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That budget is called "Stability in a Time of Change", but not surprisingly, the Opposition's representatives rejected any notion of stability. Here's a few excerpts of the presentations made by members on both sides:

Hon. Julius Espat - Area Rep., Cayo South

"It is a very sad situation Mr. Speaker but it seems that once again we will be forced to lead on the judiciary to seek a judgement of the unlawful practices that the prime minister continues to adhere to. Meaning we will take him to court again. It seems that this is the only avenue left to us Mr. Speaker."

Hon. Omar Figueroa - Area Rep., Cayo North

"This budged while scrupulous demonstrates yet again that this United Democratic Party government is driven at its core by fiscal prudence. Therefore Mr. Speaker this budget does indeed provide stability in a time of change as such even as we prepare to face uncertainties in the source of revenues from Petrocaribe and our own petroleum industry, this budget preserves hallmark programmes of this administration."

Hon. Julius Espat - Area Rep., Cayo South

"Mr. Speaker let us be honest with ourselves and frank with the people of Belize. The country is broke and in debt, in creole they say we broke; Boots no broke but the country broke. This is mainly due to the fact that the Rt. Honourable Prime Minister spends more money that he can possibly collect in taxation or that he can legitimately raise elsewhere. The problem in confounded though by the fact that in order to fulfil this need of wanting to spend more and more and more Mr. Speaker, they keep borrowing more and borrowing more and borrowing more."

Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez - Area Rep., Port Loyola

"The people can literally see how their money is spent. The evidence is all around us in the infrastructural upgrades country wide, the streets, the drains, the sporting facilities; the jobs that have been created as a result of these massive infrastructure projects and from other efforts. The pay increases to the public officers and teachers that has meant more economically and economic security for their families, these are just a few of the things that have inspired the people's confidence in us."

Hon. Kareem Musa - Area Rep., Caribbean Shores

"I would have to agree with the good member for Fort George that this budget is a hangover budget or as they say in creole this budge da wa goma budget. That's what you should have called, that's what the prime minister should have called. Not stability in a time of change, the goma after the Petrocaribe bonanza that's what he should have called this because this is a hangover budget."

Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Area Rep., Pickstock

"This budget is an excellent budget. The glass is half full, it is only those with impaired eyes and mental problems can look at this budget and say it is a bad budget. Something has got to be wrong, no retrenchment, increased salaries, no increased taxes, what else can one expect? I think that this budget is laying the ground work for what I like to term as a four peat, a four peat for sure."

The Debate will wind up later tonight when the Prime Minister speaks.