News

Opposition Leader Hon. Tracy Panton has cautioned against treating young men as less than human under the Government's latest State of Emergency (SOE), arguing that accountability and respect for human dignity must go hand in hand. Panton's comments come amid the Government's latest crackdown on gang-related violence, following a series of shootings and murders that prompted authorities to declare a 30-day State of Emergency on October 31, 2026. In a public statement, the Opp

CARICOM countries should expect little immediate change in United States foreign policy despite Democrats winning control of both chambers of Congress, according to veteran Caribbean diplomat Sir Ronald Sanders, who says President Donald Trump will retain considerable authority over regional affairs. In an analysis published November 5, Sanders cautioned Caribbean governments against interpreting the November 3 midterm election results as a fundamental change in Washington's

More than 33 bus operators have formed a new association, breaking away from the Belize Bus Association (BBA), which they accuse of becoming too politically focused and neglecting the interests of operators and commuters. The newly established United Bus Operators Association (UBOA), in a press release dated November 11, 2026--although issued on November 4th 2026- announced its formation with a commitment to putting commuters first, representing operators fairly and working w

The Bankers Association of Belize is urging the public to exercise increased caution following reports of telephone and messaging scams targeting customers of financial institutions across the country. According to the association, scammers are impersonating bank repre-sentatives to trick customers into revealing sensitive financial information. Fraudsters are using deceptive phone numbers, email addresses and familiar corporate logos on messaging platforms to make their comm

The Public Service Union (PSU) has called for a more transparent and institutionalised system of social assistance in Belize, arguing that emergency financial support should be administered through established public programmes rather than ministerial discretion. In a statement published on its official Facebook page on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, the union questioned the practice of providing financial assistance for medical expenses, funerals and other emergencies through

The Belize Family Life Association (BFLA) is calling for stronger oversight of religious institutions and formal reporting mechanisms for sexual abuse allegations, following several cases involving pastors accused or convicted of sexual offences. In an interview with The Reporter, BFLA Executive Director Joan Burke recommended that the government ministry responsible for religious affairs assume a more active role in establishing accessible and confidential procedures for rep

The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and Opposition Leader Hon. Tracy Panton have called for a more structured approach to social protection, emphasizing financial sustainability, transparency and dedicated funding for vulnerable Belizeans. Their positions follow a statement issued by the Public Service Union (PSU) on Wednesday, October 21, calling for emergency social assistance to be administered through established government programmes rather than discretion

Steven Barrow, who sparked widespread outrage after allegedly being filmed abusing a dog by pouring gasoline into its eyes, is reportedly at the center of another disturbing incident. According to reports, Barrow allegedly attempted to set fire to his home on Wednesday while his partner and children, including a baby, were inside. The earlier animal cruelty incident drew international condemnation after videos of the alleged abuse circulated on social media. The dog was later

Animal welfare organizations across Belize have united in a renewed campaign demanding an end to the growing abuse and neglect of animals nationwide. Citing a series of disturbing incidents involving horses, dogs, and other animals, advocates are calling on authorities to investigate cases of cruelty, enforce existing laws, and introduce stronger penalties for offenders. The campaign aims to raise public awareness and push for urgent action to stop animal abuse and ensure gre

The Public Service Union (PSU) has declared that it will not defend public officers found guilty of misconduct or corruption, stressing that union membership must never serve as protection against accountability. In a press release issued on October 6, 2026, the union reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights of public officers while making clear that such protection does not extend to shielding members from the consequences of proven wrongdoing. The statement comes

One year after Belize joined three Caribbean nations in implementing unrestricted movement for their citizens, 146 CARICOM nationals have secured free-movement status in Belize, marking an early milestone in regional integration. The figures were released by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat on October 6, 2026, as the regional body marked the first anniversary of its Free Movement under Enhanced Cooperation initiative, which officially commenced on October 1, 2025

Prime Minister John Briceño has reshuffled his Cabinet, placing National Security under Michel Chebat and appointing Ramon “Monchi” Cervantes Jr. and Dr. Osmond Martinez to ministerial positions. The changes, announced on Tuesday, October 6, also assign new responsibilities to several existing ministers, including Henry Charles Usher, as the Briceño administration reorganizes key government portfolios. Among the most consequential changes is the appointment of Chebat as Minis

The Child Protection and Justice Steering Committee (CPJSC) is calling for stronger child safeguarding measures at public events across Belize following concerns raised by scenes involving children during this year’s Carnival celebrations. The national child protection body said children should be able to participate in cultural, sporting and community events in environments that are safe, age-appropriate and respectful of their dignity and rights. While recognizing Carnival

Belize is importing far more goods than it exports. But Central Bank data show that the country's powerful services surplus, driven heavily by tourism, offsets most of its merchandise deficit. Belize's merchandise trade numbers are moving in the wrong direction. During the first eight months of 2026, the country imported BZ$2.207 billion in goods, up 15.8% from BZ$1.906 billion during the same period last year. At the same time, domestic merchandise exports fell 14% to BZ$272

The churches have taken a hardball position on the recently revived discussion surrounding the legalization and liberalization of abortion laws in Belize, following a recent push by the Belize Family Life Association. Church Senator Luis Wade has gone on record to say that the churches will oppose any such move, since the current legislation in place is adequate as it stands. Wade said the churches will be keeping a watchful eye on any developments and suggested that the coun

The Public Service Union has objected to Troy Gabb’s appointment as acting chair of the Public Services Commission, questioning whether his public political commentary is compatible with the independence expected of the body. The objection comes more than two months after Governor General Dame Froyla Tzalam appointed Gabb to act as chairperson of the Commission, effective July 20, 2026, while substantive Chairperson Diana Price-Murillo is on leave. According to the July 23 Ga

By Melvin Abdon When local news channels broke the story and social media filled with angry partisan arguments, one fact became hard to ignore: Belize was facing another challenge to its sovereignty. On the night of September 24, 2026, radar operators reportedly tracked an uninvited Guatemalan military aircraft deep inside Belizean airspace. The aircraft, identified by the tail number FAG 706, allegedly circled over Lighthouse Reef with its transponder switched off before ret

Dozens of delegations walked out of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the podium, staging a highly visible protest during his address. The walkout unfolded live during the 81st session of the General Assembly, with diplomats filing out of the chamber and leaving large sections of seats empty as Netanyahu prepared to speak. The Palestinian delegation had encouraged diplomatic missions to participate in a coordinat

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has taken an unusual message to the United Nations: governments, not technology companies, must ultimately set the rules governing increasingly powerful artificial intelligence. Altman addressed the 15-member UN Security Council on Wednesday, September 23, as world leaders grapple with how to manage technology advancing faster than many of the institutions expected to regulate it. His appearance placed one of the world's most prominent AI executives befo

A Caribbean diplomat has emerged as one of the leading contenders to become the next United Nations Secretary-General, potentially placing a CARICOM national at the helm of the world body for the first time. Guyana's Ambassador to the United Nations Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett is competing to succeed António Guterres when his second five-year term expires at the end of December. The candidacy carries particular significance for Belize and the wider Caribbean. CARICOM Heads of G