And while the PUP is bracing for perhaps another blow, the government is proceeding fearlessly with another constituency assistance program. You remember the first one - it was called the Christmas Assistance Program - where UDP standard bearers AND representatives were allowed to direct $40,000 dollars per constituency.
Well this time it is $50,000 per constituency. It has raised eyebrows and provoked strident criticism from the opposition because the point persons for distribution of resources include unelected UDP standard bearers.
Today though, the Prime minister had no apologies for it as he spoke to us via telephone.
Jules Vasquez
"Isn't this an obvious attempt to buy the elections?"
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Not at all, this is something that we have been doing in a normal course. Our pro people pro poor assistance initiative. I will make the point that also this is no extraordinary spending. There is no extraordinary sourcing of the funds. I explain that we did extreme well in terms of the dividends collected from Belize Telemedia. This spending is not in any way through our budget out. There is certainly no borrowing in order to fund the assistance program."
Jules Vasquez
"The recipients or the persons who are targeted for distribution of funds or resources are unelected individuals. They have no public responsibility."
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"There are standard bearers who, indeed, are not elected officials who have been asked to help identify particular recipients of funds. As long as - in my view - the funds are disbursed through a ministry. Public officers with records of disbursements and an accounting with the files in some cases where some people might actually get some government cheque with a receipt. Therefore, I don't see that there is anything at all wrong with the government's constituency assistance program."
Jules Vasquez
"Would you accept that it smacks of the most cynical type of electioneering disbursing these funds through political personalities with 4 weeks to go before an election so that they so....."
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Any government in the face of an election will seek to accelerate spending on people. What I think we need to focus on is that this government because of proper husbandry, because of good honest stewardship, has the resources with which to do this."
Jules Vasquez
"Should not the judicious management of public funds - should not that require you instead of squandering the money on election gimmicks or pre-election spending. Should you not try to save that money, bank that money, to earn something off that money?"
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Not at all. We are slush with funds right now for good reasons having to do with the government's wise policies. In the case of Telemedia, we are getting these handsome dividends which we can return to the people in the most direct form possible."
"This is not public funds used to host a UDP party event or to buy UDP campaign paraphernalia. This is public money being spent on the public in a manner that is transparent, open and that is accounted for properly."
The Prime Minister's division, Queen's square, is the only one designated for cash assistance. He says all funds are being disbursed through ministries by public officers with records and receipts for government cheques.
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