Jules Vasquez
"Sir, most of this liquidity is concentrated at the Belize Bank. It's super concentrated at the Belize Bank. And it's clear Mr. Ashcroft has indicated he will not lend to the productive sector."

John Briceno, Prime Minister
"And that's okay. That's his decision. We will do it through the Central Bank."

Jules Vasquez
"But should he not be penalized for this decision or should the bank not be penalized?"

John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Why do you want me to pick a public fight with Mr Ashcroft?"

It May Not Be Close, But PM Says Elections Will Still Be Costly

And while Ashcroft - who has financed the PUP and UDP in the past - has indicated that in the current political climate - where the opposition is struggling for viability - there should be no great need for any major political financing - since it is shaping up almost to be a no contest election.

But the PM said that they're hoping to still have financial backing since, win or lose, elections cost a lot of money.

John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Any election costs money and I think that Mr Ashcroft said that tongue in cheek because we have not asked him for money and we will not ask him for money but our local financiers, they're helping us because we have been a good government, our economy has grown tremendously. I think the last number was over 20.5% up to 2023, 2024, not to the end of 2024. So we have tremendous growth and all business people have benefitted from the work that we have done so I am hoping and expecting that they are going to provide some finances, it is expensive to run a campaign despite the fact, it doesn't matter about the opposition but you have to put campaigners, you have to get t-shirts, you have so many things, the TV ads, all of these things that have to be done."

A Space For Dangriga Youths

And finally tonight, the Ministry of Education today launched its USpace initiative in Dangriga at the Ignacia Cacho Library. It's their third educational Hub since the roll out of the Uspace Initiative, providing students, and the public with access to learning and creative resources. The Minister, and his minister of state who is also the area representative, shared perspectives on the launch:

Louis Zabaneh, Area Representative, Dangriga
"So the ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology has been across the country Corozal, Orange Walk and now Dangriga opening up these USpaces that is very exciting with the times so that we can provide our young people with a very special environment for which they can use technology and certainly also perhaps after school or on weekends be able to access information that they might not other be able to do and so this investment form the ministry along with our partners at UNICEF it is significant for our people across the country. Now speaking with respect to Dangriga as the area representative we are delighted so I play a dual role here and of course minister Fonseca and our team we are all here. Dangriga is very grateful, Dangriga, Sara Wee and Hope Creek we are grateful for this investment because we know that there are many of our families who cannot afford to purchase this kind of technology and now we have within the Ignacia Cacho library under the Belize national library service a space for them to be able to do some exciting work and fit into the fourth Industrial Revolution which is all about Science Technology and Innovation."

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
"And as others have said relaly with a renewed focus on creativity, culture, and technology, of creating a learning space for our community here in Dangriga and Ms Romeo Sabal and Mr Belkis Guzman they are the current team at the Ignacia Cacho Library and they will be responsible for making sure that we live up to this commitment creating a welcoming creative space for the community. This library will be really the first library set aside for the creation of a sort of what they call a non textual content which includes but is not limited to drawings and photographs, audio materials and videos, compilation of oral history and traditions, 3D objects, handmade or 3D printed. Electronic devices, computer coding and cultural engagement be it spoken word or skills training and cultural learning, creative and curiosity development so these creative spaces that the library will allow Dangriga and the people of Dangriga to be content creators not just consumers of Content."