Posted: Sunday, June 8, 2025. 11:46 am CST.
By Aaron Humes: During the recent Budget Debate, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing, Julius Espat, took aim at Opposition member Lee Mark Chang’s highlighting concerns over the rising cost of living and food prices in the country. During his address, Espat suggested that Chang, the area representative for Mesopotamia, should leverage his connections with the Belize Chinese Association to help mitigate the inflation impacts on constituents.
Espat criticized Chang’s observations about high grocery prices, implying that the first-term representative and restaurateur had a unique opportunity to act as a bridge between the government and the influential Chinese community, which plays a significant role in the grocery and restaurant sectors.
“You’re friendly with them. You speak for them sometimes… If you want to help us as you’re part of government, then I think the honorable members of the Chinese Association need to sit with us,” Espat stated, emphasizing that the government is willing to implement subsidies but requires cooperation from community leaders.
Chang interrupted Espat’s remarks to clarify his past involvement with the Chinese Association, stating he had participated in discussions regarding price gouging approximately two to three years ago. Chang insisted that previous investigations had included all stakeholders, including importers.
Belize’s year-to-date inflation rate stands at 1.6 percent as of the end of May and was 1.3 percent for that month, with a negligible decrease reported from month to month; however, in some places such as Belmopan and San Pedro Town, prices were as much as 3.5 percent higher this year than in 2024.
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The post Julius Espat challenges Opposition on cost of living in Parliament appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Sunday, June 8, 2025. 11:46 am CST. By Aaron Humes: During the recent Budget Debate, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing, Julius Espat, took aim
The post Julius Espat challenges Opposition on cost of living in Parliament appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
