setting up illegal connections. Revealing details about planned patrols or enforcement locations, he explained, would simply allow those responsible to shift their unauthorized setups to new areas. When asked to identify the hardest-hit districts, Young stated that illegal connections are widespread across the entire nation, with hotspots changing regularly based on local conditions.

    Beyond the immediate safety risks, the widespread theft of electricity is also taking a significant toll on BEL’s bottom line, and ultimately on the country’s law-abiding power customers. Young confirmed that uncompensated power drawn through illegal connections directly contributes to BEL’s financial deficits. Because the utility incurs production and distribution costs for all electricity that enters the grid, revenue lost to theft forces BEL to absorb higher operational costs, which eventually translates to requests for increased electricity rates for all paying customers. “It affects us and it affects all of us,” Young noted, emphasizing that the burden of electricity theft is shared by every customer who pays their monthly bill.

    This is not a new challenge for BEL. Back in 2022, the company first publicly reported annual losses totaling thousands of dollars from illegal connections, and launched an initiative to bring unregistered households into the formal grid through regularization. However, company officials noted at the time that underdeveloped basic infrastructure in many low-income and rural communities remained the single biggest barrier to resolving the issue long-term. As of 2026, the crisis has only grown more acute, highlighting the ongoing gap between infrastructure access and enforcement capacity across the country.

  • Thirty Years at the Bridge, Now Tony’s Barbeque Must Move

    Thirty Years at the Bridge, Now Tony’s Barbeque Must Move

    Nestled at the base of Belize’s BelCan Bridge for more than 30 years, Tony’s Barbeque has grown from a small roadside lunch stop into a beloved local institution, drawing generations of regulars and visitors alike for its signature smoked meals. Now, a major infrastructure renovation project for the crossing is forcing the decades-old eatery to pack up and move—and while its owners fully back the public works plan, conflicting official timelines have thrown their transition into disarray, prompting them to speak out this week to push for clear, coordinated guidance from authorities.

    The BelCan Bridge upgrade, led by the nation’s Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing (MIDH), requires all local vendors and businesses occupying space near the current structure to vacate the area to make way for pre-construction preparations. Co-owner Sarah Beck, who runs the restaurant with her husband, says the pair have no objection to relocating for the project, but competing deadlines from different government bodies have left them unable to plan their move effectively.

    Beck explained that back in April, MIDH issued a formal public notice ordering all nearby businesses to leave the site by May 7. But at a recent stakeholder meeting that included both MIDH representatives and officials from the Belize City Council, attendees gave a very different timeline. “In that meeting they told us that the bridge is not even going to be built until next year, and that the BelCan Bridge will be broken down after the Christmas holiday, so that will make the bridge available to the parade and whatever Christmas functions happen around that timeframe,” Beck said. “Thereafter, they told us we did not have to move until November. Possibly December and January.”

    The confusion dates back to May, when MIDH Chief Engineer Evondale Moody confirmed the agency had formally contacted Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner to coordinate relocations for four affected sites, including Tony’s Barbeque, other vendors near the local taxi stand, and a structure on the bridge’s south side near Belize Water Services. Moody noted at the time that Wagner had committed to working directly with affected businesses to coordinate their moves as quickly as possible.

    Thus far, the city council has made progress on identifying a new home for Tony’s Barbeque: a spot near the Cleopatra White Polyclinic, just a short distance from the restaurant’s current location at the bridge foot. But Beck and her team still have outstanding concerns about the suitability of the site, noting they want to ensure the new location does not block public pedestrian access, and that barbecue smoke from the kitchen will not create disturbances for the nearby polyclinic or surrounding businesses.

    When reached for comment on the conflicting timelines, Mayor Wagner emphasized that the city council is committed to supporting local small businesses through the transition, and that he had recently met with the Tony’s Barbeque owners to resolve outstanding issues. “We don’t want to see any entrepreneur out of business. We nurture and cherish all our entrepreneurs in the city,” Wagner said. “Tony has been a staple food outlet, barbecue outlet for many years and so I was able to speak with them this morning and have a clear pathway on how we will get past this little bump in the road. I look at it as a bump in the road.”

    Wagner added that the city recognizes MIDH’s responsibility to deliver the new bridge on schedule, and that public safety is a top priority for all parties involved. “At the same time, MIDH has its responsibilities as well to see the construction of the new BelCan Bridge, and we are also always looking at safety for residents,” he said. “So that discussion this morning was to really reassure them Ms. Beck and Tony, that the city stands ready to work along with them for relocation.”

    For the iconic eatery’s owners, the priority right now is not fighting the redevelopment project—it is securing a clear, coordinated plan that lets them relocate without closing their doors for good, and without creating disruptions for their new neighbors. As they wait for final confirmation on timelines and site details, the 30-year-old business remains open, serving regulars while preparing for the next chapter of its history in Belize City.

  • Stronger FOIA Law Proposed After Years of Weak Enforcement

    Stronger FOIA Law Proposed After Years of Weak Enforcement

    For more than three decades, Belize’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has existed on paper as a legal guarantee of public access to government records — but in practice, systemic delays, overbroad exemptions, and toothless enforcement have continuously blocked Belizeans from accessing information they are entitled to. Now, three decades after the original law was enacted in 1994, the Belizean government has tabled the most sweeping overhaul of the legislation in its history, a package of reforms aimed at tearing down longstanding barriers to government transparency. This report examines the failures of the current framework, the proposed changes, and what the reform could mean for public accountability in the small Caribbean nation.

    Under Belize’s existing FOIA framework, any member of the public seeking access to government records — from official spending documents to procurement contracts — must submit a formal written request, after which the relevant agency is legally required to respond within two weeks. In recent years, the country has seen a historic surge in the number of FOIA requests filed, according to Attorney General Anthony Sylvester, reflecting growing public demand for government accountability.

    Journalists, labor leaders, and activists have been at the forefront of this movement, using the FOIA to shine a light on public spending and potential corruption. But nearly all who file requests report running into insurmountable obstacles. Hipolito Novelo, digital editor at Greater Belize Media, has repeatedly turned to FOIA to obtain details about how taxpayer dollars are allocated and contracts awarded. Novelo argues that all information related to public funds should be proactively published via dedicated online portals for every government ministry, rather than requiring citizens to file formal requests just to access basic public information.

    Even when requests are filed, full disclosure remains rare. When Novelo sought records of COVID-19 vaccine-related government spending from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, he only received a small fraction of the information he requested, with most of the records withheld.

    He is far from the only one to face this outcome. In June 2026, Dean Flowers, president of Belize’s Public Service Union, filed a FOIA request with the Auditor General’s office seeking financial records connected to the high-profile Mira Millions and Ministry of Defense procurement scandal. Flowers’ request was stonewalled; the Auditor General refused to confirm whether she would review payment patterns through the Smart Stream financial system, identify financial officers involved in questionable practices, or release the names of any officials connected to the scandal.

    Social activist Jerry Enriquez encountered the same barrier when he requested records of taxpayer-funded legal fees for recent high-profile constitutional cases from the Attorney General’s office. His request was denied, with officials claiming disclosure would compromise ongoing cases and create unspecified risks for the Government of Belize. Even this report’s own author, investigative journalist Paul Lopez, hit a wall when he filed a FOIA request in 2025 seeking records of government office space rental payments.

    Independent analysis of Belize’s current FOIA regime confirms what requesters have experienced for decades: Belize’s law ranks among the weakest freedom of information frameworks in the entire Caribbean. Key flaws identified include near-inexistent penalties for non-compliance, a total lack of independent oversight to enforce public access rules, no requirement for proactive publication of routine public records like contracts and spending data, and exemption categories so broad they allow agencies to withhold almost any document they choose.

    Currently, when an agency classifies a record as exempt, requesters can file for a review with the national Ombudsman. But even if the Ombudsman rules in favor of disclosure, the office has no legal authority to force agencies to release records or bring criminal charges against officials who intentionally conceal public information. Any further appeal requires going through the High Court, a long and costly process that puts justice out of reach for most ordinary Belizeans.

    The proposed reforms aim to fix these gaps by drawing on successful transparency models from other jurisdictions. A centerpiece of the overhaul is the creation of an independent Information Commission — modeled after similar bodies in the Cayman Islands and Mexico — that would have the power to issue legally binding decisions ordering the release of records. Agencies or officials that refuse to comply with the commission’s rulings would face fines as high as $100,000, and could even face criminal prison time in severe cases of intentional non-compliance.

    The reform package also includes a requirement for the government to launch a national open data portal, where all public records including government contracts, departmental budgets, official asset declarations, and political financing records would be proactively published for free public access, eliminating the need for many FOIA requests entirely.

    Critics like Novelo remain cautiously skeptical, noting that for years, connected government officials have been able to block access to information at every stage of the process, even when requesters pursue costly court action. Still, the proposed overhaul marks the most significant shift in Belize’s transparency regime in a generation. For supporters, the FOIA is far more than just a procedural law: it is the foundation of open government, giving Belizeans a clear view into how their leaders make decisions and how their tax dollars are spent. Whether the reforms will deliver on that promise remains to be seen as the proposal moves through the legislative process.

    Reporting for News Five, Paul Lopez