News

Former Ombudsman Retired Major Gilbert Swaso has filed a constitutional claim against the Government of Belize, alleging that the non-renewal of his appointment and actions taken against him violated the constitutional independence of the Ombudsman’s Office. Court documents filed this week contend that Swaso was subjected to retaliation after issuing a Freedom of Information ruling involving a request for disclosure of legal fees paid by government to private attorneys engage

As former Ombudsman Major Gilbert Swaso pursues a constitutional challenge against the Government of Belize that includes allegations relating to compensation during his tenure, Parliament is also considering legislation that would alter the remuneration provisions governing another key oversight office: the Contractor-General. The proposed Contractor-General (Amendment) Act, 2026--tabled virtually simultaneously with the Ombudsman amendment--would repeal and replace Section

Opposition Leader Tracy Taegar Panton is urging Belizeans to pay close attention to what she describes as growing concerns surrounding constitutional rights, government accountability and the independence of oversight institutions, placing particular emphasis on the ongoing vacancy in the Office of the Ombudsman and the legal challenge brought by former Ombudsman Major Gilbert Swaso. In a series of public statements issued over recent days, Panton argued that the issues raise

The National Kriol Council (NKC) has issued a formal statement reaffirming what it describes as the Indigenous identity, ancestral rights, and historical presence of the Kriol people in Belize. In the declaration, the Council argues that Kriols are among the country's foundational peoples and should be recognized for their long-standing contributions to Belize's development, governance, economy, and culture. The statement stresses that the Kriol people are not a recent popula

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is calling on countries across the Americas to remain vigilant and strengthen their emergency preparedness plans as the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season begins. Although weather experts predict that this year's hurricane season will be less active than recent years, PAHO warns that even one powerful storm can cause major damage and disrupt essential health services. Leonardo Hernández, Head of PAHO’s Emergency Operations Unit, said th

Transportation costs surged 8 percent over the past year and 4.2 percent in a single month, helping push Belize's inflation rate to 2.9 percent in April as motorists and consumers absorbed sharp increases in fuel prices. New figures released by the Statistical Institute of Belize show that transportation was the largest contributor to inflation during the month, outpacing all other major spending categories. The increase was driven by higher prices for diesel, regular gasolin

The High Court has ordered the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC) and the Attorney General to pay legal costs to activist Jeremy Enriquez after finding the commission failed to properly respond to his complaint against a High Court judge and left him in a prolonged state of uncertainty. The ruling, delivered on May 26 by Justice Martha Alexander, arose from a judicial review claim filed by Enriquez over the JLSC's handling of a complaint of judicial misconduct lodg

Global shipping companies are facing mounting costs and capacity constraints as trade disruptions force cargo operators to rely on alternative routes, raising concerns about higher prices for businesses and consumers worldwide. Senior executives from some of the world's largest shipping and logistics firms raised the concerns during a meeting on Wednesday with Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Industry leaders said that while global supply

The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on Monday, June 1, and will continue through November 30. While the season has set dates, weather officials note that tropical cyclones can sometimes develop outside of this period. Forecasters are predicting a slightly below-normal hurricane season this year. The outlook calls for eight to fourteen named storms in the Atlantic Basin. Of those systems, three to six could strengthen into hurricanes, while one to three may be

The Ministry of Human Development, Family Support and Gender Affairs, together with the National Commission for Families and Children (NCFC) and the National Women’s Commission (NWC), held a special meeting on understanding sexual offences in Belize on May 27, 2026, in Belmopan. The session took place at the Western Regional Hospital Vaccination Building Conference Room and brought together representatives from the judiciary, police, healthcare, social services, universities,

Opposition Leader Tracy Taegar Panton on Tuesday accused the government of rushing a flawed National Health Insurance Authority Bill that could eventually burden Belizeans with additional contributions; however, Prime Minister John Briceño insisted the proposed framework does not introduce immediate taxes and instead seeks to expand affordable healthcare access over time. Speaking during a United Democratic Party press conference on Tuesday, Panton said the opposition support

The United Nations’ top court has ruled that workers and trade unions possess a protected right to strike under a key international labour treaty, in a decision expected to influence labour laws and industrial relations worldwide. In a 10-4 advisory opinion delivered Thursday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) determined that the right to strike is protected under the International Labour Organization’s 1948 Freedom of Association Convention, commonly known as Conventi

Calls for deeper fuel-tax reductions continue mounting as global oil prices surge; however, an analysis of Belize’s fuel-pricing structure suggests that substantially lower pump prices would likely come at the cost of tens of millions in government revenues, increased pressure on foreign reserves, and risks to the country’s fiscal position. An analysis by The Reporter of official pump-price structures published by the Government of Belize, alongside fuel-volume estimates cont

Fuel prices are painful, and Belizeans are justified in feeling frustrated at the pump. However, the latest figures emerging from Belize’s fuel-pricing structure also reveal a difficult economic reality: cushioning consumers from a global oil shock comes at a cost. Between January and May 2026, the landed cost of Regular gasoline entering Belize rose from $4.62 to $9.39 per gallon. Diesel climbed from $5.44 to $10.11. In only five months, the cost of importing fuel into Beliz

The Office of the Special Envoy for the Development of Families and Children is renewing calls for Belize to establish a national sex offenders registry, saying the move has become critical to protecting women and children from abuse and exploitation. In a strongly worded press release issued over the weekend, the office argued that the identities of convicted sexual offenders should not remain hidden while vulnerable groups continue facing harm. The statement called for stro

Suicide among adolescents and young adults across the Americas is increasing at an alarming rate, prompting health officials to call for stronger prevention efforts and better access to mental health support. According to new research released by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and published in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, more than 18,000 young people between the ages of 10 and 24 died by suicide in the region in 2021. The study found that suicide remai

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

As Belize prepares for the start of the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season on June 1, Minister of the Public Service and Disaster Risk Management, Henry Charles Usher, visited the headquarters of the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) in Belmopan to review the country’s level of preparedness. During the visit, Minister Usher met with National Emergency Coordinator Daniel Mendez and members of NEMO’s technical team. The meeting focused on the country’s readiness pla