Come December, the Belize Tax Service is expected to grow by about forty percent in staff, as it transitions into the new Semi-Autonomous Revenue Authority. But with more people on the payroll, naturally, questions are popping up: How will this expansion be funded? And will it really deliver better results? Director Michelle Longsworth says yes. She believes the new system will streamline operations and boost performance across the board. But it’s not just about efficiency, there are also concerns about transparency. Some are worried that SARA could open the door to shady spending through government-awarded contracts. Longsworth is challenging that narrative. She says all revenue collected will still go straight into the Consolidated Revenue Fund, meaning SARA won’t have the power to spend taxpayers’ money. And just to be clear, she adds, SARA won’t be a private company. It’ll remain under public scrutiny, just like any other government body.
On the Phone: Michelle Longsworth, Director General, Belize Tax Service Department
“I tend to disagree with that. When you, in any organization, in any business, when you plan, you have to plan for a future. You have to be prepared for the future. Having a new organizational structure or a governance structure, we have to take into consideration things that presently as a department we do not have in place, and we have to ensure that it is in place so that we can properly govern. It does not necessarily mean that immediately on the transition, you’ll hire all these extra people. Does not necessarily mean that. It means that you are preparing for future changes in your tax landscape. The tax administration has to remain agile, and if we are not, if we only prepare for next year. Some change happens the year after and we have to go back to planning then it can be said, we did not plan properly, so we have to prepare un plan projecting on how the tax landscape is evolving. That is a responsible way to move forward. If you look at any business, even government as a whole, you have to plan for these things. And if you don’t plan, then you plan to fail. I don’t know with regards to the contracts that are there, I cannot speak to that, but I don’t understand how, in terms of, SARA, you’re talking about contracts, which contracts to whom? The SARA will still be responsible to the Ministry of Finance, all the revenue that. We are collecting now, and we will be collecting under the SARA, will remain in the consolidated fund. That does not change. We will have no jurisdiction to spend taxpayers’ money. It goes and it remains in the consolidated revenue fund.”
The Belize Tax Service is standing firm on its decision to transition into a Semi-Autonomous Revenue Authority, saying it’s a necessary move to boost efficiency and reliability. But with that announcement came some public concern, especially around the safety of personal data. Well, Director Michelle Longsworth is clearing the air. She says there’s no need to worry, data protection has been a top priority for some time now. In fact, under the current system, the department has already been going through strict international assessments to ensure secure information sharing. And according to Longsworth, that level of scrutiny won’t stop once SARA takes over.
On the Phone: Michelle Longsworth, Director General, Belize Tax Service Department
“We cannot advise the government if we don’t have the requisite data. The use of electronic data has actually provided us now that we’re collecting electronic data to advise the government on certain areas. That can impact the public. I like to use the example of the recent and now this month, GST free weekends. We were able to inform the decision making of that by the data we have. Because persons now file their data electronically, so we’re easily, it’s easy for us to properly analyze those data in order to have some impact on how we advise the policymakers. Tax administrations are facing growing international obligations from cross-border data exchange to tackling crypto transaction automatic exchange, a whole other set of requirements from a tax administration, which requires that our staff be equipped. To address these obligations as a tax administration, okay? Which means that we have to be in a position where we can invest in our staff to improve so that they can retool and become versed in the services know that we have to provide. We have to be better able to compensate them. We cannot do that under the government model because at the end of the day, we have to, or we are within the confines of the public service governance structure and the public service salary scale.”
Have you felt like your grocery bill is stretching your wallet a little more than usual? Or maybe your rent’s gone up and you’re wondering why? There’s a reason your wallet feels lighter. The latest Consumer Price Index report is out, and it shows that prices across Belize rose by one-point-one percent in June compared to last year. Here’s where it gets interesting, it’s not just food that’s getting more expensive. The biggest jump came from housing and fuel, with the cost of a hundred-pound cylinder of LPG shooting up by over thirteen dollars. The silver lining? Fuel prices at the pump actually dipped a bit. So, what’s going up, what’s coming down, and how does your area stack up? News Five’s Isani Cayetano takes a closer look.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
The latest Consumer Price Index report from the Statistical Institute of Belize shows that prices across the country rose by 1.1% in June compared to the same time last year. But here’s what’s different this time around, while food usually leads the charge in price hikes, it was actually housing and utilities that drove the biggest increase last month. Think about rent, electricity, and especially cooking gas. The price of a 100-pound cylinder of LPG jumped by over 13 dollars, marking the sharpest spike in years.
Food and drinks still played a big role, though. Non-alcoholic beverages like juices, bottled water, and soft drinks saw some of the steepest increases up by nearly 8%. Meat prices also edged up, especially beef and chicken, while some veggies like tomatoes and sweet peppers actually got cheaper.
Meanwhile, there’s a bit of good news for drivers, fuel prices dropped. Regular gasoline fell by just over a dollar per gallon, and diesel prices also dipped. That helped pull down the overall cost of transport by 2.6%, even though taxi fares in some areas went up. Looking at the bigger picture, San Pedro Town saw the highest inflation rate at 3%, with prices rising across everything from food and rent to personal care and medical services. On the flip side, Independence Village was the only place where prices actually went down, by about 1.2%.
And if you’re wondering about short-term changes, prices from May to June barely budged, down just 0.07%. So, while the year-on-year numbers show a steady climb, the month-to-month shift was minimal. Bottom line? Belizeans are still paying more for essentials, especially at home and at the dinner table, but there are a few bright spots, like cheaper fuel and some falling produce prices. Isani Cayetano for News Five.
It’s that time of the year. New backpacks are getting filled with fresh notebooks, binders, markers, pencils, and the list goes on. A list that can end up being quite a hefty price, except, for three days, today, Friday, and Saturday, those shopping bags can feel a little lighter, at least at the checkout counter. That’s because it’s a GST-Free weekend, Back-to-School edition. This means you can stock up on school supplies without paying that extra 12.5% GST. News Five’s Benita Keme-Palacio visited a few stores and has the following report.
Benita Keme-Palacio, Reporting
Back-to-school shopping kicked off with a bonus today: no GST on school supplies. This weekend, and again from August fifteenth to seventeenth, families can shop without paying the extra 12.5% General Sales Tax. It’s part of a two-weekend initiative to ease the cost of preparing for the new school year. We visited a few stores to see how shoppers are taking advantage, and how businesses are keeping up with the demand.
Delia Saldano
Delia Saldano, Co-Manager, The Angelus Press Ltd.
“Well, we opened from 7:30 this morning, and from we opened, it has been nonstop foot traffic. The line has just been on and on. I think a lot of people were actually waiting for today. And I think on Saturday it might be even more grand because a lot of people won’t be at work. For us, what are flying off the shelves are our Samsung X schoolbags. One main reason: they come with a free ream of paper. You know the free ream of paper is included on the children’s booklist, so that is one of our initiatives giving back to the community. So, with that, the bag also comes with a one-year warranty as well, so that’s another added on it. Besides that, we have the crayon, and the pencils. Those are moving very fast. We’re trying to stick to the same list that GST provided to us and that’s exactly what people are coming for.”
So, how do you know what qualifies for GST relief? And how are stores handling questions from customers who may be unsure? We asked the Managing Director of Stationery House Retail Outlet in Belize City to walk us through it.
Graciani Alamilla
Graciani Alamilla, Managing Director, Stationary House Retail Outlet Ltd.
“So far, it’s been going good. A lot of customers are confused about what items are tax-free and what aren’t. We did get a flyer from the government of Belize, actually from the Tax Department, stating which particular school supplies won’t be tax-free for this weekend. We do have our sales clerk walking around and assisting our customers, which we do anyways. Everyone has a flyer with them. So, if the customer would ask, for example, if glues and tapes fall under the GST-free weekend deal, then we would just mention that unfortunately that is not GST-Free.”
Co-manager of Angelus Press Ltd., Delia Saldano, says GST-free weekends take a lot of behind-the-scenes preparation, from staff coordination to system updates. But with the right planning, it’s all worth it. Simple changes make a huge difference.
Delia Saldano
“We have a whole account system behind the scenes and so forth, so everything was set in the system ahead of time. And what we did on each shelf, we have them labeled so our customers can see the ones that are GST-free. So, that was a little smooth transition for us.”
Whether you’re running a store or filling a backpack, there’s one thing both sides agree on, this tax break is a good thing.
Delia Saldano
“It’s very very very good. I think it’s something that if we can do every year, it would be a good thing.”
Graciani Alamilla
“I would really like that a lot more items would be posted on the list, for example pens, math sets, T-squares. We do still have a lot of items that are unfortunately not tax-free this weekend and they do fall under school supplies.” – 2:41 OUT
Customer
Customer
“Well, I have my child’s school list; she’s going to standard one, so that’s what I’m looking for: books, folders, crayons, markers and stuff like that. Every penny counts, so anything we can save. Mainly for her, and a little for him because he’s starting preschool.”
It was a chilling incident that rocked Lake Independence last November, well-known cabdriver Shawn Ortiz was fatally stabbed during a confrontation outside a popular hangout spot. He was just about to leave when a heated argument with three men turned deadly. One stab wound ended his life. Now, months later, there’s a major development. The Director of Public Prosecutions has ordered the release of three of the four men who were being held in pretrial detention. Kyle Domingo, Gasman Jones, and Police Constable Peter Perez were all jointly charged along with Charles Brown last November. But in a surprising turn of events, the DPP’s office has dropped all charges against the trio, without giving a reason in court. Sources close to the case suggest the three may now be key witnesses against Brown, who remains behind bars. This morning, the men appeared before Magistrate Ludlow Black and walked out of court with the news they’d been hoping for; charges dropped, and their freedom restored.
After years of wear and tear, Home Affairs Minister Kareem Musa says the long-overdue renovations to the Raccoon Street Police Headquarters are finally on the horizon. In just a few weeks, the building could be getting a brand-new roof, yes, a real roof, something the multi-floor structure has been missing for far too long. And while that’s the short-term plan, the long-term vision is ambitious, an entirely new facility that could house up to three hundred officers. But that, Musa says, will take future budgeting and maybe even some help from international partners.
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“In a month or two, you can come back here, and we’ll have a roof on this building because we are just waiting for the Ministry of Finance to give the go ahead. Construction will start thereafter for the roof, and I don’t think that we’ll be having that issue. But that is the short-term plan, I know that we were looking at renting other buildings but, like I said, the amount of square footage that we are looking at, you’re going to be paying somewhere between twenty to thirty thousand dollars a month in rent. But that’s not the direction we’re going to go at this point. We can do the repairs to this building and it’s going to save us a lot of money just to do those repairs and then, of course, to deal with the mold situation in the building. So that is the short-term plan. Long-term plan, to house three hundred people, we would need a brand new building and we would just have to start working on that for future budgets or soliciting from our partners, international partners.”
Tonight, we bring you a story that’s all about strength, perseverance, and the power of a positive spirit. It’s the journey of forty-four-year-old Godfrey Sosa, a name many students at Belize High School know well. He’s the go-to guy for all things tech and robotics. But what many may not know is that for the past two decades, Sosa has been quietly battling kidney disease. Three days a week, while most of us are going about our routines, he’s at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital receiving life-saving dialysis treatment. Yet, he continues to show up for his students, his school, and his passion for teaching. Earlier today, we sat down with Sosa and the dedicated team at the hemodialysis unit to learn more about what it takes to live beyond a diagnosis. News Five’s Britney Gordon brings us this inspiring story in this week’s episode of Belize on Reel.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Imagine being just twenty-four years old, standing on the edge of your future, about to graduate with a degree in Information Technology. That was Godfrey Sosa back in 2005, young, ambitious, and ready to take on the world. But life had other plans. Out of nowhere, he was hit with a diagnosis that would change everything: kidney disease. In an instant, his dreams were interrupted by a reality he never saw coming. Today, Sosa is not only a respected educator at Belize High School, he’s also a fighter, living with this condition for the past twenty years. Earlier, he sat down with us to share the moment he first heard the news, and how he’s managed to keep going, both in and out of the classroom.
Godfrey Sosa Jr.
Godfrey Sosa Jr., Diagnosed with Kidney Disease
“Mr. Sosa, I’m sorry to inform you, but you have kidney failure. I have no idea what kidney failure was. I didn’t even know what that was because I had no direct symptoms that would indicate that. The first time you hear that and they’re telling you, okay, you either have to do a transplant or you will have to go on dialysis. Hearing that you were still in the denial, I went to three different clinics just to verify if what they said was true. And yeah, it was true. It was really heart wrenching because I was young. I had my whole life ahead of me.”
His family couldn’t afford dialysis or a transplant, but after a heartfelt plea to the public, help came through. The donor? His own father. For a while, things looked up. But six years later, the kidney failed. That’s when Sosa began treatment at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Despite it all, he’s stayed committed to teaching. Michelle Cassimiro, who manages the hemodialysis unit, says Sosa works hard to balance his job and his health, and he does it with quiet determination.
Michelle Cassimiro
Michelle Cassimiro, Manager, Hemodialysis Unit, K.H.M.H.
“When people think of dialysis, they think of dialysis as a death sentence. It’s an end. I can no longer function. I can no longer live. I’m hooked up to this machine forever. But that’s not what we treat. That’s not how we treat our patient here. He goes to school in the morning and he comes here in the afternoon, he does his treatment and ideally the treatment, I believe the treatment is sufficient for him that most of the time he even goes back to work.”
Sosa receives dialysis treatment three times a week, for four hours at a time. There, he is hooked up to a machine that purifies his blood and pumps it back into his system. Fortunately, at the KHMH, two of the three weekly sessions are subsidized by the government. It’s a tiring ordeal but as Sosa explains, he does it, because he wants to live.
Godfrey Sosa Jr
“It’s definitely a mindset that you have to start, developing for yourself in terms of knowing that this is your lifeline. Now if you want to live, there are adjustments that you will have to make to be able to carry out what you need to do.”
For the past fifteen years, Godfrey Sosa has been a teacher at Belize High School, and he’s also been a mentor, a role model, and a source of inspiration. And while he’s been shaping young minds in the classroom, he’s also been quietly fighting a personal battle. His students adore him, not just for his tech and robotics lessons, but for his resilience. Over the years, they’ve even raised funds to support his treatment. And it’s not just at school where he’s appreciated. Marla Swaso, one of his nurses, says Sosa brings that same passion for education to the hospital, where he’s just as admired for his strength and spirit.
Marla Swaso
Marla Swaso, Nurse, Hemodialysis Unit, K.H.M.H.
“He tries he tries his best, well, he does his best and he makes sure that he reaches for his treatment and he listens when the nurse tell him, okay, you need to cut back on your sodium intake. You need to cut back on your phosphorus intake. He does listen when it comes to that. Yes. And he does try to educate patients. When we have new patients here, he does try and assist them like, okay, yes, you need to listen to the nurse and yes, you need to do this.”
Sosa’s initial diagnosis brought a dark cloud over his life, unsure of where to go and what to do. But over time, he began to see the light again and has now formed a close bond with his nurses and fellow patients. Through this disease, he’s found community.
Michelle Cassimiro
”Our chair is not a chair for just dialysis treatment. It’s a therapeutic chair. It’s like when you go to the barber shop or when you go to the beauty closet, everything is set in here. We, they have the patient, they have build a bond because they see one another three times for the week. And so what they do along with the staff is that this chair they sit and they discuss the issues that they’re going through and other, and the nurses will advise them. So basically, my, the nurses are not only the nurses. They’re the therapist, they’re the psychiatrist, they’re the nutritionist, they’re everything in one.”
Godfrey uses his story as shining example for other patients that life goes on, despite a diagnosis.
Godfrey Sosa Jr.
“Especially for new patients that come in, I was there once. Feeling down, feeling that there’s no purpose, feeling that, man, I have to be stuck here and how do I cope with the fluid restriction? How do I cope with the dietary restrictions? Things like that. If they hear it from someone who has been here for this amount of time, it could add. As a motivation for them to say, you know what, if he can do it, I can do it.”
The Hemodialysis Unit at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital is doing all it can, but right now, it’s at full capacity, treating twenty-one patients with kidney disease. That means no new patients can be taken in at the moment. Still, the team isn’t giving up hope. Their vision is to one day expand their services and help more Belizeans get the care they need; ideally, even before the disease reaches its critical stages. Britney Gordon for News Five.
As Belizeans prepare to mark Emancipation Day 2025, a powerful new art exhibit is being unveiled at the Belize City House of Culture. It’s a moving blend of history, creativity, and youthful perspective, featuring twenty-nine original paintings by third form students from Ecumenical High School in Dangriga. These young artists poured their hearts into exploring the themes of slavery and emancipation, offering raw, personal reflections through their brushstrokes. The exhibit, a collaboration between the Institute of Creative Arts and the Museum of Belize, was inspired by the depth and emotion the students brought to their Belizean Studies project. According to Kim Vasquez, the artwork was just too powerful not to share with the wider public. And now, it’s part of this year’s Emancipation Day commemoration.
Kim Vasquez
Kim Vasquez, Director, Institute of Creative Arts
“Yes, we are here at the Museum of Belizean Art at the House of Culture, Th e Belize City House of Culture, where the Institute of Creative Arts and the Museum of Belize are partnered with Ecumenical High School from Stan Creek to bring to the public a new exhibit, this exhibit is the work of third form students from Ecumenical, this was a Belizean studies project that they did and in speaking with the principal, principal Lawrence, and one of the history teachers there, Miss Christy, they told us that this project had been something that the students had put a lot of reflection into and they were really proud of the outcome of it and so once we heard about it and we saw it we said that this would just fit perfectly with everything that we do for emancipation day and so we are very pleased to unveil the exhibit tomorrow after the official ceremony for emancipation day here at the house of culture everyone will be invited to come and view the exhibit.”
The exhibition opens this Friday and will remain on display through the end of August. So, if you’re in the city, it’s definitely worth a visit.
This afternoon, the Yabra Green Basketball Court in Belize City turned into a hub of hope and generosity. The Belize Police Department rolled out its annual school bag giveaway, and it was all smiles as three hundred fully stocked backpacks were handed out to students in need. Leading the charge were the Commissioner of Police Dr. Richard Rosado and Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa, who personally helped distribute the bags, one-fifty for high schoolers and another one-fifty for primary school students. Beyond the backpacks, it’s a step toward empowering young minds and bridging the gap between law enforcement and the community.
Richard Rosado
Dr. Richard Rosado, Police Commissioner
“Anybody can tell me why they’re special? Nobody? Because you are? Unique that’s good and if you are unique you have talent, you are unique you have desire and you have the power to accomplish what you want and today through our friends from crime stoppers, the school bags that will be distributed today is basically a symbol to say you know what? We believe in you! We believe in you as a community! We believe in you that you can accomplish your dreams!”
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs & New Growth Industries
“Are you excited today? Everybody wants to go back to school? Aye! That is exactly how I would feel but don’t feel no way did you enjoy your summer break? How many of you were t a summer camp this year let me see you raise your hands, what kind of summer camp were you in this year?”
Student
“Cadet!”
Kareem Musa
“Youth Cadet! How many cadets do we have here today? Also, anybody wants to show their foot drill they learned over the summer?”
Dr. Richard Rosado
“We have our community policing officers from across Eastern Division Belize District who have been working with the communities and they have been tasked to identify these kids so they have worked along with these schools, with the community and with the parents.”
Tanya Arceo
“Why is it important for the police to partner with Crime Stoppers for this back to school initiative?”
Dr. Richard Rosado
“I personally believe it is a symbolic sign, symbolic show of community appreciation, saying you know what we are with the kids, we are along with them supporting their journey, supporting their education, showing them that education is the path to success”
Get ready football fans, the Premier League of Belize is kicking off what could be its most exciting season yet. League President Ian Haylock officially launched the 2025–2026 Championship Tournament, and it’s that it’s bigger than scoring goals, it’s about growth. From boosting digital visibility to upgrading stadiums and locking in key partnerships, the league is stepping up its game. Haylock says they’re making real progress in transparency, structure, and even gaining international recognition, with a major nod from FIFA to prove it. With the season kicking off this Saturday, officials are calling on fans, players, and supporters to rally behind the sport and be part of this new era for Belizean football.
Ian Haylock
Ian Haylock, President, Premier League of Belize
“Today, we celebrate another major accomplishment with the launch of the Premier League of Belize official website www.plbd1.com this marks a significant milestone, you know, with digital and commercial transformation and commercial transformation. This platform will serve as a digital home with everything in the digital for everything in the PLB such as fixtures, results, stacks, player profiles, lead news and multimedia content. More importantly it opens the door to increase fine engagement, transparency, commercial opportunities for a club and sponsors. One of the most significant development in a relief recent history was the recent signing of a multi-year, international sponsorship agreement with goldie, making them the official, much more partner of the Premier League of Belize so in essence the lead would primarily play with only goldie and every club will be given an opportunity to ensure that quality match balls are given to each club and it becomes the official and only lead ball for the Premier League of Belize.
