Like we said, those are just some of the questions the Prime Minister had to answer today in San Pedro – where the press caught him at a signal event for his administration: The Belize Investment Summit.
Tonight, we have two looks at it – the first is from Jules Vasquez who focused on the message of the guest speaker, Colombian President form 2018 – 2022, Ivan Duque Marquez. We start with the Prime Minister's proud welcome:
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Investments stand at $600 million Belize dollars between the years 2021 to present. Much of this can be attributed to the 2021 Belize Investment Summit and the greater awareness it created."
And with that boast, the Prime Minister noted a change in direction, or at least a change in buzzwords for this year's summit.
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"This year's summit is adding another ingredient by giving high prominence to the orange economy. We are confident that reaching out to a global voice in Ivan Duque Marquez we will be enlightened as he provides us with information on the increased contribution that the orange economy brings."
Indeed, the tricolor of the Blue, Green and Orange Economy was a featured attraction at this year's investment summit.
Ivan Duque Marquez, Former President, Columbia
"It's a land where three colors are going to define the present and the future for many of the Belizean citizens, but also to trigger investment as this country deserves."
"The former one term Colombian president faced bitter opposition while in office as tens of thousands of protesters mobilized against Duque in 2021 and dozens died because of his failed plan of tax reforms. But in 2023, having left office with the highest unpopularity ratings ever in that country, he's here in Belize to talk about the orange economy. Basically, the creative sector."
Ivan Duque Marquez, Former President, Columbia
"We are in a paradise, in a paradise that combines not only the magnificent landscapes and maybe one of the most important coral reefs in the planet, but a paradise that integrates the landscapes with the talent of its people, with the Garifuna music, with the heritage, with the archeological sites, and at the same time with a powerful young population that is now excelling in businesses."
"As the Prime Minister described, like BPO, if we look to Belize in the upcoming years and decades, it will be a country where the orange economy, the green economy and the blue economy will be the triggers of a transformation that can lead maybe to doubling, tripling, quadruplicating its GDP."
And as Duque reads it, by combining commerce, conservation and creativity, Belize can ride an orange wave to the future. With the government as facilitator.
Ivan Duque Marquez, Former President, Columbia
"Government can play a very important role. There are many people who think the government should do everything. The government should help enable the talent and the opportunities of people to transform their economies."
The Prime Minister nodded to his right wing mantra of government as enabler, not a support apparatus.
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Let us be the best example for the next generation who must understand that people who are willing to work hard can and do make their own way."
But with all the lip service to the creative sector, we didn't see any of them in the audience. So it's not clear who will be the new masters in this orange economy.
Email
Print