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The Government and FOIA applicant Jeremy Enriquez have arrived at a mutually workable timeline for the release of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) records, following the Cabinet Secretary’s written confirmation that the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) will grant access and adopt the extended deadline proposed by the requester. The agreement marks a shift from last week’s procedural standoff, which centred on whether administrative constraints could delay the statutory r

The Inter-national Court of Justice (ICJ) has finished three days of hearings on Guatemala’s bid to intervene in the sovereignty case between Belize and Honduras over the Sapodilla Cayes, a move that could reshape the Court’s handling of two parallel territorial disputes in the region. The hearings were held at the Peace Palace in The Hague from November 24 to 26. Guatemala asked the Court for permission to participate as a non-party, arguing that its long-standing claim agai

The public rarely sees the Belizeans who carry the country’s most complex responsibilities. This past week’s hearings at the International Court of Justice offered a reminder that some of the nation’s most consequential work is done far from cameras, headlines, or political rallies. Figures such as Ambassador H.E. Assad Shoman and the small team supporting Belize’s ICJ cases operate in deliberate quiet—advancing national interests through research, preparation, legal coordina

The Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) says Belize’s drinking water remains safe, even as early results from the new Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 7 (MICS7) show high levels of E. coli contamination in many household water samples across the country. The Ministry says its own long-term testing from many sites continues to show that the national water supply is safe for consumption. MICS7 is an international survey developed by UNICEF and carried out in more than 120 c

Hon. Marconi Leal, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, led Belize’s delegation and chaired the 61st Regular Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), held on November 20–21, 2025, in Georgetown, Guyana. The meeting focused on advancing the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and addressing several major trade and economic issues affecting the region. One key topic was the ongoing work toward full free movement of nationals among Barbados, Belize

The Government of Belize, in partnership with the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) and UNICEF, has launched the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS7), a key tool that helps the country understand how children and families are living. MICS7 is used in more than 120 countries, it provides detailed information on key issues such as health, education, child protection, water and sanitation, mental health, and gender equality. In Belize, the survey offers 126 indicators,

Bowen & Bowen has introduced KICK Energy, a locally made energy drink designed to power consumers through every moment of their day. Targeted at youth and young adults, KICK combines great taste, solid performance, and strong value in every can. “KICK Energy is made for people who are always on the move,” said Alexander Ellis, Beverage Brands Manager at Bowen & Bowen. “Our goal is to offer premium energy, locally made, that keeps up with the pace of everyday life.” Crafted to

Water prices in Belize are set to rise as early as next year. The Public Utilities Commission has released its Initial Decision on Belize Water Services Limited’s 2026 Full Tariff Review. The new rates and upgrades are planned to start on April 1, 2026, after months of studies and meetings. The PUC approved a 13.5 percent increase to the Mean Water Rate. This is lower than the 20 percent increase BWSL wanted. The change is expected to raise the average customer’s bill by abou

Only two audit years—2011 - 2012 and 2015/2016—appear on the Auditor General’s official website; the absence of all other annual reports has forced citizens to rely on the Freedom of Information Act to obtain basic public-finance records. Under Belize’s Westminster-style governance model, the Auditor General plays a central role in safeguarding public account-ability. The office is responsible for examining the Government’s annual financial statements, verifying whether publi

The Office of the Prime Minister asked for additional time to process a sweeping FOIA request on Constituency Development Fund allocations; however, the applicant insists that the law still requires an access decision within fourteen days. The Government’s November 13th letter to public-interest litigant Jeremy Enriquez confirmed its willingness to provide the extensive CDF records he requested, but noted that retrieving multi-year budget allocations, disbursement records, vo

Global sugar markets have shifted abruptly from the multi-year lows recorded in late September and early November, with benchmark prices now climbing as production shortfalls across major exporters tighten supply. The reversal follows months of expectations for continued weakness through 2026—forecasts that likely influenced Belize’s recent discussions on domestic price adjustments for plantation white and brown sugar. The rally comes as severe drought conditions constrain ou

Belizeans are earning less on their bank deposits today than at any point over the past 15 years. Recent Central Bank figures show that the weighted average deposit rate slipped to 0.9 percent in September 2025, marking a continued decline in what banks pay customers for keeping money in savings and time-deposit accounts. The biggest drivers behind this fall are savings deposits and time deposits. Savings accounts currently earn between 2.6 and 2.7 percent, while time deposit

Belize’s ports are cost-effective gateways for goods bound for southern Mexico, Quintana Roo officials shared during a cross-border meeting that focused on investment coordination, trade access, and strengthened cooperation between both jurisdictions. Quintana Roo’s delegation outlined how Belize’s geographic location and regional trade agreements can support wider access to CARICOM and other markets. Their assessment guided targeted discussions on coordinated investment prom

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