December 21, 2011

 

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION MEETS WITH

BELIZE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

 

On Tuesday, December 20, 2011, the Leader of the Opposition, the Honorable Francis Fonseca met with

the President and Executive Council of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI).

Accompanying the Honorable Francis Fonseca were Deputy Leader of the People’s United Party, Carolyn

Trench Sandiford, PUP Campaign Manager Julius Espat, Senator Lisa Shoman and the Chairman of the

Eastern Caucus, Anthony Mahler.

 

The discussions were cordial and ranged over a wide array of topics including the overall economic

situation in Belize, the latest IMF report and recommendations, tax reform, investor confidence, Crime

Control, Security and Safety, Corruption and the need for reduction of bureaucratic impediments.

 

The BCCI representatives included President Kay Menzies, Mr. Israel Marin, Ms. Amparo Masson, Ms.

Claudette Mejia El Ters, Mr. Alberto Young, Mr. Rishi Mungal, and Mrs. Kim Aikman. The BCCI Executive

Council advocated strongly for an input into the annual budget exercise, and informed the Leader of the

Opposition that they will be presenting an Investment White Paper in February of 2012, which will

examine and set out policy ideas for improvement for doing business in Belize.

 

The Leader of the Opposition welcomed both these initiatives and provided the BCCI representatives

with his own BACK TO BASICS plan to sound economic recovery, renewal of social justice initiatives and

political reform. The PUP Party Leader also gave a firm commitment to work with and consult the

private sector, and engage them fully in a collegial and constructive rather than confrontational manner

for the benefit of our nation.