Government

A total of 3,994 applications were submitted for assistance under the program. Of these applications, 1,489 were abandoned, 623 are still ongoing and 1,882 have been submitted. Abandoned applications refer to those who did not complete the application, applied to the MSP in error, or were no longer interested in applying for the assistance. Ongoing applications require additional information such as banking information or industry, and applicants have been contacted to complete their applications.

Through a very beneficial deal with Atlantic Bank Limited, the Government now has the resources to construct a new state-of-the-art Fire Department on a 1.5-acre parcel of land at the Lake Independence Development Area. The proceeds from the sale of the present site has now allowed Government to develop this $3.3 million project with a water storage and tanking system on-site for less than half the price paid 28 years ago.

On Monday, September 28, Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belize, signed a Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters between the Government of Belize and the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan). His Excellency Remus Li-Kuo Chen, Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Belize, was present to witness the signing on behalf of the Taiwanese Government, during a ceremony held at the Laing Building.

The Ambassador of El Salvador to Belize, H.E. Mrs. Julia Carolina Rovira Aguilar, on September 29, 2020 presented her letters of credence to the Governor General of Belize, H.E. Sir Colville Young.

The total number of applications received under Phase 2 of the COVID-19 Unemployment Relief Program as of  September 28, is 64,252. Of these, 30,544 applications have been approved, all of which have been sent to the National Bank of Belize for payment.Total applications received 64,252 Number on Excluded list 13,019 Applicants requested to make corrections 3,447 Applications remaining to be reviewed 17,243 Total approvals so far 30,544Applicants can check the status of their application using the following link on the Government of Belize’s covid19.bz website: https://payment.covid19.gov.bz/paymentstatus/. To seek information and clarification on their applications, applicants can also send an email to unemployment@covid19.bz.

The  John Smith Road is approximately 8.1km (5 miles). The upgrading includes the construction of a high-level bridge crossing the Belize River near to the existing airport access road. The new road alignment intersects the George Price Highway, meanders through low-lying marshland, crosses the Belize River and finally intersects the airport access road, near Gentrac Belize Ltd.

On September 22, 2020, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Wilfred Elrignton met with outgoing Ambassador of the United Mexican States to Belize, H.E. Mr. Carlos Quesnel Melendez, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Belmopan. Ambassador Quesnel, who is also the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, will be concluding his mission in Belize next month. He was appointed Ambassador to Belize on February 5, 2015.

On Tuesday, September 22, 2020, the British High Commissioner H.E. Claire Evans and the Chief Executive Officer of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ms. Lou-Anne Burns signed a Grant Agreement in support of Belize’s “National Media Campaign on SARS-CoV-2” to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Belize. The grant is valued at $80,490 Belize dollars.