News

The National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) has begun mobilizing its affiliates in response to the Attorney General Ministry’s appeal of the Ombudsman’s decision on a Freedom of Information request; the move signals a hardening stance by the country’s leading labor body on governance issues. A ranking member of the NTUCB confirmed that the Congress convened an emergency meeting on Sunday, where member unions were instructed to canvass their memberships for mandates on

Global Sugar prices are forecasted to decline, with leading sources such as World Bank estimating a 15% decline per pound from between 2025 and 2026. According to the World Bank's Commodity prices report, last year, world sugar fetched approximately USD$0.20 per pound. However, forecasts for 2026 place this figure closer to $0.17 per pound. Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that in September prices for this key commodity hit its lowest point in th

The Public Service Union (PSU) has formally initiated industrial action procedures in opposition to the government’s transition of the Tax Service Department into a Semi-Autonomous Revenue Authority (SARA), citing risks to job security and employee benefits. The Ministry of Labour confirmed that the notice was received on Wednesday and is under review. Chief Executive Officer Valentino Shal said the ministry is preparing an official response and will hold internal discussions

The Financial Services Commission (FSC) has launched a new digital platform called LicenSys, designed to modernize how licensing and regulation are handled across Belize’s non-bank financial sector. The launch took place in Belmopan on November 3, 2025, ring it a step closer in the FSC’s move toward full digital transformation. LicenSys brings all licensing, registration, and supervision services into one online system. With the new platform, users can submit documents secure

The Forest Department has detained and charged four people after an illegal logging operation was discovered in the southwest area of the Maya Forest Corridor. On November 2, 2025, rangers from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) found an active logging site about seven miles along the Coastal Road on national lands. At the location, they found four individuals from Cotton Tree Village: Noemi Perez, 44; Wedlyn Maas, 21; Melvin Jesus Maas, 23; and Everardo Maas, 48. Accord

The Attorney General has appealed an Ombudsman decision ordering disclosure of government payments to private law firms under the Freedom of Information Act, filing a High Court notice on October 28, 2025. The Notice of Appeal names the Attorney General of Belize as appellant and the Ombudsman as respondent and asks the court to set aside the Ombudsman’s October 10th decision on grounds of legal error. The filing cites Part V of the FOIA, the Inferior Appeals Rules 2021, and

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) assigns government ministries the responsibility to justify any refusal of access to public records, a requirement underscored by Section 38 of the Act. Under the FOIA, every person has the right to request access to government-held information unless the document qualifies as exempt under Part IV. If a ministry refuses access, it must issue written notice under Section 21 stating the reasons for the decision and informing the applicant o

The Government of Belize, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Culture & Immigration, has dispatched relief supplies to about 75 Belizean students studying in Jamaica and others in Santiago de Cuba following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. The aid comprises essential hygiene items and canned food, transported aboard a Jamaica Defence Force aircraft that had taken shelter in Belize during the storm. In Jamaica, distribution is being coordinated

Leader of the Opposition Hon. Tracy Panton has voiced firm support for civic activist Jeremy Enriquez’s ongoing effort to secure transparency from the Government of Belize through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Panton described the government’s persistent withholding of information as symptomatic of a broader failure to uphold its commitments to accountability and good governance. Speaking to The Reporter on October 23, Panton stressed that transparency is not optiona

One week after the Office of the Ombudsman directed the Attorney General to comply with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and release details on government contracts with private attorneys, there has been no official update on the matter, according to civic activist Jeremy Enriquez. Enriquez told The Reporter on Wednesday, October 23, that the Ombudsman’s Office has not yet provided any indication of progress since issuing the directive on October 15. While he cannot conf

United Democratic Party (UDP) Senator Hon. Patrick Faber has accused the Briceño administration of recklessly rushing through the $330 million acquisition of Fortis Belize Limited and its associated electricity assets, describing it as another instance of big money deals pushed through without scrutiny. Faber, speaking at the UDP’s press conference on Thursday, said members of the House were asked to approve the deal without access to critical evaluations on the Mollejon, Cha

The Government of Belize has secured BZ$10 million in funding from the Adaptation Fund to support the project Securing Water Resources through Solar Energy and Innovative Adaptive Management (SEAM) , which will directly benefit the rural communities.  The villages of Boom Creek, Dolores, and Otoxha in the Toledo District, and Copper Bank in the Corozal District will benefit from the program which plans to strengthen climate resilience and improve access to sustainable water s

The Government of Belize has announced that the MSME Tax Amnesty Programme has been extended until December 31, 2025. The announcement was made during a Special Sitting of the House of Representatives on October 17. The programme, coordinated by the Office of the Prime Minister in partnership with BELTRAIDE, the Investment Policy and Compliance Unit (IPCU), the Belize Tax Service (BTS), the Belize Companies and Corporate Affairs Registry (BCCAR), the Economic Development Coun

Belize has signed an agreement with Washington to act as a “safe third country” for migrants seeking asylum in the United States. Prime Minister John Antonio Briceño explained that the deal — which still requires approval by the Belize Senate — will allow migrants deported from the US to apply for asylum in Belize instead of returning to their home countries. The BBC in London has reported that the US State Department described the agreement as “an important milestone in endi

The Ministry of Human Development, Family Support and Gender Affairs announced that Hon. Thea Garcia-Ramirez has been nominated as Belize’s Global Ambassador to the Global Coalition for Inclusion . The nomination was formally conveyed by Mr. Marshall Nuñez, Vice Chair of Special Olympics Belize, during a courtesy visit to the Minister. The honor recognizes Minister Garcia-Ramirez’s longstanding advocacy for inclusion, equality, and the empowerment of persons with disabilities

A horrific act of domestic violence in San Felipe Village has left a mother and her young son dead, after they were set on fire inside their home early this morning. Police report that around 3:00 a.m., 35-year-old Angelita Magana and her 6-year-old son, Tishan Godoy, were burnt alive while they slept. Angelita’s daughter, Shadia Magana, and Angelita’s common-law husband, Miguel Novelo, managed to survive but suffered severe burns and remain hospitalized. According to police,

The Office of the Ombudsman has advised the Attorney General—Belize’s chief legal adviser and custodian of the Rule of Law—to comply with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) after determining that his refusal to disclose certain government contracts breached the transparency standards established by the Act. The directive stems from a review requested by civic activist Jeremy Enriquez, who challenged the Attorney General’s September denial of his FOIA application seeking de

The Government of Belize has announced plans to acquire Fortis Inc.’s electricity assets in Belize, including its 33.3% shareholding in Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) and the three hydropower plants on the Macal River—Mollejon, Chalillo, and Vaca. The transaction, according to a government release, will be tabled in the House of Representatives for parliamentary approval on Friday. The acquisition, expected to be completed by November 15, 2025, will be financed through a sp

Civic activist Jeremy Enriquez has filed a formal request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) asking the Ministry of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries to disclose how much public money has been spent on legal fees and damages stemming from the July 2020 State of Emergency (SOE) detentions. In his seven-page letter dated September 25, 2025, Enriquez told Minister Kareem Musa that the disclosure is essential for public accountability. He cited multiple High Court r

Belize Government Lotteries Ltd. has launched its new mobile gaming platform, the “Fi We Boledo” App, making it easier than ever for Belizeans to play their favorite lottery games. Through the app, players can now purchase Boledo, Ordinary Lottery, and Jackpot Lottery tickets directly from their mobile devices. The platform is designed to offer convenience and offer istant payouts, while offering security.  Plays will be allowed to choose their numbers, place wagers, and rece