What has come to pass is an unprecedented and almost unbearable rise in the cost of living. Fuel is more than $2.00 more per gallon than it was just three months ago. Industries across the country are suffering because of the skyrocketing price of diesel. Butane is on the rise, causing hardships in households all over Belize. And if that wasn’t enough, the price of most goods, basic and luxury, have gone through the roof.

Barrow, who has gotten even better at public speaking, complete with glasses perched on nose, pregnant pauses, impressive vocabulary and dramatic gestures, has no answer for the crisis. Hours spent in front of the mirror rehearsing could not prepare him for the shocking reality of the real world. While Barrow is the master of manipulating the stage, he hasn’t done so well off the stage and in real life. Belizeans should note that while Barrow has called countless press conferences on everything under the sun, from BNE and BTL to BEL and BBL, but all that pontificating does nothing for the poor Belizean who cannot afford to purchase even basic items to feed his family, or the Belizeans who go to the store only to be told that there is no rice to cook their Sunday meal, no bread, no flour to bake tortillas or fry-jacks.

Barrow’s incompetence and impotence was highlighted at a recent press conference, called to discuss the hopelessly inadequate response of NEMO to Tropical Storm Arthur – an inadequate response which tragically and unnecessarily resulted in the loss of human lives in the South of Belize. Between trying to divert blame from his administration, and trying to duck spittle flying from the mouth of the hysterical NEMO Minister Melvin Hulse, Barrow was forced to field questions on issues like the rice shortage and the exorbitant price attached to available rice. Of course, unable to field those questions, the shell-shocked Prime Minister called on his Minister of Economic Development and Consumer Protection Erwin Contreras.

Contreras, who was either badly hung-over or just hopelessly out of his league, would say only that he has decided to raise the controlled wholesale price of rice to $1.15 per pound, and it will then retail for between $1.30 and $1.35 per pound. We’re not sure where Contreras is doing his shopping, but we can verify that rice is now retailing for $1.50 and up, as shopkeepers claim that they are being sold the sacks at $136 per 100 pounds by the Belize Marketing and Development Corporation. Retailers also claim that Government has not taken into account the freight and other related costs they must pay for the delivery of the flour. In fact, even at $1.50 a pound, retailers are claiming that they are taking a loss, and many have simply stopped selling rice. A crisis situation, definitely – GOB’s response, inadequate.

Belizeans now call on the Prime Minister of Belize Dean Barrow to hold a press conference immediately. We’ve heard enough about BNE, BBL, BTL and BEL (which will get their demanded rate increase leading to higher electricity bills very soon, by the way). It doesn’t have to be a long press conference – Barrow doesn’t need to don his theatrical props nor demonstrate his eloquent phrases and practiced posture. Belizeans simply want to know when the UDP administration will deliver on their stated promises of IMMEDIATELY lowering cost of living. It’s as simple as that.