2025 - Greater Belize Media

Belize, World Bank Develop 10-Year Partnership Plan

The Government of Belize and the World Bank Group (WBG) are moving forward with the development of a new Country Partnership Framework (CPF)—a 10-year strategy aimed at boosting national resilience and fostering inclusive growth.

The Ministry of Economic Transformation (MET) led discussions during an in-country mission by the World Bank team, held to shape the design of this long-term framework. The CPF will serve as the World Bank Group’s roadmap for its engagement with Belize, focusing on key sectors such as the blue economy, education, agriculture, energy, and transportation.

The mission included consultations with line ministries and a broad range of national stakeholders. These meetings are expected to ensure that the final strategy aligns with Belize’s national priorities, including Plan Belize and the Medium-Term Development Strategy.

According to officials, the CPF will be a living document—continuously shaped by local insights and emerging needs. It aims to strengthen the relationship between Belize and the World Bank Group while unlocking increased investment and development support across the country.

Government to Increase Oversight of Cayo Rosario Development

The Department of the Environment (DOE) and key regulatory agencies are stepping up monitoring of the Cayo Rosario Development following public concerns about its potential environmental impact. The update was shared in a joint press release issued by the DOE and several government agencies, including the Ministry of Blue Economy, Fisheries Department, Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Coastal Zone Management, Lands and Surveys, and others.

According to the release, the project received environmental clearance in 2018 after going through the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. An Environmental Compliance Plan (ECP) was signed and later updated in 2020. While the project met the required standards, concerns remain about its location near sensitive ecosystems and fly-fishing areas.

To address these concerns, the government will improve coordination among agencies, conduct a joint site visit, carry out regular monitoring, and request frequent updates from the developer. The DOE’s San Pedro office will also increase compliance inspections.

Officials stated that the project can proceed sustainably if all conditions in the ECP and related permits are followed.

Police Officer Arraigned for Allegedly Cyberbullying Outgoing COMPOL

A police officer has been arraigned for allegedly using social media to publicly ridicule outgoing Commissioner of Police (COMPOL) Chester Williams. The officer, Barrington Gilbert Mai—also known as Barry Flowers—was charged with “using a computer system to publish obscene and vulgar data.”

Mai, a resident of Carmelita Village in the Orange Walk District, was escorted to the Belize City Magistrate’s Court under tight security this morning. He was transported in the police van but was discreetly taken into the courthouse through a rarely used rear entrance to avoid media cameras.

In court, Mai, who appeared unrepresented, was read a single charge stemming from an alleged social media post on April 2, 2025. The post reportedly contained offensive remarks directed at COMPOL Williams, including statements such as, “Thank God this a**hole is gone.” Williams reported to authorities that the post was a direct attack on his character and reputation, prompting him to request legal action.

Mai pleaded not guilty to the charge. While there was no objection to bail, the prosecution requested specific conditions be imposed. The Senior Magistrate granted bail at $5,000 plus one surety of the same amount or two sureties of $2,500 each, which Mai was able to meet.

As part of his bail conditions, Mai is prohibited from interfering with COMPOL Williams, his family, or any prosecution witnesses. He must also maintain a minimum distance of 25 feet from Williams and his relatives. Any violation of these conditions could result in bail revocation.

Mai’s next court appearance is scheduled for June 4, 2025.

Williams, 51, recently received a one-month extension before officially leaving his post after serving three terms as Commissioner of Police. His exit has been met with mixed reactions, with this latest legal case adding further controversy to his departure.

Belize Government Responds to U.S. Tariffs, Engages with Private Sector and CARICOM

The Government of Belize has convened a high-level meeting to assess the impact of the United States’ newly imposed 10% reciprocal tariff on Belizean exports. The meeting, held in Belmopan, brought together key ministers and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Transformation, and the Central Bank of Belize to discuss potential economic repercussions and mitigation strategies.

According to a government press release, for over four decades, Belize has enjoyed duty-free access to the U.S. market under the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), established in 1983. It said that the new U.S. trade policy threatens to disrupt this preferential arrangement, potentially affecting key exports such as sugar, seafood, and citrus products.

The government says that officials are currently conducting a thorough analysis of the tariff’s impact on trade and Belize’s broader economic outlook. While the tariff applies universally to all U.S. trading partners, potentially minimising the direct disadvantage to Belize, authorities remain cautious about long-term effects on exports and foreign exchange earnings.

The government has engaged the private sector to explore risk management strategies and ensure businesses are supported amid changing trade conditions. Belize is leveraging its diplomatic channels to push for trade negotiations and potential exemptions. Discussions are expected to take place bilaterally with U.S. officials and at the regional level through CARICOM, as several Caribbean nations are also affected by this tariff.

US Government Slaps Belize with 10% Tariff

President Donald Trump has imposed a ten percent tariff on Belizean goods exported to the U.S., just three months after taking office. The Government of Belize is closely monitoring this new policy, which the Trump administration calls a reciprocal tariff. This ten percent fee targets countries like Belize that have tariffs on American goods. Some countries, like China, face an additional thirty-four percent on top of an existing twenty percent tariff. The tariff rates vary for the one hundred and eighty-five affected countries. What does this mean for our exports to the U.S.? We asked Narda Garcia, C.E.O. in the Office of the Prime Minister. She said there’s not much information to share yet as officials are still analyzing the situation. Tonight, we start the news with an official reaction to these higher reciprocal tariff rates imposed by the U.S. Government on Belize.

Narda Garcia, C.E.O., Office of the Prime Minister

“I can only say that they’re revising the list to see what products will be affected and then government will give a response. We as CEOs have not been given the information as yet, so I wouldn’t want to speculate on that position.”

Trump Administration Slaps Belize with 10% Tariff

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that officials are quickly analyzing the situation and will consult with relevant stakeholders to protect Belize’s economic interests. In recent years, Belize’s top exports to the U.S. have been sugar and fisheries products. A swift response is crucial, whether through direct talks with U.S. officials or a coordinated effort with CARICOM. How will this impact our local economy? We spoke with Economic Consultant, Doctor Leroy Almendarez, to get his perspective on this latest development. Here’s what he had to say.

Dr. Leroy Almendarez, Economic Consultant

“In essence, every country that is applying a tariff to American products we are now applying a tariff to each one of those countries. I must immediately say that countries can do that. It goes way back to the history regarding trade. Even Germany tried it for infant industries to survive. In this case what they are saying is my manufacturers and those people who do business in America, if I make the cost of goods coming into the country a little bit more expensive, trying to apply these rebalancing tariffs, or tariffs, then it simply means they will be able to survive. The only way that really happens is if I can provide everything I need, the inputs etc. When I looked at it, and honestly, I left because I watched it and said, is Belize being tariffed, because I didn’t see it. Then I went back, and I looked at the countries and saw the application of the ten percent. I also noticed reciprocally Belize applies ten percent as well. So, this was a direct reciprocity, one for one, because it could have been less than third percent.”

How Will Belize Respond to Trump’s 10% Tariff?

Doctor Almendarez warns that the ten percent tariff imposed by the Trump administration could hurt jobs. However, he sees a silver lining: it opens up opportunities to explore new markets beyond the U.S., such as increasing trade with CARICOM and the European Union. Here’s how he explains it.

Dr. Leroy Almendarez, Economic Consultant

“The immediate reaction would be, then what happens to us in terms of consumption. What about our products going into the United States, because if that ten percent applies then it actually makes our products more expensive for consumption in the U.S. So those who normally consume our sugar, molasses, our seafood, our wood products might start to look for substitutes. In other words, we might have lost our competitiveness, which means a loss of revenues. To produce those things means employment. So, we might end up with a situation that can reduce employment. And just looking at February 2025, we exported twenty-three point three million but imported over two hundred million. Exports went up and import when down. But what was significant is that most of our exports went to CARICOM. And under the Treaty of Chaguaramas there is the free movement of goods. So therefore if we can export more into CARICOM then it means our goods will not attract those kinds of tariffs, the UK was second, the EU was third, very good trading partners.”

G.O.B. Plans Dialogue with U.S. Officials Over Tariffs

Regarding the government’s response to the Trump administration’s new tariff, Doctor Almendarez says several factors need to be considered. For instance, is the tariff effective immediately? And how willing is President Trump to discuss suspending it? Doctor Almendarez suggests that the government should approach this dialogue with its CARICOM partners rather than going it alone.

Dr. Leroy Almendarez, Economic Consultant

“I am not sure we were forewarned the tariffs would come, but I think we all knew that the president, it is a word he uses very often. He believes tariffs is a way of balancing the world. Now that it has been applied, the question is what its immediacy is. Is it being applied already? Goods leaving tomorrow will be impacted by that. I believe there is a need for engagement with the United States. The U.S. trade representative is the person who engages in dialogue for those persons that benefit through the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Agreement and to request consideration that our products that enters the U.S. market continues to benefit through the duty tariff exemptions from our products that go in the U.S. As I indicated, even though it exists it is the president that can decide to vary that. I heard him say this morning that he is open to dialogue, because sometimes the imposition of these tariffs is really to see how the company will react.”

Boledo Draw to Transfer to Belmopan Later This Month

The Boledo and Sunday Lottery Draw are moving from Belize City to Belmopan. Despite assurances that protocols will be followed, some people are unhappy about the change. Narda Garcia, C.E.O. in the Office of the Prime Minister, reassures that the same protocols will be maintained, and Belmopan residents can watch the draw in person. She explained that the move is to ensure the games are in a safe location, away from Belize City’s hurricane and flood risks. Garcia also shared details about the profits from Boledo in 2024.

Narda Garcia, Chair, Lotteries Commission

“For practical purposes, because the main office is in Belmopan and for looking at the issues that we have with climate change and hurricanes and having to move, so we said, let us take it to Belmopan. However, we have two machines, and we maintain them every year. We have people to come and calibrate and to audit the machines. So, we don’t foresee a problem. Change is always something that people reject and some people will not accept. We will make it available for the public to view it in Belmopan, of course, but Marion, it is a myth. People no longer go out to view the drawings; people view it live. That has changed so much. I mean, you can go now and see what happens on a Sunday, when it’s the biggest draw, the jackpot and the Sunday lottery, right, and the Boledo, nobody goes out”

Gales Point Bus Runs Being Sorted Out

Gales Point now enjoys a new preschool, an upgraded primary school, and a fully paved Coastal Plains Highway for easy access. However, for the past few weeks, villagers have had to rely on others with vehicles for rides since the bus service stopped. Area Representative for Belize Rural Central, Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, assures that this issue is being urgently addressed.

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Area Representative, Belize Rural Central

“I don’t have all the details, but I do know that with the completion of the Coastal Plain Highway, the village is more accessible and it will be more accessible for people to go out to Stann Creek, to Dangriga and also to Belize City much easier. I don’t know what has actually happened, but a bus run did start. So I’m going to be looking into the continuation of it for the good of the people, you know. But, but please, thank you for the reminder on that one.”

Marion Ali

“Can you say how soon because they’ve expressed a little bit of impatience, in fact, that every week, students have to come and go from Dangriga.”

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia

“I have scheduled a meeting with Minister Zabaneh, the new Minister of Transport, and I will be meeting with him and top on the agenda will be a discussion of this. So I think within the next two weeks we should sort it out.”