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Last night we told you that the social partners are not participating in the regional housing committees which are deciding how the Venezuelan money will be disbursed. Originally, the Trade Union Congress of Belize, the Chamber of Commerce and the University of the West Indies Extension had agreed to participate. We’ve confirmed why they are not, and we’ll tell you about it shortly.

But first, to a more pressing matter that the National Trade Union Congress is pushing government on. You’ll recall that 12 days ago, when the Prime Minister announced that he’d appoint a commission of inquiry to investigate allegation of corruption at the KHMH, he said that the NTUCB would be asked to provide one of the three members.

But it’s not going to be that simple. Yesterday, the NTUCB wrote to government asking for some significant changes in the Commission of Inquiry. Among those is a request for the Chairperson to be mutually agreed by government and the NTUCB – presently the Prime Minister decides who will chair. Also, they request that the t6erms of reference should have input form the Trade Union Congress. And, the letter also asks that the investigation be widened to include all supplies contracted for the hospital – especially those brought into question by former financial controller Cecil Knowles. Those are just some of the recommendation and the letter reminds the Prime Minister that the suggestions are in line with government’s principle of transparency and accountability.

There’s been no response yet from the government. Similarly, the NTUCB along with the Chamber of Commerce and the University of the West Indies Extension wrote to government in January saying that it had issues with the way government had decided to spend the Venezuelan money. The designates from all three social partners jointly signed a letter stating that they believe the majority of the money should be used for the purpose for which it was intended which was the construction of homes, not home improvement as had been decided by the government.

The group also advised that an oversight committee including a religious minister, a business persons and a social worker should review applications and disbursements. But while these proposals were pending, the partners complain that the government moved ahead with disbursement through the ministry of housing without advising the partners. With that the letter ends by saying that, “we wish this government the best…”

And while that’s the long and short of it from their perspective, we have also seen individual letters form the chamber and the NTUCB. The chamber letter – also sent in January states that it will decline serving on the regional committee because there is quote “an absence of vital information on rationale implementation strategy and accountability of this programme...and additionally the oversight committee appears superfluous because decisions on implementation of the programme have already been taken without consultation.”