Government
National Hydrological Service Signs MOU for Water Research Cooperation
The Ministry of Natural Resources, Petroleum and Mining through the National Hydrological Service (Hydrology Unit) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), through its MacPhail School of Energy Integrated Water Management program in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In signing the MOU, the parties agreed to the potential benefits in cooperating on research on Belize’s water resources, sector and management.
Government
Minister of National Defence and Border Security Meets with US Military Officials
Hon. Florencio Marin Jr., Minister of National Defence and Border Security, hosted Captain Rebekah Malone, the current bilateral affairs officer for the Security Cooperation Office of the United States Embassy in Belize, and Major Anissa Johnson, the incoming bilateral affairs officer.
Government
Belize Participates in Virtual Roundtable with US Secretary of State
Hon. Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Immigration and Chairman of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), participated in the first CARICOM-USA high-level engagement under the Biden-Harris Administration.
Community and Society
Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy and Logistics Conducts Field Trip to Electricity Projects in the Toledo District
From April 12 to 16, 2021, the Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy and Logistics led a field trip to meet with stakeholders in the Toledo District to plan for new electricity projects that will be implemented in partnership with international development partners.
Government
Minister of Blue Economy Participates in Webinar hosted by OSPESCA
Hon. Andre Perez, Minister of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation, participated in a webinar held by the Organization of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector of the Central American Isthmus (OSPESCA) on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, to present the Regional Strategy for Blue Growth (ERCA) for the Central American Integration System (SICA) countries.
Community and Society
PM confirms nomination of Mopan Maya woman from Toledo as next Governor General of Belize
At the end of the month, Sir Colville Young will officially step down as Belize's Governor General (GG). The governor general is the Head of State and representative of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. As previously announced by Prime Minister Honourable John Briceño, Belize's next governor general would be a female. On Thursday, April 22nd, he confirmed that his government submitted the name of Froyla Tzalam of San Antonio Village in the Toledo District for the prestigious position.
Community and Society
Island teachers hold peaceful protest ahead of next week’s national strike
As the national budget debate begins on Thursday, April 22nd, a nationwide strike is set for Monday, April 26th, as announced by the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU). The union denounces corruption, demanding good governance and rejecting the 10% salary cut and increment freeze proposed by the government. In San Pedro Town, teachers have shown their solidarity protesting on the streets. On Thursday, April 22nd, they again took to the streets to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the present administration.
Government
Ministry of the Public Service, Constitutional and Political Reform Implements Good Governance, Transparency and Ethics Course
On April 20, 2021, the Ministry of the Public Service, Constitutional and Political Reform (MPSCPR) in collaboration with Galen University, launched the Good Governance, Transparency and Ethics Training of Trainers course. Forty public officers from different ministries will be trained as trainers to implement the anti-corruption curriculum to public officers within the wider public service.