But before that election happens, Petrocaribe and its expenditure will continue to play a role in voting population's opinion. One of social partners,
the Chamber of Commerce, has spoken out against the use of the Petrocaribe funds.
In a release sent yesterday, the chamber said that quote, it "emphatically condemns the confessed blatant misuse of the Petro Caribe Loan Funds as
confirmed by the Minister of Education Patrick Faber and aired by multiple media houses on newscasts of June 8th 2015. The minister stated at the
Caribbean Shores endorsement convention that he used Petro Caribe Loan Funds to take twenty two (22) busses of his constituents to Corozal Bay for a
beach party, using the said loan money to finance this outing.
Spending loan funds on a picnic can in no way be seen as investing in our people's future, and this activity underscores the need for procedures that
uphold the principles of accountability, transparency and responsible spending, particularly in the use of loan funds.
That's strong stuff, and so when the media had an opportunity to speak with Godwin Hulse, the leader of Government's Business in the Senate, the
question was put to him about that position. Here's how he responded:
Reporter
"There is a current out cry or comments mades by minister of education Patrick Faber where 22 buses were taken to Corozal, tacos, pibil, bbq, liquor."
Hon. Godwin Hulse - Minister of Labour
"My understanding is that - that's part of his mother's day money."
Reporter
"The chamber of commerce has brought out a release saying that sort of use of petrocaribe money is contrary to what the money was intended for."
Hon. Godwin Hulse
"You have to understand petrocaribe money, for that I would have to do a show for you which I'm planning to do. This morning I heard the Hon. Mark
Lizaraga on Love FM but really there needs to be some clarity, structural clarity with what petrocaribe is from the beginning through to the end so the
public will understand. One of the things about petrocaribe you have to understand, there's no such thing as some sort of special petrocaribe some
where money that is being dipped in. It's part of monies that are going into the consolidated fund and the consolidated fund has it's own wide uses as
approved in government budget and supplementary budget. So petrocaribe money flows into that funds, the same way tax money flows in there, GST money
flows in there and any other money flow in that fund. Then it's dispersed through the various appropriations that have been approved. So when the prime
minister this mother's day money and all of these monies that are given out are part of that flow that are recorded through the supplementary, etc.
It's hard to say, okay they gone dip into petrocaribe because you can also say this is part of GST money, this is part of business tax money. It's all
a flow into the consolidated fund and a flow out of the consolidated fund into these various programmes. They didn't take a special money and give any
of the representatives, it comes through the Ministry of Human Development, which is part of the flow out the consolidated fund - and we need to
understand that concept. We have to be very clear about uses of funds and transparency because there are two different things. One can criticise the
use of funds, one can say it shouldn't be used for this, it shouldn't be used for that - but remember that use of funds is something that is determined
by government and determined by budget that go to the national assembly. And we can criticise the use of funds in lots of ways. What we cannot
criticise is that there's any non transparency in the use and I wanted to make that difference."
Reporter
"You say one can criticise, do you criticise the use of that funds?If is consolidated fund, petrocaribe funds be used for an outing, a one day outing
in Corozal for a certain sector of a constituency?"
Hon. Godwin Hulse
"Why did I know that question will come? If I were outside the cabinet of Belize, you would have heard my view on it. I am inside the cabinet of Belize
and cabinet works collectively. So any decision that is made by cabinet with respect to finance etc. I support."
Reporter
"I'm not asking you cabinet decisions sir, I'm asking your opinion."
Hon. Godwin Hulse
"You can't do that to me. How can I give you my decision when I am inside the team. When I was outside the team that's a different thing - I'm inside
the team. So my view outside the team doesn't count. When I'm outside the team that's a different view. I'm inside the team and that's how it works
collectively as ministers of government. Any time I disapprove of anything that is major in the government , I will walk away from the cabinet."
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