Belize Opposition Leader Demands Accountability Amid Energy Crisis

Belize is grappling with a severeenergy crisis, marked by frequent power outages that have left residents and businesses in the dark. The country's power supply remains unstable, with the Mexican Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) unavailable until tomorrow and Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) lacking sufficient domestic capacity to keep the nation electrified.

Why this matters: The energy crisis in Belize has far-reaching implications for the country's economy, healthcare, and tourism sectors, which are critical to its development and growth. If left unaddressed, the crisis could lead to long-term economic stagnation and decreased investor confidence in the country.

Moses "Shyne" Barrow, Leader of the Opposition, has placed the blame squarely on the People's United Party (PUP) government for the crisis. Barrow criticized the administration's lack of progress in securing a reliable energy supply, despite borrowing $155 million from Saudi Arabia last year. "It is no coincidence that we are here in blackout. It is appalling and completely deplorable that we have reached this position," Barrow stated.

The opposition leader expressed disbelief at the government's failure to address the energy crisis, given their campaign promises and the substantial funds borrowed. "For the life of me, I cannot comprehend, fathom, appreciate. Why an administration that claims to be so ahead of the curve, whose scambelize manifesto actually talked about energy security, who borrowed 155 million dollars from the Saudis last year, would not be ahead of this?" Barrow questioned.

Barrow highlighted the devastating impact of the energy crisis on critical sectors such as healthcare, tourism, and the economy, which heavily relies on tourism. He demanded accountability, specifically calling out Michel Chebat, the minister in charge of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). "Someone needs to be held accountable. What has Michel Chebat been doing since he took on the portfolio at PUC?" Barrow asked.

The opposition leader's frustration was further fueled by revelations from John Mencias, CEO of BEL, who acknowledged that the energy problem had been known for a decade, yet no action was taken. "So for us to be here now with John Mencias, the CEO of BEL, saying, well, you know, for 10 years we knew that we had this problem, but no one did anything is absolutely deplorable," Barrow stated.

As the energy crisis persists, with load shedding affecting Belize City and Cayo, residents and businesses are left to cope with the fallout. The downtown area of Belize City experienced a three-hour outage, while Cayo also facedpower disruptions. The instability of the power supply has raised concerns about the country's ability to meet its energy needs and support economic growth.

The opposition's demand for accountability comes at a critical juncture for Belize, as the nation grapples with the immediate challenges posed by the energy crisis and the long-term implications for its economy and development. As the government faces mounting pressure to address the situation, the people of Belize await decisive action to restore a reliablepower supplyand secure the country's energy future.

Key Takeaways

• Belize faces severe energy crisis with frequent power outages.
• Energy crisis affects economy, healthcare, and tourism, threatening growth.
• Opposition leader blames government for lack of progress on energy security.
• $155 million borrowed from Saudi Arabia last year, but no solution found.
• Accountability demanded from government to address energy crisis.