Government

The Vital Statistics Unit in Belize City, where every Belizean citizen gets a birth certificate and other documents of identification, has come under scrutiny after thousands of Belizeans complained they could not get their birth papers. The issue has prompted the Leader of the Opposition and People’s United Party (PUP), Honourable John Briceño to protest on the ongoing problem in a show of support for the affected citizens.

On Wednesday, February 13th, Belize Water Services Limited (BWSL) announced that they had reached an agreement with Consolidated Water Belize Limited (CWBL) for the purchase of its shares for US$7 million dollars.

In 2008, at the urgency of the Organization of American States, Belize and Guatemala signed a Special Agreement (compromis) to settle the long-standing territorial dispute between both countries at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In the agreement, Belize committed to settle the matter at the ICJ after the participation of Belizeans in a national referendum set for April 10, 2019. However, the government never consulted Belizeans prior to signing the Agreement, and the definition of the Belize-Guatemala territorial dispute in such document has since then been the subject of much criticism. The Special Agreement has garnered so much attention that attorneys in Belize are preparing to challenge it at the Supreme Court, to question its legality, validity and constitutionality.

Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Keith Gilges represented the United States Government as he handed over an ambulance, lifesaving medical equipment, and the two-year supply of parts and service equipment, valued nearly $128,000 BZD, to the Belize Coast Guard.

The Government of Belize (GOB) has taken this environmentally friendly path after taking note of the alarming increase in pollution and garbage caused by non-biodegradable items like plastic bags and Styrofoam food containers. This move is welcomed across Belize, including Ambergris Caye, where the eradication of plastics is strongly supported, particularly about food utensils and shopping bags that are a main source of pollution in both terrestrial and coastal environments.

Cabinet also urges all Belizeans to become informed on why this is the best option for Belize to move forward in its national development, free of the burden and costs of Guatemala’s groundless claim.

On what would have been his 100th birthday, we honor the memory of Right Honorable George Cadle Price, Belize's first Prime Minister.

Four former Peoples United Party (PUP) Foreign Ministers have issued a joint declaration along with Prime Minister Hon. Dean Barrow outlining seven bullet points on which they urged a Yes vote to take the Belize Guatemala territorial dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).