News

Per-capita analysis of Belize’s Constituency Development Fund shows sharp disparities tied to unequal voter rolls, with smaller urban seats receiving more dollars per resident than larger rural constituencies, based on calculations by public-interest litigant Jeremy Enriquez. The figures, derived from data disclosed under a Freedom of Information request, compare each constituency’s monthly CDF allocation against its number of registered voters. The results indicate that fund

Belize’s umbrella labor body urged an immediate pause of BTL’s proposed takeover of SMART, citing legal, valuation, and monopoly risks, as opposition politicians and unions protested, this week, outside BTL’s Belize City headquarters. In a January 26 release, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) said it does not support the acquisition of Speednet, which operates as SMART, by Belize Telemedia Limited at this time. The group framed the matter as a public-interes

Belize’s domestic exports fell 68.2 percent in December after the absence of bulk sugar shipments slashed earnings, driving the sharpest monthly contraction of 2025, according to new data from the Statistical Institute of Belize. Total domestic exports for December stood at $24.5 million, down $52.5 million from the $77.0 million recorded in December 2024. The decline pushed December to the lowest monthly export value of the year. Sugar accounted for the largest share of the

Belize Electricity Limited (BEL), working in partnership with the Government of Belize and with support from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group, has officially launched a new initiative to develop up to 80 megawatts of utility-scale solar power across Belize. The company has started a Request for Prequalification process, inviting experienced private-sector developers to participate in building large-scale solar photovoltaic projects in severa

Public-interest litigant Jeremy Enriquez says the Government’s disclosure under his Freedom of Information (FOIA) request for Constituency Development Fund (CDF) records falls short of what was requested and what the Office of the Prime Minister previously indicated would be provided. Enriquez told The Reporter  this week that the agreed timeline for disclosure has lapsed and that he has only received limited information from the Cabinet Secretary—specifically a schedule show

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney warned global leaders this week that countries outside the room where power is negotiated risk becoming targets of it; in a world of intensifying great-power rivalry, he said, those not “at the table” may find themselves “on the menu.” Carney delivered the message Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, framing the international system as having shifted beyond a period of transition into what he called a rupture. The global rules-base

Belizean entrepreneur and hot sauce pioneer Marie Sharp has been recognized on the Forbes’ 50 Over 50 Global list, an honor celebrating influential women around the world who continue to make an impact beyond the age of 50. Sharp, founder of Marie Sharp’s Fine Foods, is featured for her remarkable journey from elementary school teacher to global food industry icon. What began as a backyard experiment growing habanero peppers and testing recipes on family and friends has grown

A Belizean mother is sharing the story of her newborn daughter, Joy, whose short life was defined by extraordinary resilience, deep parental love, and devastating gaps in neonatal care. Through her personal account, she sheds light on the realities inside the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the heartbreak of losing a child, and a plea for systemic change to ensure that no family endures a similar loss due to shortages in life-saving resources. “Joy, mommy is here… Joy, m

The Caribbean Society for Human Resource Professionals (CSHRP) has released PayPulse 2025, the fourth edition of its regional salary survey, revealing major differences in pay and cost of living across Caribbean countries. The report is the most wide-ranging to date, with 206 survey responses from 119 companies in 20 Caribbean countries. This represents a 48 percent increase in responses and more than double the number of participating regional companies compared to 2024. The

The United Democratic Party (UDP) successful hosted the Caribbean Democrat Union (CDU) Training Initiative, held over the weekend for party standard bearers, caretakers, members of its Central Executive Committee, and representatives of the UDP Youth Arm. The training forms part of the UDP’s wider effort to strengthen its internal organization and reinforce its role within Belize’s democratic system. Party officials said the initiative supports the party’s ongoing work to reb

The Legal Year 2026 was officially opened this week during a ceremonial sitting attended by Governor-General H. E. Dame Froyla Tzalam, Cabinet Secretary H. E. Ambassador Stuart Leslie, Attorney General Hon. Anthony Sylvestre, members of the judiciary, practicing attorneys, and court staff. The annual ceremony provides an opportunity for leaders of the legal profession to review the past year’s performance and outline plans to strengthen the administration of justice. In her k

Opposition Leader Hon. Tracy Panton on Tuesday condemned the Government’s handling of the proposed BTL transaction, arguing it risks restoring telecom consolidation under secrecy while positioning the state as buyer, regulator, and beneficiary without public disclosure. Panton, speaking at a United Democratic Party press conference, framed the proposed BTL transaction—widely discussed as involving SMART/Speednet—as a governance issue, not simply a commercial matter. She argue

Belize has been included in a list of 75 countries for which the United States will indefinitely suspend immigrant visa processing, a measure set to take effect on January 21 as part of the Trump administration’s expanded immigration crackdown. According to U.S. reporting and the U.S. State Department’s public explanation, the suspension applies to immigrant visas—such as those used for employment-based immigration or for joining family members permanently in the United State

The proposed sale of Speednet Communications Limited to Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) is raising renewed concern about how large sums of money linked to Lord Ashcroft–related entities may ultimately be handled. In a press release dated January 12, 2026, the Office of Lord Ashcroft confirmed that Speednet is 77.5 percent owned by the Waterloo Group Charitable Trust, with the remaining shares held by Jaime Briceño and Renan Briceño. The Trust says it was created for charitable

Drug use disorders are becoming a serious and growing public health problem across the Americas, according to a new study by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The study found that drug use disorders are now among the top ten causes of death and disability in the region. In 2021, about 17.7 million people in the Americas were living with a drug use disorder. Nearly 78,000 deaths were directly linked to these conditions, a death rate four times higher than the global

Chon Saan Palace has issued a warning on it's Faceook page, stating that some call center agents in Belize are allegedly using clients’ stolen credit card information to make unauthorized purchases, a practice the company says poses a serious threat to the entire industry. In a statement, the company cautioned that the misuse of sensitive financial data puts call center operations at risk of losing international contracts, as overseas partners demand strict compliance with da

The Government of Belize has received approximately US$250,000 in equipment and hardware from the Government of the United States of America under the newly established Biometric Data Sharing Partnership (BDSP. The official signing ceremony took place in Belmopan and involved representatives from the Ministry of Immigration, Governance and Labour, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Enterprise, and the U.S. Embassy in Belize. The signing formalized the partnership and the transf

Belize’s leading business lobby is urging a pause on any Belize Telemedia Limited move to acquire SpeedNet/SMART; however, global telecom analysts argue regulators are increasingly permitting consolidation—provided strict competition safeguards and enforceable consumer protections are in place. The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) this week issued a public statement warning that a BTL acquisition of SMART would reshape the national telecommunications landscape,

The Leader of the Opposition says Belizeans are hearing credible reports that Belize Telemedia Limited has quietly finalized acquisitions involving SMART, Centaur and NexGen, raising concerns that the public is being excluded from decisions with national consequences. Opposition Leader Hon. Tracy Taegar Panton said the reported developments suggest a pattern in which major transactions are handled without openness or public accountability. She contended that what is unfolding

Homeowners in Belize City are preparing for higher property tax payments in 2026 after the Belize City Council approved an 18 percent increase under a revised property valuation framework. Municipal officials say the adjustment addresses long-standing discrepancies in property assessments that no longer reflect present-day values, while also helping City Hall cope with increasing operational expenses. According to the council, outdated valuations had created funding gaps that