Earlier on we showed you the big ticket items at today’s House
sitting. But there were also a number of other important bills and motions that
were passed. Not least of those were two loan motions for a total of $50 million.
They are both loans on concessionary terms from the IDB: the first is for a
sustainable tourism programme which is $26 million and $22 million for a solid
waste management project.
Amendment bills were also passed for the cities and town councils giving
government greater oversight into the money matters of the councils. Critics
say it’s basically legislation to reign in what government sees as rogue
councils; we call it the “Managing Mayor Moya Bill.” Those critics
also say that it is retrograde, reversing years of devolution and autonomy but
according to Minister of Local Government Gabriel Martinez, too much autonomy
can be a bad thing, and the bill is saving the councils from the temptations
of too much freedom.
Hon. Gabriel Martinez, Minister of Local Government
“Our object is to improve the system so that the local authorities
do not become a victim of their own freedom. We believe that the checks and
balances which we are providing by these amendments will go a long way in preventing
any excesses or abuse of authority at the municipal level and would greatly
contribute to transparency and accountability.”
Hon. Johnny Briceno, Leader of the Opposition
“So that under these amendments, the Minister of Local Government
and the Minister of Finance, will now have the power to literally handcuff the 
local authorities, the municipal bodies across this country, not only Belize
City but in Belmopan and also all the town councils across this country. Now
I repeat Mr. Speaker that the councils and the councillors and the Mayors should
be accountable to the people that represented them.
It is almost like you are telling these people that they no longer have
the ability to make decisions for their own self when it is the people of Belize
City that has decided or elected their municipal bodies. Now I understand, I
understand the problems that the central government is having with some of these
municipal bodies and I could tell you in Orange Walk Town we have been trying
to get a hold of the financials from the Mayor, asking him to try to make a
presentation to its citizens and he has indeed refused, and certainly Belize
City being the extreme example where again the Mayor, well I guess the best
word to describe her is a renegade Mayor.”
A motion for the appointment of Ombudsman Cynthia Pitts was also passed.
Her salary will be $80,000 a year.
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