Government
Summary Status Report on Unemployment Relief Program
A total of 67,555 applications were received and, of these, 42,890 have been approved and sent to the National Bank of Belize for payment. A total of 14,899 applications were excluded because applicants were recipients of other government programs or had applied as Long Term Unemployed in Phase One. There were also a few applications from persons whose names are in the Social Security database as deceased persons. Persons who believe they have been erroneously excluded can send information to unemployment@covid19.bz so their applications can be reviewed.
Business & Economy
Update on Unemployment Relief Program
The total number of applications received under Phase 2 of the COVID-19 Unemployment Relief Program (URP) as of October 8, 2020 was 66,859. Of these, 42,575 applications have been approved and sent to National Bank of Belize for payment. Of the approved applications, 23,818 were from laid off persons and 18,757 were self-employed persons. Approvals are almost evenly divided between males and females.
Government
Capacities within the Belize Crime Observatory are Strengthened for Inter-Agency Collaboration
The Ministry of National Security received 15 Dell Notebooks and accessories procured under the USAID-funded “Evidence-based Information Management for Citizen Security in Central America and the Dominican Republic” Project (also known as the InfoSegura Project). The project supports interventions and policies that aim to strengthen crime and justice data platforms in Belize and at the regional level, including working to support the formulation of evidenced-based policies and decisions. The project is being implemented in Belize by the United Nations Development Programme with the Ministry of National Security as the Implementing Partner.
Government
Still no plans for Belizean electorates quarantining during General Elections
At this point, Elections and Boundaries are still waiting to see if the Ministry of Health will put anything in place for voters in quarantine.
Government
UK appoints new Trade Envoy to Belize and wider Caribbean markets
UK Prime Minister the Rt Hon Boris Johnson has appointed Darren Henry MP as the new Trade Envoy to the Commonwealth Caribbean. The Commonwealth Caribbean markets include Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago.
Business & Economy
New controlled prices for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
The Supplies Control Unit (SCU) in the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Commerce is hereby informing the general public that effective Wednesday, October 7th, 2020 new fixed controlled prices will be introduced for the sale of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). This change now reflects the sale by wholesale volume and retail sale by volume in both urban and rural areas.
Government
Governments Of Belize And The Republic Of China (Taiwan) Sign Economic Co-operation Agreement
The Government of Belize and the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) are pleased to announce the signing of an Economic Cooperation Agreement, September 30, 2020, at the Laing Building in Belize City. The Economic Cooperation Agreement was signed on Belize’s behalf by the Hon. Tracy Panton, Minister of State with responsibility for Investment, Trade and Commerce, witnessed by H.E. Remus Chen, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Belize, and signed on Taiwan’s behalf by Minister Wang Mei-Hua, Minister of Economic Affairs.
Government
Belize and The Republic Of China (Taiwan) Sign Air Services Agreement
The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation is pleased to inform that on September 28, 2020, in Belize City, Belize, Hon. Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation of Belize, signed an AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF BELIZE AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN). Earlier in the day, Minister of Transportation and Communications for the Republic of China (Taiwan), Hon. Dr. Lin, Chia-lung, signed the agreement in Taipei, Taiwan on behalf of the Republic of China (Taiwan). His Excellency Remus Li-Kuo Chen, Ambassador for the Republic of China (Taiwan), was present at the Laing Building in Belize City to witness Belize’s signature to the Agreement.