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But while the technicians work out what they might call "modalities", steady, if somewhat slow progress is being made. Mass registration and screening for the Belize River Valley has been ongoing this week. Screening means that family apply, and are given a score that relates to the poverty line. If they come up below that line, then they qualify for the programme. CEO of the Ministry of Human Development Judith Alpuche explained that it's not money for nothing, nor is it the inducement of a welfare state; she says it's a binding social contract.

Judith Alpuche, CEO of the Ministry of Human Development
"The government enters into a social contract with the beneficiary where the government provides a cash transfer on a monthly basis according a number of beneficiaries in family and in return the families ensure that their children goes to school 85% of the time - that they have their immunizations according to schedule - that they have health checks and so forth."

"But because of the funds that we currently have available we are starting to target those who are most needed - those who are really at the bottom of the socio economic ladder. What we have done - because these conditional cash transfer programs are tried and true throughout Latin America and they have been shown to be very effective to reducing poverty. If you design them properly and if you administered them as close to designers as you possibly can."

Reporter
"Now critics would say you are creating mendicants - you are creating people who will be dependent on the government to feed them."

Judith Alpuche, CEO of the Ministry of Human Development
"This program is not just handing out money, it is saying this is a partnership that we are entering into with you the state `and this family where we will ensure or we will work together to ensure that you will do right by your members particularly the children. So what this program is trying to do at its very core is not only providing that immediate relief but also trying to prepare these families - to prepare the children of these indigent families to be able to maneuver and to go to the next level and although it's not a lot of money that they are getting from the government - we set the rates a level where it helps but it does not provide what they call a disincentive for people to really work. This boost is not intended to be the panacea. This is not the Vicks of poverty. It is just one program within the social safety net."

Belize's BOOST Programme is developed with the World Bank and poverty experts from the London School of Economics. It is modeled off similar programs in Central America and another in Jamaica called PATH. Families that are accepted into the programme are also given credit union accounts.