2025 - Greater Belize Media

Economy on the Mend, But Government Says the Work Isn’t Over Yet

After weathering the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic, the country’s economy is back on its feet and walking tall. But according to government officials, keeping it that way will take more than just momentum. It’ll require smart planning, steady hands, and a whole-of-government push. The Briceno administration has set its sights on maintaining a healthy budget surplus, between one-point-five and two percent of G.D.P., over the next few years. That’s a key part of its strategy to keep the economy strong and debt under control. In Monday’s budget presentation, Prime Minister John Briceño touched on public debt which, he says, has already dropped faster than expected. According to the Minister of Finance, the budget deficit now sits at around sixty percent of G.D.P., well ahead of IMF forecasts. But trimming it further, down to fifty percent by 2029, won’t be easy. Slower economic growth and unpredictable global interest rates are making the road ahead a bit bumpier.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Although our economy has stabilized with a robust rebound following the COVID Pandemic, sustained growth will require unceasing policy initiatives and whole-of-government efforts. With regard to fiscal policy, my government’s goal is to maintain a consistent primary budget surplus -in the range of 1.5 percent to 2.0 percent of GDP – into the medium term. While public debt has come down years ahead of IMF projections, to the 60 percent range, further reductions will be more challenging, given the limitations on GDP growth and our lack of control over global interest rates. Our goal is for the public debt to gradually fall to 50 percent of GDP by 2029. Our gross financing needs are estimated to average 7.5 percent of GDP, supported by continued fiscal discipline, a manageable repayment schedule for the Blue Bond, and limited short-term refinancing needs from domestic creditors. Despite this positive outlook, the Government remains committed to mitigating emerging risks, such as climate-related events, volatile global markets, and commodity price shocks, by maintaining primary surpluses, building buffers and contingency funds, establishing contingent credit lines, while keeping public debt in careful check and improving disaster risk financing (DRF) arrangements. Our fiscal policy stance will remain consistent with other macroeconomic policies and growth objectives, requiring careful management to mitigate potential risks and ensure long-term sustainability.”

The message is clear: the economy may be stable now, but staying that way will take vigilance, coordination, and a long-term vision.

Patt Concerned about Sugar Industry Woes

While the United Democratic Party is preparing a united response to Monday’s national budget presentation, Corozal North Area Representative Hugo Patt is already sounding the alarm on one key issue: agriculture. Speaking with the media today, Patt, who is also a cane farmer, said his biggest concern lies with the struggling sugar industry. He pointed to low yields, falling prices, and what he described as a “bleak outlook” at the end of this year’s crop season. Though the U.D.P. plans to present a collective position on the budget, Patt made it clear that for him, the future of Belize’s farmers, especially in the north, must be a top priority.

Hugo Patt, Area Representative, Corozal North

“The Leader of the Opposition will call – during the course of the two weeks, will be calling meetings to basically discuss the budget in its entirety. And so, areas of interest will be basically assigned to all five of us in the host. And so based on the decision that is taken there, and of course with the guidance and the leader for our part leader, we will present the points that we need to present during the days that we will have the budget issue.”

Marion Ali

“Does anything stand out at you at this particular point?”

Hugo Patt

“Well, my interest has always been agriculture, and so, if you ask me now, I mean the sugar industry is in a state of disrepair. So it is really concerning what is happening now, given that one, we do not have the kind of production that we had expected. Secondly, there is a huge shortage of labor. And thirdly, there is the issue of the price that we are seeing very low. I’m just concerned for many of my farmer colleagues who I feel at the end of the day – banks will just pull in on them or whenever the final payment is made, they will stay without any money.”

Commission of Inquiry Recommends Major Reforms—Patt Backs the Plan

A new Commission of Inquiry report on Belize’s sugar industry is calling for sweeping reforms and Corozal North Area Representative Hugo Patt is all for it. The report recommends a series of changes aimed at leveling the playing field between cane farmers and factory owners, ensuring both sides earn fair income for their contributions. Among the key proposals: giving the Sugar Industry Authority more power and resources to lead the sector into a more sustainable future. Patt, himself a cane farmer, says he fully supports the move. He believes empowering the SIA is a critical step toward fixing long-standing issues and securing the future of the industry. With the sugar belt facing low yields and falling prices, these recommendations could mark a turning point if they’re put into action.

Hugo Patt, Area Representative, Corozal North

“I perused quite a number of recommendations made. Certain things we do agree with and certain things you know, we have to allow the government to decide. Remember this is a multi-sectorial aspect, and so I don’t think it’s gonna be an easy decision-making. There are certain things that will affect the millers. There are certain things that are being recommended that will affect the farmers.”

Marion Ali

“What part do you agree with?”

Hugo Patt

“ In terms of when you’re looking at the body that will basically oversee the industry. I think the Prime Minister mentioned about the Sugar National Authority, It will be interesting to see how that that will evolve. I believe that if given that teeth, if you may call it, I think that authority can play a major role in determining the forward. But as I said, the sugar industry and can be very dynamic, and so I would rather wait to see how, how it plays out.”

Orange Walk Tackles Trash Trouble with Help from Abroad

As Orange Walk Town continues to grow, so does its garbage problem, and local leaders are taking action. Today, Mayor Ladrick Sheppard and the Orange Walk Town Council sat down with the Belize Solid Waste Management Authority and a visiting delegation from Argentina to explore fresh solutions for waste management. The goal? To keep the town clean, green, and visually appealing as its population expands. Mayor Sheppard says the talks focused on innovative strategies for managing waste in fast-growing communities—ideas that could soon be put to the test right here in Orange Walk. With international collaboration and local commitment, the town is hoping to turn its trash troubles into a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Ladrick Sheppard, Mayor, Orange Walk

“We have been having – most municipalities have been having problems with garbage and waste, especially at the dumpsite. Some of these dumpsites that are in the country are not open, especially the one in Orange Walk. We’re not open so people intend to just throw garbage all over the place and then it’s a daunting task for us as a council because when our truck goes there then we have access to where we open because there are other people that go around the area and collect garbage and just dump it anywhere they want. So these are the challenging tasks that we have. That’s why we’re having a meeting today to discuss how we can control the waste and how we can get rid of it the proper way.”

Marion Ali

“What are they proposing?”

Ladrick Sheppard

“They’re proposing to have a big station here – I don’t know if its actually going to be here in Orange Walk, but a big station so we can deal with the waste. That’s the goal that we have and I’m pretty sure that most of the municipalities are asking to see if they could talk to the government to have something like that to collect all the garbage to turn it into bio-products and turn it into energy as well.”

Measles Outbreak Hits Spanish Lookout; 7 Cases Confirmed, More Suspected

Health officials have confirmed a measles outbreak in the Spanish Lookout area, with seven cases already identified and more under investigation. The Ministry of Health and Wellness says the first two lab-confirmed cases were detected on April twelfth. Since then, five more people, linked to one of the original patients, have been clinically diagnosed. In response, health authorities have ramped up surveillance and are urging the public to follow vaccination guidelines. This afternoon, Doctor Melissa Diaz-Musa, Director of Public Health & Wellness, briefed reporters on the latest efforts to contain the growing measles outbreak. With confirmed cases rising and more under investigation, health authorities are stepping up their response and urging the public to stay vigilant and get vaccinated.

Dr. Melissa Diaz-Musa, Director of Public Health & Wellness

“On April twenty-seventh, we sent out an update in terms of what we were finding on the ground and we had found five, additional epidemiologically linked cases. So that was linked to one of the laboratory-confirmed cases. So it was in the same family and these people were, again, isolated. Since April twenty-seventh, we have continued to do our heightened surveillance, we continued to send laboratory samples for testing. Dr. Beer can say… I see you have fifty-four samples that have been sent so far and the only two laboratory confirmed were the ones hat we reported on. Moving forward now to what has happened over the last few days. On Friday, May ninth, we were informed that there was someone with fever and rash at a facility in the Spanish Lookout area. Wea visited and we took samples for this person and these samples are in the process of being ran. We haven’t received the results as yet, but clinically, that person fits the clinical definition measles. In doing the investigation of that person and following the trail and where this person has been, again it’s linked to travel to Mexico. We cannot say that this new case that presented on Friday is an imported case because it appears that it is locally transmitted…”

Doctor Melissa Diaz-Musa revealed this afternoon that one of the confirmed measles patients has no recent travel history, and neither does their family. However, the individual is believed to have been in contact with someone who had recently returned from Mexico.

Health Officials Urge Vaccination as Measles Surveillance Tightens

With measles cases on the rise, health authorities are stepping up their response and urging the public to stick to vaccination guidelines. The Ministry of Health & Wellness is reminding parents that children should receive two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine, one at twelve months and another at eighteen months. Anyone over eighteen months who hasn’t been vaccinated should get two doses, spaced a month apart. If you’ve only had one shot, a booster is recommended. And if you’re unsure of your vaccination status, health officials say it’s safest to get one dose. As for travel to Spanish Lookout, the center of the current outbreak, the Ministry is advising the public to proceed with caution.

Dr. Melissa Diaz-Musa, Director of Public Health & Wellness

“It urges caution when visiting the area if you are unvaccinated. So if you are vaccinated, feel free to visit the area. If your children are vaccinated, feel free. We want to stress that it’s the unvaccinated who are the persons at risk. So if you are not vaccinated please take caution, please ensure that especially the at-risk kids, children five and under, if you are not vaccinated, talk to us, ask us to clarify any questions or concerns. Ask us to clarify any questions or concerns that you might have about the vaccine and we would be willing to help in that regard.”

Unvaccinated people exposed to measles must quarantine for up to twenty-one days. Those who are vaccinated do not need to isolate. However, the MMR vaccine is not recommended for pregnant women or people with weakened immune systems. Health officials are calling on the public to stay alert and get vaccinated to help stop the spread.

Ongoing Measles Transmission in Spanish Lookout

Belize health authorities confirmed ongoing measles transmission in the Spanish Lookout community, following recent developments in the country.

Dr. Melissa Musa, Director of Public Health and Wellness, said, “So as you all are aware, on April 12th, 2025, we got confirmation of two measles cases in country. This was laboratory confirmation. The cases were immediately informed and were isolated. And these cases that we had mentioned before was associated with travel to Mexico. So these were considered imported cases.”

Following the confirmation of these initial cases, the Ministry of Health and Wellness implemented heightened surveillance and contact tracing, actively monitoring clinics and mobile units for fever and rash symptoms. Dr. Musa continued, “At that time, the Ministry of Health and Wellness did contact tracing. We did continuous monitoring and we did what’s called heightened surveillance. So actually actively in our clinics on our mobiles, looking for cases of fever and rash and sending in laboratory samples for testing on April 27th.”

As part of ongoing efforts, the Ministry issued an update on April 27th after discovering five additional linked cases, all within the same family. “We had found five additional epidemiological linked cases, so that was linked to one of the laboratory-confirmed cases, so it was in the same family. And these people were again, isolated.”

Despite sending 54 samples for testing, only the initial two cases were confirmed positive for measles. Dr. Musa noted, “Since April 27th, we have continued to do our heightened surveillance. We’ve continued to send laboratory samples for testing. 54 samples have been sent so far, and the only two laboratory confirmed were the ones that we reported on.”

A new development emerged on May 9th when another individual with fever and rash was identified at a facility in Spanish Lookout. The individual did not have a travel history but was linked to someone who had recently traveled to Mexico. Dr. Musa explained, “On Friday, the 9th of May, we were informed that there was someone with fever and rash at a facility in the Spanish Lookout area. We visited and we took samples for this person, and these samples are in the process of being run. We haven’t received the results as yet, but clinically, that person fits the clinical definition of measles.”

Further investigation revealed that the case in Spanish Lookout appeared to be locally transmitted “because it appears that it’s locally transmitted at this point because this person has no travel history. This person has nobody in the family that has traveled to Mexico, but this person is linked to someone who had recently traveled to Mexico.”

Father of Selvin Sealy Jr Speaks Out After Son’s Death in Police Custody

The family of 32-year-old Selvin Sealy Jr is demanding answers after he died in police custody early Monday morning in San Pedro. His death has left relatives in shock and mourning, particularly his father, who is calling for clarity and justice.

According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero, Sealy was acting erratically near Villa Abrazos around 6:30 a.m., allegedly climbing a tree after claiming he was being chased by a dog. Police reportedly instructed him to come down, and after a confrontation, used force to subdue him. He was then taken to the police station, where officers observed that he was unresponsive. Sealy was rushed to the San Pedro Polyclinic, where he was later pronounced dead.

Sealy’s father spoke emotionally about receiving the devastating news. “I’m heartbroken about my son, and I don’t wish this on anyone; it’s a really rough feeling,” he said. “Even right now, I get emotional.”

He recounted, “The call came to my house about 7:30, somewhere around there… I was getting ready to go out, and then I heard that my son was critical at the polyclinic in San Pedro. So I got the news, and I got ready, and I went there directly.”

“In all the chaos and all the situations, I saw my son lying dead on the table, and it was a really heartfelt emotion for me,” he said.

The father says police informed him that his son had been at a private rental property when security called law enforcement. “I don’t know what transpired from there. They do have videos which I would like to see and get for my personal satisfaction.”

He continued, “Something happened when the police picked him up… That part, I would really like a clarification.”

Reports suggest Sealy may have been handcuffed and taken to the station after being subdued. His father insists his son appeared well earlier that morning. “My other son saw him at 6:30, passing by the boats on the beach,” he said.

“I just want justice. I’m not pinpointing fingers, but my son died,” the grieving father stated.

Toddler Passes Swallowed Coin After 20-Day Scare

After a nerve-wracking 20-day wait, a relieved mother is celebrating the safe recovery of her young daughter, who recently passed a dollar coin she had accidentally swallowed.

Doreen Baltazar said the incident, which began nearly three weeks ago, caused considerable concern for the family. She stated, “Imagine seeing her poop, and boom—there was the coin!” she wrote. “I cheered so loud!”

The post quickly gained attention as she extended heartfelt thanks to everyone who had checked in on her daughter and offered prayers. “Your kind gesture made me feel overwhelmed with gratitude,” she said.

The little girl is now doing well, and her mother proudly shared a photo of her daughter with the now-infamous coin in hand.

Missing Student Found Dead Near Belmopan

Police are investigating the death of 24-year-old student Moises Garbutt of the Roaring Creek Village, who was reported missing over the weekend. Reports are that Garbutt’s body was discovered this afternoon near a quarry in Belmopan.

Garbutt, a father of two, was last seen on Saturday night. According to relatives, he spoke with his mother and girlfriend around 9 p.m.

When relatives visited his home the next day for his birthday, he was not there.

The family had launched their own search after claiming lack of assistance by the police, and claimed that Garbutt may have been held against his will by someone.