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Following 3 days of the budget debate in the House of Representatives, the Senators weighed in on it today. Leader of Government Business, Eamon Courtenay praised the budget, and particularly the work done by his successor in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He added that there may be financial challenges to look out for this year but that overall, the numbers show that the economy is booming.

Eamon Courtenay, Leader of Government Business
"This year, Madam President, we expect, we don't know for certain, we expect sometime this year we will be notified of the date for the hearing of our cases at the ICJ, which will cause us to spend significant funds in order to ensure that we have and continue to have the best representation in order for us to have success in both cases."

"The case with Guatemala, the case with Honduras. But beyond that, Madam President, beyond that, the Ministry is engaged actively in pushing the trade agenda. We know, Madam President, that cooperation agreements and negotiations continue with El Salvador, with Mexico, Taiwan, and the European Union."

"Markets are being opened in El Salvador, Madam President, in order to generate more exports from Belize on better terms, guaranteed access at lower tariff rates. That discussion is well advanced, Madam President."

"But not only there, the PSA with Guatemala is also well advanced, and it is critical to us, as we look for export markets, to try to use those markets that are available to us next door. And therefore, a concentrated effort is being made to conclude those negotiations, and hopefully this year, to kick-start negotiations with Honduras for either a partial scope agreement or some other economic cooperation agreement."

"The fact of the matter is that not only has the agricultural sector been robust, the business processing outsourcing sector been robust, the tourism sector been robust, all around construction, energy generation, etc., have all been booming in the past year."

But the lead UDP Senator, Patrick Faber, wasn't satisfied. He explained that there was nothing in the budget that anticipated increased tariffs from the US and that the "boom" in the economy that the PUP takes credit for was bound to happen anyway.

Patrick Faber, UDP Senator
"In particular, Madam Speaker, he spoke about the tariffs and he spoke about the declining grants. He spoke about the shifting trade relations. But Madam Speaker, I waited, I waited to hear what it is that he would have recommended."

"I waited to hear as well what the Prime Minister would have recommended last week or two weeks when he presented. I think it was on May 12th when he read the presentation. I waited to hear what is it that they would have done."

"What is it that they would have recommended? In fact, I waited to hear the Minister of Foreign Affairs, which he just gave a heap of praise. I waited to hear what they would have done when Mr. Trump announced these tariffs to be heaped on Belize and the rest of the world."

"And I am still waiting. You boast about growth. But sir, if you are at the bottom of the barrel after COVID, if you are at the lowest of the low after COVID and I listen as you as you talk about how bad things were, my goodness, everything was bad during COVID."

"Of course, the economy was bad after COVID or during COVID, wasn't rocket science. So for you to come and talk about how bad things were in 2020, you are no genius. And then for you to proclaim that, wow, we really rebounded things."

"Of course, when you are at the bottom of the barrel, there is only one way to go. So when you now proclaim that there is wonderful, tremendous growth, there is only one way to go. Things would have eventually rebounded after COVID."

"So congratulations."