Thursday, May 17, 2012

PUP Team meets with Chamber of Commerce

Friday, December 23, 2011, 22:08

This news item was posted in News Stories category and has 2 Comments so far.

The PUP Team led by Opposition Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca during Tuesday’s meeting with the Chamber Executive

Belize City, December 21, 2011

On Tuesday, December 20, 2011, the Leader of the Opposition, the Honorable Francis Fonseca met with the President and Executive Council of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI). Accompanying the Honorable Francis Fonseca were Deputy Leader of the People’s United Party, Carolyn Trench Sandiford, PUP Campaign Manager Julius Espat, Senator Lisa Shoman and the Chairman of the Eastern Caucus, Anthony Mahler.

The discussions were cordial and ranged over a wide array of topics including the overall economic situation in Belize, the latest IMF report and recommendations, tax reform, investor confidence, Crime Control, Security and Safety, Corruption and the need for reduction of bureaucratic impediments.

The BCCI representatives included President Kay Menzies, Mr. Israel Marin, Ms. Amparo Masson, Ms. Claudette Maheia El Ters, Mr. Alberto Young, Mr. Rishi Mungal, and Mrs. Kim Aikman. The BCCI Executive Council advocated strongly for an input into the annual budget exercise, and informed the Leader of the Opposition that they will be presenting an Investment White Paper in February of 2012, which will examine and set out policy ideas for improvement for doing business in Belize.

The Leader of the Opposition welcomed both these initiatives and provided the BCCI representatives with his own BACK TO BASICS plan to sound economic recovery, renewal of social justice initiatives and political reform. The PUP Party Leader also gave a firm commitment to work with and consult the private sector, and engage them fully in a collegial and constructive rather than confrontational manner for the benefit of our nation.

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2 Responses to “PUP Team meets with Chamber of Commerce”

Ricky Malthus said on Saturday, December 24, 2011, 9:52

Belize Chamber of Commerce must certify that all investments, local and foreign, must be those adhering to perfect competition models where no government subsidies or fiscal incentives are embedded as this would enrich the undeserving and be diametrically opposed to capitalistic democracy. The must also seek an aggressive role in ascertaining that the Statistical Institute of Belize stop churning out spurious quantifications of the GDP, inflation rate, and other data to kow-tow to the party in power, ephemeral as it is. Despite what data SIB has disseminated, the facts are: all sectors of the economy are in depression except tax collection, fuel prices, and BNE sale of crude to detriment of Belizeans. To be part of the budgetary process would be a silly exercise fraught with rubbing certain people the wrong way; however, BCC should definitely lead the way to reforming the Belize Central Bank to let it act like the Banker’s bank, to encourage economic growth, to create full employment, to stem inflation, to manage the interest rate banks are allowed to charge customers among other policies. But I am not holding my breath knowing the talent that exists on BCC.
Ricky Malthus said on Wednesday, December 28, 2011, 4:08

I think the BCC should take Stat. Inst. of Belize(SIB) to task and let them prove their data on the economy they are disseminating. First the GDP has diminished 5% to 10% from 2008 to 2011 or $125million to $250 million due to unemployment which rose from 18% to 33% of the employable workforce and investments diminishing by $125 million to $200 million. Inflation spiked to average of 12% annualy except price for fresh fruits were down (use it or lose it). Milk prices rose from $8 a quart to $10 . A gallon of milk worldwide costs $12 but $40 in Belize. $40 in a poor country. ONLY in BELIZE!!!! SIB states imports were $1.35 billion but failed to mention that went to Mexico and Guatemala via CFZ. Nothing for Belize. Oil export increased 34.8 % to $64.1 million but the revenue stayed off-shore in BNE’s partners accounts. Again , nothing for Belize. So Belize is a rich country on paper only but very poor in reality. How much longer can Belizeans live with this jewel of illusion? So BCC must hold SIB accountable for spurious data if it is to play a defining role in development of Belize. what we don’t need is another rogue institution confusing the crazy brave and the silly neophyte.