Government

Starting December 1, 2025, the Government of Belize will impose a five-year moratorium on issuing Short-term Forest Licenses and Petty Permits for tree cutting on national lands. The Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Solid Waste Management, along with the Belize Forest Department, announced the measure following Cabinet’s approval, citing growing risks of forest depletion across the country.

As the territorial, insular, and maritime dispute between Belize and Guatemala moves closer to oral hearings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the Guatemalan government has intensified an educational campaign urging its institutions to use maps that depict Belize as part of Guatemala. The latest instance occurred on November 14th, when Guatemala’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted an image on its official Facebook page showing a map with Belize annexed, accompanied by instructions explaining why it must be portrayed that way.

Just one week after announcing changes to his Cabinet, Prime Minister Honourable John Briceño issued a second reshuffling on Tuesday, November 18th. This latest adjustment followed the Honourable Henry Usher’s refusal to take on the Ministry of Home Affairs and the resignation of the Honourable Jose Mai from Cabinet. Usher reportedly indicated that he preferred to remain at the Ministry of the Public Service. As a result, the Honourable Oscar Mira, former Minister of Defence and Border Security, was reassigned to lead the Ministry of Home Affairs, which oversees the Belize Police Department. With Mai’s departure, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and New Growth Industries has now been assigned to Honourable Rodwell Ferguson, who previously served in the Office of the Prime Minister and will be supported by Minister of State Honourable Alex Balona.

In partnership with the University of Colorado and the Belize Police Department, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) hosted two two-day workshops on the Community First Aid Response (CFAR) Learning Programme. The training, attended by 60 police officers from across the country, focused on enhancing their ability to respond to emergencies within their communities.

The Ministry of Human Development, Family Support and Gender Affairs, in partnership with UNICEF Belize, has launched a sensitization training on the Rights-Based Policy and Protocol for Migrant Children and Families Transiting Belize.

On November 12, 2025, Senator Gabriel Zetina voiced strong concerns during an exclusive interview regarding Belize’s recent ratification of the Third Safe Country Agreement with the United States. The agreement, formally approved during the Senate sitting on November 11th, has stirred public debate over its potential effects on Belize’s immigration system, financial stability, and national sovereignty.

In a decisive move marking his administration’s five-year milestone, Prime Minister John Briceño announced a major Cabinet reshuffle on November 11, 2025, in Belmopan. The changes, which take effect on November 17th, reflect a strategic realignment of key government portfolios and involve several senior ministers. According to Prime Minister Briceño, the reshuffle aims to strengthen governance and policy delivery amid evolving national challenges.

Dr. Leroy Almendarez, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy, and Logistics, and Mr. Rey Guerrero, Director of the Central Executing Unit in the Ministry of Finance, participated in a five-day Energy Storage Program (ESP) Training organized by the World Bank’s Energy Storage Partnership (ESP) and the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP).