Business & Economy

The recent announcement of the upcoming monthly bridge fees to access the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge had many islanders up in arms and confused, pointing out that the proposed prices were too high given the island is still trying to recover from the economic effects of the pandemic. In view of these concerns, the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) revised the fees and on Wednesday, August 4th presented the updated fees to use the bridge. The new adjusted monthly prices according to the SPTC are, taxi/hotel transport vans/small cargo trucks is $150, while golf cart rentals will be charged $250 covering a total of 15 carts and $50 for an additional ten carts. In regards to the private motor vehicles/goods trucks the monthly fee will be $75. The only rate that did not change was the one for large vehicles such as dump trucks, which will remain at $500.

The Ministry of the Blue Economy and Civil Aviation has introduced its five-year strategic management plan to achieve sustainable economic development for healthy marine environments and a strong economy derived from the wealth within the sea. The ministry counts with the support of an advisory body known as a ‘Cluster,’ providing high-level guidance and direction during the initial stages of establishing a framework and successfully executing a sustainable blue economy for the country.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness continues its vaccination campaign, landing on the islands. Countrywide, 37,473 are fully vaccinated, while 102,052 have received their first dose.

A brief ceremony was held in Shipyard to mark the exportation of 359 heads of cattle from Shipyard and 85 from Blue Creek with a final destination of Michoacan, Mexico. The heads of cattle have been purchased by SuKarne, a Mexican multinational corporation based in Culiacán, Mexico, which operates in the food processing industry. SuKarne annually exports the largest percentage of beef, pork, and chicken from Mexico.

The Belize Department of the Environment - DOE (DOE) takes this opportunity to inform investors and the general public that butane depots and mini plants, also known as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) depots and mini plants, are required to have Environmental Clearance to operate in Belize.

On Thursday, June 10, 2021, Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, accompanied by CEO Servulo Baeza and technical staff of the ministry, met with the Belize Agro-Productive Sector (BAS) Group in Belmopan.

The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is pleased to inform tourism stakeholders that the Belize Water Services Limited (BWSL) will offer a 5% early payment rebate on bills for the months of June, July and August 2021 to approved accommodations. This collaboration between the BTB and BWSL aims to provide financial relief to accommodations within the tourism sector.

The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) organized the third market day on Saturday, May 29th at the Honourable Louis Sylvestre Sporting Complex. As with the previous events, the field was blanketed with booths showcasing several large and small businesses offering a wide variety of products throughout the day.