Government

On October 29, 2021, the International Regional Organization for Plant and Animal Health (OIRSA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, and the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA), virtually celebrated the 68th anniversary of OIRSA in Central America and the 38th Regional Agriculture Health Day.

The Government of Belize (GOB) has been working to restructure its external debt by addressing its US dollar bonds, known as the Super Bond. In September government announced an agreement with the bondholders and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to buy out the debt. By entering into this agreement with TNC, GOB would achieve conservation objectives, including key areas in the country set aside for protection and management. One of these areas is the Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve, a World Heritage Site in northern Ambergris Caye. This area, unfortunately, is afflicted by illegal activities such as hunting and fishing with little to no enforcement/intervention by the respective authorities. Another matter of concern is a proposal announced by Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño to build a road through the Bacalar Chico area and connect Ambergris Caye to Mexico via a bridge.

Hon. Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Public Utilities, Energy and Logistics, and Mr. Marconi Leal Jr., CEO in the ministry, participated in a field trip in Honduras from October 21 to 23, 2021. The trip was steered by Mr. Dante Mossi, Executive President of Central American Bank of Economic Integration (CABEI), its directors and regional delegation with the aim of optimizing similar opportunities in its member countries. The trip covered three of the key sectors in the ministry’s portfolio, namely, transport, ports, and energy.

U.S. Embassy Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Coordinator Mary Walz and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Deputy Resident Representative in Belize Ian King handed over US$26,760 in Information Communication Technology (ICT) equipment to the Minister in the Ministry of Home Affairs & New Growth Industries Kareem Musa on October 22, 2021.

Hon. Florencio Marin, Jr., Minister of National Defence and Border Security, received a courtesy visit on October 15, 2021, from Colonel DEM Pedro Mandujano Balbuena, the newly appointed Mexican Military and Air Attaché accredited to the Mexican Embassy in Belize.

Hon. Christopher Coye, Minister of State in Finance, Economic Development and Investment, and Dr. Osmond Martinez, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Economic...

The Opposition, the United Democratic Party (UDP), calls on the current administration to abstain from increasing taxes, particularly in areas like motor vehicles, road permits, and within all the villages in the country. According to the UDP, last week’s Cabinet briefing hinted at these possible implementations that will cause more damage than good to the Belizean people.

Belize and Cuba have long enjoyed strong diplomatic relations, and both nations have helped each other in every possible way. Cuba has continued to help Belize with medical brigades, particularly in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. In return, Belize sent the first of two humanitarian donations over the weekend with supplies valued at BZ$200,000.