Government

From August 30th through the 31st, San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, hosted the third High-Level Meeting of the Regional Climate Change Platform of Economy and Finance Ministries of Latin America and the Caribbean. Hosted by the Government of Belize in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the two-day event saw delegations from various countries. The ministerial meeting ended with a powerful demonstration of unity as the participating countries adopted a regional vision for sustainable finance. This collective effort aims to boost sustainable finance and promote effective investments, reinforcing the shared responsibility of the participating countries in meeting their climate commitments.

On August 30th and 31st, during the Third High-Level Dialogue of the Regional Climate Change Platform of Finance and Economy Ministries in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Government of Belize signed a funding agreement. This agreement aims to improve the country’s healthcare services and urban infrastructure, including San Pedro’s San Mateo Subdivision, which will benefit from upgrades to its street network, sewage and drainage infrastructure, public parks, and other essential services.

The Government of Belize, in its commitment to strengthening the monitoring and enforcement of Belize's ocean space and the conservation and sustainable use of its associated resources under the Blue Bond Program, launched the Belize Coast Guard Drone Squadron. This new squadron will bolster the Belize Coast Guard's capabilities by supporting a second fleet in national enforcement involving modern technology to realize effective surveillance and protection of the Blue Space.

Thursday, 29th August 2024, The Human Trafficking Institute (HTI) in partnership with the Anti-Trafficking in Persons (ATIPs) Council, of the Government of Belize, hosted a Trafficking in Persons Leadership Summit. This initiative is part of a CARSI grant project entitled “A TIPPING POINT 2.0" awarded to HTI in September 2022. The Summit intended to strengthen best practices in Belize’s Anti-Trafficking efforts, and support collaboration and coordination across government ministries and departments. It was designed to allow for reflection on global best practices, as well as common pitfalls in responding to human trafficking.

A high-level delegation of senior Belizean defence leaders led by the Minister of National Defence and Border Security, Hon. Florencio Marin Jr., returned to Belize this weekend after a series of meetings with US defense officials in the National Capital Region last week.

The third High-Level Meeting of the Regional Climate Change Platform of Economy and Finance Ministries of Latin America and the Caribbean formally began on Friday, August 30th, in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye. The two-day meeting aims to approve the new work plan for the 2024-2025 period, which includes specific strategies for sustainable finance and climate change mitigation, and transfer the pro-tempore presidency from the Ministry of Finance of Chile to Colombia’s Ministry of Finance and Public Credit. The goal is for ministers attending to formally adopt a shared regional vision on sustainable finance.

On Monday, August 26th, Mayor Gualberto 'Wally' Nuñez represented the Belize Mayors Association at the 'Puerto Rico Experience 2024' event in Puerto Rico. The event, which focused on enhancing municipal management capabilities, saw the exchange of experiences and sharing of knowledge with leaders from Latin American countries. Discussions ranged from innovative waste management strategies to effective community policing models. Over six hundred local and international leaders attended, demonstrating their commitment to applying the acquired knowledge to improve community services and contribute to a better future for their municipalities.

Prime Minister Honorable John Briceño returned to Belize on Tuesday, August 27th after leading a delegation on an official visit to Guatemala. Briceño met with Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo and members of the private sector and discussed trade opportunities.