The CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) has approved a loan of 6 million dollars for the government of Belize, along with 2 grants, totaling 600 thousand dollars.

The loan is a line of credit that the Development Finance Corporation will extend to improve access to developmental financing for Belize's productive sector.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow and the Chief Executive Officer of the CDF signed the loan and grant agreements yesterday in Belmopan, and the Government Press Office was there to cover the event.

The CEO of the CDF had high commendations for the Development Finance Corporation, whose name was synonymous with misuse of public funds, a decade ago.Here's what he and Prime Minister Barrow had to say about the loan and grants:

Rodinale Soomer - CEO, Caricom Development Fund
"Let me just say that this marks for us an important part of our journey with Belize in supporting your development programme, all the projects that we've done under the first cycle of the CDF have been fully consistent with your development strategy and very well put together and you have demonstrated great efficiency through the executing agencies in implementing. So we have enjoyed very speedy and high implementation rates and we expect this track record to continue into this current cycle. Especially because we'll be working with some of the same partners including the DFC with whom we have an excellent working relationship and 3 agreements that we've signed today are part of a wider programme which includes elements relating to also relating water systems project which is in the pipeline. We also have a honey production project that we've supported in the agriculture agro processing sector and we've been supporting as part of our continuing work with BELTRAID the preparation of a national investment promotion strategy."

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister
"Well it's really a loan to government but it goes over completely to the DFC with government having no say in terms of how you will administer the funding. Again, that is as it should be in terms of the commitment we had made when we were able to persuade at least the CDF and the IDB to assist in fact having the DFC become a kind of latter-day phoenix and rise so gloriously from the ashes."

A Government press release says, quote, "The credit line will be used to provide financing at competitive interest rates to eligible projects in the productive sector including in agriculture, manufacturing, agro-industry, commercial fishing, cultural industries, tourism and related services, with emphasis on small and medium-sized businesses with gender equity, energy efficiency, and climate resilience focus." End quote.

Que Bueno, Bunny T!

Aaron Wilson is trying to be both infamous and famous.  The infamy he gained was back in 2010 when he was strung up for being a fake cop.  But, he's gotten past that and now he's trying to gain fame by using his voice as a reggaeton singer.

His first major release is an interesting track that combines the dancehall stylings of Mr. Program, and the Punta stylings of Supa-G in Wilson's reggaeton mix.

Wilson, who goes by the artist name "Bunny T", told us more about the ambitious new track:..

The full video for the track is set to be released tonight on Facebook.

The Orellana Claim and Counterclaim

Yesterday we told you that Rosita Orellana, the mother of Brian Orellana, was refuting the accounts of the Teul family. They claim that her son pulled an unlicensed firearm with which he struck Christina Teul to the head before firing a gunshot at her son. Rosita Orellana explained that the Teul's are blood relatives of her son and that there is a problematic history there. Police now say that Orelleana may have filed his own report against the Teul's. 

ACP Joseph Myvette - Head, NCIB
"In reference to an incident I had reported on Monday concerning where Christina Teul had made a report. Police have since arrested and charged Bryan Orellanno, 23 years coast guard officer of a San Martin address for 2 counts of aggravated assault, one count of wounding and one count of discharging a firearm in public."

Ongoing police investigations have led to the discovery of a 22 pistol which will be processed. They say that the weapon was not necessarily recovered from Orellana but would not disclose where it was found at this time.