The Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño, met in regular session on January 26, 2021.
• Cabinet gave its approval for the ratification of three CARIFORUM Bilateral Agreements: a free trade agreement between CARICOM and the Dominican Republic, an agreement on trade, economic and technical cooperation between CARICOM and Venezuela, and an agreement on trade, economic and technical cooperation between CARICOM and Colombia. These agreements were ratified at today’s special sitting of the Senate.
• The Minister of Health and Wellness, Hon. Michel Chebat, will hold a press conference on Friday, January 29, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. to update the public on the COVID-19 situation and to announce new measures.
The Cabinet also received a report from the Minister of Health on proposals for the reopening of the Corozal Free Zone and gave its approval for the resumption of business at the Free Zone on February 1, 2021.
• The Prime Minister informed Cabinet that he signed the order to convene a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the sale of government assets between the period October 2019 to November 2020. The three-member commission will include Mr. E. Andrew Marshalleck, S.C., Chairman; Mr. Luke Martinez, representative of the Public Service Union; and Mr. Marcello Blake, representative of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
• The Prime Minister will lead budget consultations along with Hon. Anthony Mahler and Hon. Chris Coye and their technical team. The consultations will commence with the private sector and social partners in the first week of February. Additionally, the Prime Minister informed that Hon. Francis Fonseca will lead consultations with the Belize National Teachers Union and the Public Service Union. Minister Fonseca will be joined by the Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Cordel Hyde and Hon. Henry Charles Usher.
• Finally, the Prime Minister informed Cabinet that he will notify the Speaker of the House of Representatives to call for a sitting of the House of Representatives on Friday, February 5, 2021.
