Government

It has been officially confirmed that Belize’s two major unions, the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) and the Public Service Union (PSU), have accepted the Government of Belize’s recent salary adjustment proposal. This deal differs notably from their initial demand. The government’s latest offer includes an 8.5% salary adjustment phased over two years: a 4.5% increase effective October 2025 and an additional 4% in October 2026. Additionally, the proposal reinstates two previously frozen salary increments scheduled for April 2026 and April 2027. This phased approach contrasts with the unions’ original call for an immediate full 8.5% raise without conditions.

The National Biodiversity Office (NBIO), under the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change, and Solid Waste Management, is hosting its first National Biodiversity Dialogue under the theme: Biodiversity Beyond Boundaries: Connecting Ecosystems and Empowering Communities through National Collaboration. The event will take place at Oakridge Venues in Spanish Lookout on July 2 and 3, 2025. This landmark event brings together government ministries, co-management partners, civil society, academia, youth representatives, donors, and other key collaborators to strengthen partnerships for biodiversity conservation and effective management of Belize’s protected areas.

The National Climate Change Office (NCCO), with technical and financial support from UNDP’s Climate Promise Programme, is launching the Cost of Inaction Study and National Loss & Damage Framework. From July 1–3, stakeholders and technical teams will convene at the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change & Solid Waste Management Auditorium in Belmopan to advance Belize’s capacity to understand, assess, and strategically address climate‑related loss and damage.

The Cabinet met on June 24, 2025. • Cabinet discussed the letter from the Belize National Teachers Union and the Association of Public Service Senior...

On May 26th, the Belize Constitution (Thirteenth Amendment) Bill, 2025 was introduced by Prime Minister John Briceño. The bill proposes significant changes aimed at enhancing the government’s ability to combat crime and maintain public safety amid rising gun violence and gang activity. The amendment seeks to clarify and expand the legal framework for declaring "special areas" where public safety and order can be prioritized, including the temporary limitation of certain rights to prevent, detect, or control crime. It also provides for the establishment of a Gun and Gang Court and validates previous proclamations of states of emergency and related regulations. However, the proposed amendments have drawn significant opposition.

The Ministry of Blue Economy and Marine Conservation, in partnership with the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, hosted the 3rd Blue Economy Climate Resilience Forum on Friday, June 20, 2025.

The Ministry of Economic Transformation (MET) and the World Bank Group (WBG), which includes the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), concluded a high-level mission to Belize, led by Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, World Bank Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean, and Alfonso García Mora, IFC Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean, on June 20, 2025.

Hon. Marconi Leal, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, represented Belize at the 2025 Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting (CTMM), held from June 19–20 in Windhoek, Namibia. Minister Leal was accompanied by Mr. Andy Sutherland, Director General for Foreign Trade, who participated in the Meeting of Senior Trade Officials held on June 16-17. DG Sutherland ensured that Belize’s trade and investment priorities were meaningfully reflected in the outcomes of the discussions. Minister Leal championed Belize’s focus on trade resilience, energy transition, and trade inclusivity during the meeting.