Government
Belize Hosts CSME Focal Points Attachment Programme
Belize is hosting the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) Focal Points Attachment Programme, funded under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) ─ “Strengthening the Framework of CARICOM Integration and Cooperation Process” (SFCICP) Programme. The activities, which commenced in Barbados last week, will continue in Belize this week and are slated for replication in other member states in subsequent weeks.
Government
Government of Belize Removes Fees in Public Hospitals, Promoting Universal Healthcare Access
The Government of Belize has approved the removal of all fees charged in public hospitals, a pivotal decision aimed at ensuring universal access to quality healthcare. This move eliminates financial barriers and enhances healthcare accessibility for all citizens, particularly low-income families.
Government
Government of Belize Hosts Cruise Line Executives at High-Level Meeting
On October 20, 2023, the Government of Belize convened a high-level meeting in Miami, Florida, engaging with top executives from leading member cruise lines of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA).
Government
Prison Information Management System Launched in Support of Citizen Security in Belize
On October 25, 2023, a ceremony to mark the launch of the Prison Information Management System (PIMS) was held at the Belize Central Prison, Kolbe Foundation in Belize.
Government
Belize to clear backlog of criminal cases through PACE Justice Program
The Government of Belize has become part of a regional program known as the Partnership of the Caribbean and European Union on Justice (PACE Justice) to eliminate its backlogs of criminal cases. The new system will use software and awareness interventions to address the causes of the backlog. The other countries participating include Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Guyana, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Government
InfoSegura Project Continues to Support Citizen Security in Belize through the implementation of a Pilot Project to Map Liquor Licensed Establishments and Community Assets...
This initiative is a part of the Evidence-based Information Management for Citizen Security in Central America and the Dominican Republic Project” (also known as the InfoSegura Project), the first regional strategic partnership of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which has been central to enhancing the capacities at key institutions ensuring the security of Belize’s citizens over the past decade.
Government
Ministry of Agriculture and JICA Conduct Cultivation Training for Potato Farmers
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise, in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), conducted cultivation training for potato farmers in the Orange Walk and Cayo districts on October 17 and 18, respectively.
Business & Economy
Belize back on the EU tax haven blacklist
On Tuesday, October 17th, the European Union (EU) added the Seychelles, Antigua, Barbuda, and Belize to its tax haven blacklist. It removed the British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, and the Marshall Islands. The Government of Belize (GOB) rejected this decision by the EU, referring to it as false and unfair in designating the Jewel as a ‘non-cooperative jurisdiction for tax purposes.’