The Belize Chamber of Commerce President, Kay Menzies has written a strong letter to Prime Minister Dean Barrow asking him to reign in public spending which is budgeted to increase by 72 million dollars in the coming year. Pensions are going up by 5 million, and in view of that, the Chamber proposes that the pension age should be increased to 65. The chamber also points to what it calls an "exorbitant Wage Bill" of almost half a billion dollars, which comprises 56% oftotal expenditure for the coming financial year. The Chamber suggests a freeze on all hiring and inveighs against what it calls "Big Government" which it says "only further inflates the wage bill..."
The Chamber also has criticism for government's special purpose vehicle, Belize Infrastructure limited, which will spearhead a 60 million dollars project to upgrade sports facilities. The Chamber President says "This newly registered company raises concerns."
And, not surprisingly, the Chamber President also calls for Superbond Savings to be used for measures to actively stimulate the private sector, in the form of that which business owners most crave: tax breaks and lower duties.
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