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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'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 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

Belizeans will now have to pay more for chicken after the Belize Poultry Association (BPA) announced an immediate increase in poultry prices. According to a press release issued by the association, the price of whole chicken has increased by 12 cents per pound, effective immediately. The BPA also said that prices for other poultry products, including different chicken cuts and processed items, will also increase, with the amount depending on the specific product. The associat

Leader of the Opposition Tracy Taegar-Panton on Tuesday cited activist Jerry Enriquez's ongoing pursuit of government records as evidence of what she described as declining transparency under the Briceño administration, insisting that Enriquez has a right to information requested under the Freedom of Information Act. Speaking during a United Democratic Party press conference, Panton argued that Belizeans increasingly have to resort to Freedom of Information requests to obtain

Leader of the Opposition Tracy Taegar-Panton says Belize's oversight institutions must be allowed to function independently and effectively, warning that public trust in those institutions is eroding amid growing concerns about accountability and transparency in government. Panton made the remarks Tuesday when asked to comment on a constitutional claim filed by former Ombudsman Major Gilbert Swaso against the Government of Belize. "The truth of the matter is the oversight mec

The Opposition has formally requested an urgent meeting with Prime Minister John Briceño to discuss escalating crime, national security concerns and allegations of corruption, warning that public confidence in Belize's institutions is being undermined. In a June 15 letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Opposition Leader Tracy Taegar-Panton called for discussions on what she described as two matters of significant national concern: rising crime and violence, and allegations

Belize has launched a new nationwide initiative aimed at strengthening inclusive education and improving support for students with special needs. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology (MoECST), in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) through the Skills for the Future Program, has begun training teachers in Inclusive Education practices and the development of Individual Education Plans (I