Government
Cabinet Approves Establishment of Blue Bond and Project Finance for Permanence Unit
On January 25, 2022, Cabinet approved the establishment of the Blue Bond and Project Finance for Permanence Unit within the Office of the Prime Minister. This unit will be charged with ensuring that the Government of Belize meets all commitments outlined in the Blue Loan Agreement (BLA) and Conservation Funding Agreement (CFA) and the design of an innovative new financing model: Project for Finance Permanence (PfP) to further assist Belize in meeting and sustaining its Nationally Determine Contributions and conservation goals.
Government
United States Donates All-Terrain Pickup Trucks to Support Anti-Trafficking Operations
The U.S. Embassy donated four Ford Ranger pickup trucks valued at over US$206,000 to the Belize Joint Intelligence Operations Centre (JIOC) for use in investigating and countering transnational organized crime in Belize. The donation was made through the U.S. government’s Foreign Military Financing grant program and coordinated through the U.S. Embassy’s Security Cooperation Office.
Government
Executive President of the CABEI Visits Belize
Dr. Dante Mossi, Executive President of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), lead a delegation on a mission in Belize from January 17 to 21, 2022.
Government
Venezuelan “asylum seekers” escape shelter assigned by UNHCR
A group of eight Venezuelan nationals who reportedly were seeking refugee status in Belize are missing and believed to have escaped to Mexico. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Belize assisted them when in captivity. They were among 38 persons deemed inadmissible into Belize on January 18th after arriving at the Philip Goldson International Airport from Panama. Belize’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Immigration registry have expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the situation.
Government
UDP Leader a free man after domestic violence case dismissed in court
The Leader of the Opposition (LOO) and head of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Honourable Patrick Faber, is no longer wanted by police for the accusations of domestic violence and damage to private property. Faber was accused by his fiancée Dr. Shanikka Arnold, but Arnold recanted her complaint after a closed-door hearing at the Belize Magistrate Court on Friday, January 21st. Charges were dropped, and the case was dismissed, leaving Faber a free man.
Government
AstraZeneca vaccines no longer available after January 31st
As of February 1st, AstraZeneca vaccines will no longer be available at the COVID-19 vaccination sites. The Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) confirmed this on Friday, January 21st. MOHW encouraged those who have received their first dose of AstraZeneca eight weeks or more ago to visit the nearest vaccination center and get their second vaccine.
Entertainment
Green Climate Fund Kicks Off Private Sector Training
The Climate Finance Unit in the Ministry of Economic Development, in its role as the National Designated Authority (NDA) to Green Climate Fund (GCF), in collaboration with the Belize Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI), has received financial support from the GCF, through the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and with the technical support of Willis Towers Watson (WTW), for a project to promote knowledge and understanding of climate finance in the Belizean private sector. The project focuses on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through capacity building to access GCF funding and design bankable projects (GCF concept notes).
Government
Belize’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Meets with Costa Rican Foreign Minister
Hon. Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Immigration, today welcomed H.E. Rodolfo Solano Quirós, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of the Republic of Costa Rica, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade at the Leigh Richardson Building in Belmopan.