Belize has gone 135 days without an Ombudsman, stalling a Freedom of Information appeal case and prompting Opposition Leader Tracy Panton to warn that the prolonged vacancy is weakening government accountability and public oversight. In comments provided to *The Reporter*, Panton said the continued absence of an Ombudsman is “deeply troubling and unacceptable,” arguing that the office serves as one of Belize’s key independent mechanisms for investigating abuse of power, malad

Education is not free, as families continue struggling with school-related costs despite government claims of expanded assistance, Opposition Leader Tracy Panton stated this week in a press release. Panton said her Albert Division office has recently been inundated with requests from families whose children were allegedly told they may not be allowed to graduate or receive grades unless outstanding school fees are paid. According to the Opposition Leader, many of those same f

Global food prices rose for a third straight month in April as higher costs for vegetable oils, meat and cereals outweighed declines in sugar and dairy prices, according to the latest Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Food Price Index. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 130.7 points in April 2026, up 1.6 percent from March and 2 percent higher than a year earlier. However, the index remains 18.4 percent below the record high reached in March 2022 during the height of the