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As BTSD workers walk out and unions warn of lost jobs, pensions and accountability, a close reading of the Revenue Authority Bill produces a corroboration score of 75 out of 100—indicating high corroboration overall. Their strongest case lies in the concentration of power, not in claims that the legislation wipes out existing employment and pension rights. As readers may already know, on Wednesday, August 26, employees of the Belize Tax Service Department (BTSD) walked off th

Cabinet has rejected BTL’s proposed acquisition of SMART/Speednet, but the Social Partners say the decision does not end the regulatory, financial and accountability questions surrounding the controversial transaction. In a late announcement Thursday, August 13, Cabinet said that after reviewing available information and considering views expressed by stakeholders and the public, it had reached an informed position that it “does not support the proposed acquisition.” The deci

Belize Telemedia Limited says its network can accommodate approximately one million users but currently serves only 225,000—a capacity gap at the centre of its business case for acquiring Speednet. BTL Chairman Markhelm Lizarraga says adding Speednet's approximately 100,000 customers would still leave the combined customer base using only slightly more than 30 percent of BTL's existing network capacity. That calculation formed one of the more detailed explanations provided to

It is ostensibly “all of us or none of us” for Belize's Social Partners, which have told the Government that any Cabinet meeting over BTL's proposed Speednet acquisition must include representatives from all four groups. The position follows an invitation from the Government for only the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) to meet with Cabinet on Thursday, August 13. But in a joint statement, the BCCI and NTUCB, t

Organized labour is preparing to take its opposition to BTL's proposed acquisition of SMART to the streets, with an NTUCB demonstration and rally set for Tuesday, August 18. The planned action—which also is connected to a Friday, August 14th, show of support by wearing black—marks an escalation in organized opposition to the proposed acquisition of Speednet Communications Limited by the government-owned Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL), moving the trade union response from publ

By Ingrid Ferlo A summer camp that five Orange Walk high-school students almost skipped has produced an award-winning idea aimed at turning one of Belize’s most persistent coastal problems into a resource for agriculture. The students developed a concept to collect and process sargassum into agricultural fertilizer, earning their team the “Best Use of STEAM” award at a national festival held in San Ignacio, Cayo, on July 18, 2026. The five Bishop Martin High School students —

"A licensee shall not enter into or give effect to any agreement, arrangement or understanding which has the purpose or has, or is likely to have, the effect of significantly lessening competition in any market for the supply of telecommunication services or of any product used in connection with telecommunication services." — Section 42(4), Belize Telecommunications Act. The approval by Belize Telemedia Limited's (BTL) Board of Directors this week of a proposed acquisition o

Public Utilities Commission (PUC) says it will not prejudge Belize Telemedia Limited's proposed acquisition of Speednet Communications Limited (SMART), as business groups, independent senators and opposition legislators intensify calls for scrutiny of the transaction under the Telecommunications Act. The PUC issued a statement Wednesday reaffirming that its review of the proposed acquisition will be conducted strictly in accordance with the law, regulations and established pr

Belize's passport ranks 50th in the world in the latest Henley Passport Index, published on July 16, placing it among 199 passports assessed for global travel freedom and marking a modest improvement over last year. The 2026 Henley Passport Index, released by Henley & Partners on July 16, ranks passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without obtaining a visa before departure. Belize received a global access score of 100, giving Belizean pass

Current price-control regulations could discourage investment, reduce product availability and place smaller importers at a competitive disadvantage, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) has warned. The BCCI, the country's leading private-sector advocacy organization, is calling on the Government of Belize to reverse the expanded price-control measures introduced in 2023, arguing that the framework—implemented during a period of exceptional global inflation and

The investigation into procurement at Belize's Ministry of Defence has largely focused on whether taxpayers paid too much for imported military boots. Jaime Marin, proprietor of the local manufacturer Umbraland, argues that the larger question is whether the Government is failing to use its own purchasing power to develop domestic industry. Mr. Marin points to Section 19 of the Fiscal Incentives Act, 2023, which provides that 20% of all government stores purchased and contrac

Transport costs continued to drive inflation in Belize, rising 13.6 percent in June compared with the same month last year as higher fuel prices, bus and taxi fares, and international airfares pushed the country's overall inflation rate to 4.6 percent. According to the Statistical Institute of Belize's latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) release, the Transport category remained the single largest contributor to inflation for the fourth consecutive month. Together with Food and

Global oil prices climbed above US$100 a barrel on Thursday as renewed conflict involving Iran disrupted major shipping routes, raising the prospect of higher fuel prices in Belize, where transport costs are already the largest driver of inflation. Brent crude, the international benchmark that influences fuel prices in Belize, rose to US$100.60 per barrel on Thursday, while U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) climbed to US$91.63. The surge follows escalating military

Belize People's Front Leader Nancy Marin is calling for a "Buy Belize First" procurement policy, arguing that government spending should prioritize Belizean-made goods to strengthen local businesses and reduce the country's dependence on imports. Marin unveiled the proposal as part of a broader economic policy statement in which she argued that government procurement should become a tool for building domestic industries rather than supporting overseas producers where local al

Belize's weighted-average deposit rate remained near a record low at 0.816% in May 2026, after falling to an all-time low of 0.780% in March, underscoring how abundant banking-system liquidity is reshaping returns for savers while lowering funding costs for banks. The weighted-average deposit rate stood at 0.816% in May 2026, according to the Central Bank of Belize's latest interest rate statistics. While slightly higher than the record low of 0.780% recorded in March 2026, i

Water contaminated with fecal bacteria was being used at the Kolbe Foundation Central Prison to pre-wash food, including vegetables and meat, and for inmates to bathe, according to a Ministry of Health and Wellness inspection carried out last year. The findings prompted the prison to immediately change how water is used at the facility. The Ministry completed its inspection in mid-September 2025 after assessing three separate water sources on the prison compound. The report c

The Government of Belize and UNICEF Belize have launched the country's first comprehensive assessment of how climate change and environmental hazards affect children and other vulnerable groups. The Climate Landscape Analysis for Children Plus (CLAC+) Report was officially launched on July 17 during a ceremony hosted by the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Solid Waste Management through its Sustainable Development Unit and Climate Change Department, in

The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) is urging the Government to immediately strengthen financial controls over public procurement, arguing that many reforms can be implemented now without waiting for ongoing investigations or a broader review of procurement laws. In a June 29 letter to Prime Minister John Briceño, BCCI President Giacomo Sanchez said the recent procurement and payment-processing irregularities should serve as an opportunity to strengthen the sys

The world's principal institutions overseeing energy, finance, development and trade say the immediate shock from the Middle East war is easing, but warned that the global economy remains vulnerable and governments should remain prepared for further disruption. In a rare joint statement issued after a high-level coordination meeting on July 7, the heads of the International Energy Agency (IEA), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank Group and World Trade Organization s

Prime Minister John Briceño convened the full Cabinet and chief executive officers for a special meeting on public procurement this week as the government continues to face scrutiny over procurement practices involving the Ministries of Home Affairs and Defence. The session was designed to review procurement best practices, legislative requirements and recurring weaknesses identified through government audits. The meeting featured presentations from the Financial Secretary, C