Government

he toolkit was designed to help organisations in Belize understand and access “climate finance”. The toolkit will also provide guidance to the Ministry in the undertaking of its roles and responsibilities as the country’s National Designated Authority (NDA) to the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

Three ambassadors and a high commissioner accredited to Belize presented their letters of credence to the Governor General of Belize H.E. Sir Colville Young this morning at the Belize House.

The Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation, in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) and UNICEF, is hosting the third in a series of social protection conferences on May 20-21, 2019 in Belize City.

After a majority of Belizeans authorized the Government of Belize (GOB) to submit the Guatemalan territorial claim to Belize at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) by voting ‘Yes’ at the May 8th territorial referendum, two Belizean Agents have been selected to represent the country at this world court. Former Ambassador and Minister of Foreign Affairs Assad Shoman has been assigned as the Agent, while current Ambassador to Guatemala His Excellency Alexis Rosado will be the Co-Agent. Their job will be to coordinate all the legal, diplomatic, and organizational elements in the ICJ case at The Hague in the Netherlands. GOB further amended the Maritime Areas Act of 1992, allowing Belize to claim its full 12 nautical miles in southern Belize.

Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Keith Gilges, Chief Justice of Belize Kenneth Benjamin, and Chief Executive Officer of Kolbe Foundation Virgilio Murillo signed the official handover documents at the Belize Central Prison in Hattieville. The project is valued over U.S. $387,000.

The nationwide election saw 65% of the 148,500 re-registered electorates participating. The official reports from the Elections and Boundaries Department indicate that at the end of the voting process, 55% of the population voted ‘YES,’ while 44% voted against settling the Guatemalan claim to Belize at the ICJ.

With a margin of 516 YES votes from San Pedro Town, Belize Rural South votes yes to the ICJ. Caye Caulker registered a NO vote by a margin of 44. Across the country, unofficial reports have the ‘YES’ vote leading, with 65% of the 148,500 re-registered electorates having participated in the Referendum.

The Government of Belize (GOB) continues its legal battle with the Opposition People’s United Party (PUP) regarding the holding of the national referendum on whether to settle the territorial dispute with Guatemala at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).