SCAN HERE
The Belize Times
Established 1957
18 DECEMBER 2016 | ISSUE NO: 5024
The Truth Shall Make You Free
www.belizetimes.bz | $1.00
BARROW SCREWS
BELIZEANS!
Wednesday, 14 December 2016 As we go to press, the Belize Times has been able to confirm that representatives of the IMF are currently meeting with officials from the Ministry of Finance, and the discussions are not positive. Even worse than that, very highly placed sources tell us that government is struggling to meet its wage bill for this month. Traditionally in December public officers are paid their 15th salaries and then their end of month salaries one week after, before Christmas. But accounting officers are reportedly being told to advise staff that it is unlikely they will receive that second pay before the end of the month. In a press conference held on Tuesday, Prime Minister Dean Barrow in trademark fashion glossed over the situation, stating that “while acknowledging that there is a
problem that must be addressed, I don’t think it is quite fair to give the impression that the sky is falling.” Perhaps Mr. Barrow was referring to that particular patch of sky over his Seashore Drive mansion or the pieces of sky over privileged members of his Cabinet, but it is abundantly clear that the situation is dire and there will be extremely difficult days ahead for normal Belizeans. The economic crisis is not political propaganda. The IMF has warned in consecutive reports that Mr. Barrow was being reckless in his spending of the people’s money. Multiple cautions have been issued to this administration urging them to curb the wage bill, stressing upon the government that its debt profile is unsustainable. As the Prime Minister tries
Pg. 2
A HOTBED OF VEGAS Land Grab was Family Affair…
Wednesday, 14 December 2016 When presented with evidence of blatant corruption in the Ministry of Natural Resources involving his former Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega and his family, Prime Minister Dean Barrow did as expected, stating – “I don’t know that there is any need for an investigation. If the facts are as you say and as the
Pg. 2
BEWARE FAKE COPS
Tuesday, December 13, 2016 A group of robbers dressed as police officers concocted a daring robbery by setting up a fake checkpoint which helped them to fool their
Pg. 2