SOUND BITES

Special Sitting of the House of Representatives

Budget 2023-24 Debate (Day 2 and 3)

Continued from page 17

Honorable House one of the most ambitious and forward-thinking estimates of revenue and expenditure for the next fiscal year. I thank you again Prime Minister for giving form and standing in this budget. This budget is to pave the way to a brighter and more prosperous future for all of us.”

Hon. Elvia Vega-Samos, Min of State in Ministry of Human Development, Families & Indigenous People's Affairs, Corozal Bay, “We are rolling our free education to the most marginalized people because we know that is the way to get our people out of poverty. This is not lip service, this is action! The borrowing by this government, the loans were put to good use and not for the purchase of tacos, money was rolling then [UDP year’s} and not being used for things that were good for our people.”

Hon. Gilroy Usher Sr., Min. of State in Youth, Sports, and Transport, Port Loyola, “The new fiscal year this government expects to collect $1,372,473,486 out of that amount it envisioned that $1,112, 255,051 will be used for expenses in running government and addressing the needs as best as possible from Corozal to Toledo and from Benque to the Cayes. After the expenditure, we have a surplus which is always good news a budget surplus allows the government to continue addressing the needs of the people without significant disruption in the event there's a major decrease in revenue or a major increase in the cost of assessing goods and services.”

Hon. Marconi Leal, Belize Rural North, “I am extremely satisfied and grateful with the decision I made years ago to join this peaceful constructive revolution better known as the People's United Party. The people of Belize gave us the mandate to run a government with planned beliefs as the mantra the expectations remain high and as a government, it is our intent to live up to those expectations and to fully Implement plan beliefs under PlanBelize.”

Hon. Luis ‘Alex’ Balona, Cayo Central, “‘I will quote the great Nelson Mandela “There is nothing I fear more than waking up without a program that will help me bring a little happiness to those with no resources, those who are poor, illiterate, and ridden with terminal disease.’ but thanks to the implementation of the constituency Development Fund I am able to counter those fears bravely. Anyone who has taken the time to read the 2023/2023 budget would easily see all that this PUP government is prepared to invest in the upcoming fiscal year. Thanks to our prime minister and this government for yet another splendid job in ensuring that Belize rebounds in line with planBelize.”

Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing

Public Notice

Lodgment of an ESIA Report and Public Consultation For

George Price Highway Upgrading Project (Belize City - Belmopan) by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development & Housing

The General Public is hereby informed that an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report was submitted to the Department of the Environment (DOE) by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development & Housing for the George Price Highway Upgrading Project (Belize City - Belmopan). The ESIA report was prepared by Nextera Environmental and Engineering Consultants. The ESIA report will be reviewed by the National Environmental Appraisal Committee (NEAC) before a final decision is taken.

The public is hereby advised that the EIA-Report will be available for public review, free of charge, Mondays to Fridays, during normal working hours (8:00 am to 5:00 pm) from March 16th at the following locations: Hattieville Community Center, La Democracia Community Center, St. Matthews Village Government School, MIDH-Project Execution Unit and at the DOE’s Office located at 7552 Hummingbird Highway, Belmopan. Likewise, the EIA-Report and its annexes are all available on the DOE’s website at link: https://doe.gov.bz/download/esia-george-price-highway-upgrade-belize-to-belmopan/and https://doe.gov.bz/download/ appendices-esia-george-price-highway-upgrade-belize-to-belmopan/

The public is invited to submit their comments in writing on or before April 19, 2023, to the DOE Office in Belmopan or email: envirodept@environment.gov.bz; eiaunit@environment.gov.bz., or by link: https://forms.gle/baFsATJBdvaLbUCh9

Kindly be informed that a hybrid public consultation for the ESIA will be held on April 13, 2023, commencing at 6:30 pm at St. Matthews Village – Basketball Court. An online link will be provided three days before the date of the Public Consultation.

The public is invited to participate in-person or virtually in this public consultation to provide comments/input, recommendations, and/or express their concerns to the DOE regarding this proposed project activity.

Belizean Youth for Road Safety (BYRS)

The Belizean Youth for Road Safety recruited 20 dedicated individuals aged 18 to 25, along the Philip Goldson Highway from Belize City to Corozal. The selected individuals were trained in a program that worked towards getting more youths involved in road safety and sustainable mobility efforts. They are also to complete an online preliminary training session by April 14, 2023, in order to attend the workshop from the 17th to the 21st of April.

The participants will also have a full understanding of road safety issues and effective strategies to deliver training on the topic.

The aim of the training is to:

• Increase young people's understanding of the road safety issues in Belize and the risks they face on the roads (e.g.: speeding, drinking and driving and distracted driving).

• Promote and increase the involvement of young people in road safety advocacy efforts in Belize.

• Build the knowledge and develop the skills of youth leaders in order for them to implement their own road safety initiatives.

This program stems from the First Belize Road Safety Project financed by the Caribbean Development Bank and the Government of Belize, which started in 2013 and embarked on a Youth and Road Safety Capacity Building Initiative.

The international consulting firm Youth for Road Safety (YOURS), held this Youth and Road Safety Capacity Building for 34 Belizean youths. The program trained young leaders to effectively communicate issues of safe roads and sustainable mobility with fellow young people as Trainers of Facilitators. These young leaders have since trained approximately 3,000 youths across the country in various Youth and Road Safety Outreach Workshops.

The success of the first program led to the Government of Belize officially partnering with YOURS once again to support the group with institutional strengthening, under the Second Road Safety Project. This new phase of the empowerment programme focuses on three major points: Master Training, Training of Facilitators, and conducting a Safe School Zone Assessment.

Young people interested in participating should apply as soon as possible, through the following link: https://claimingourspace. typeform.com/BLZrecruitment.