2025 - Greater Belize Media

Patrick Faber enfrentará juicio por agresión agravada a oficial

El exrepresentante del área de Collet, Patrick Faber, compareció este martes ante el tribunal por cargos de obstrucción y agresión agravada contra un oficial de policía. Los cargos se derivan de un incidente ocurrido durante una parada de tráfico en horas de la madrugada en abril pasado.

Acompañado de su abogado, OJ Elrington, Faber recibió la divulgación completa del caso, la cual incluye veintitrés páginas de documentos y un CD con pruebas. El juicio ha sido fijado para el próximo 16 de septiembre.

Según la versión policial, el altercado comenzó como un control de tránsito rutinario y terminó en un enfrentamiento que ha generado repercusiones legales para el exministro. Faber no emitió comentarios públicos tras su comparecencia.

Estudio revela por qué Belize sigue rezagado económicamente

Durante un seminario de investigación de políticas en la Universidad de Belize, el economista Victor Bulmer-Thomas presentó un análisis crítico titulado “La economía beliceña en el siglo XXI: cuándo y por qué Belize se quedó atrás y qué hacer al respecto.”

Aunque el gobierno celebra un crecimiento del PIB del 8,2% en 2024, Bulmer-Thomas señala que el ingreso per cápita del país es casi el mismo que en 2007 y que Belize sigue siendo el tercer país más pobre de la región.
“Las exportaciones siguen siendo bajas, la inversión interna es limitada y el gasto público en áreas clave como salud y educación es insuficiente,” afirmó.

El economista recomienda que el gobierno aumente sus ingresos combatiendo la evasión fiscal en lugar de subir impuestos. También sugiere diversificar la economía imitando modelos exitosos de otros países del Caribe.
“Hay muchos ejemplos exitosos en exportación de servicios, no solo en turismo,” añadió.

Por su parte, el Dr. Dylan Vernon, director del Instituto de Investigación de Políticas de Belize, coincidió en que hay problemas estructurales profundos:
“La baja inversión y las importaciones excesivas han reducido el nivel de vida,” dijo.

Ambos expertos proponen la adopción de la matriz insumo-producto para rastrear el flujo económico entre sectores y mejorar la formulación de políticas. El documento completo ya está disponible en línea a través de la Universidad de Belize y BELPRI.

Todos los ingresos deben declararse, sin importar su origen

El Departamento de Impuestos de Belize ha emitido un recordatorio a los contribuyentes sobre su responsabilidad de declarar todos los ingresos que perciban, incluso aquellos obtenidos por trabajos informales o adicionales fuera del horario regular.

La Directora General de Servicios Tributarios, Michelle Longsworth, enfatizó que el sistema actual cruza datos en tiempo real entre empleadores, lo que impide ocultar fuentes de ingreso.
“Los impuestos se aplican sobre tus emolumentos totales. Muchas personas tienen varios empleos, pero deben declarar todo, porque ahora recibimos información electrónica de cada empleador,” explicó.

Según Longsworth, anteriormente se podía manipular la información en declaraciones impresas para obtener reembolsos indebidos, pero eso ya no es posible.
“Ahora los datos son en tiempo real y es importante que las personas sean honestas. Tenemos muchos contribuyentes cumplidos,” añadió.

También destacó que incluso pequeños negocios registrados deben declarar y pagar impuestos conforme a sus ingresos.
“Debes pagar impuestos por todo lo que ganas,” concluyó la funcionaria.

El llamado busca reforzar la cultura de cumplimiento fiscal en todos los sectores de la población.

Departamento de Impuestos publica lista de empresas morosas y crece tensión con contribuyentes

El Departamento de Impuestos de Belize ha publicado una lista con más de una docena de empresas que adeudan impuestos comerciales y el Impuesto General sobre las Ventas (GST). Entre los nombres destacan la Sociedad Cooperativa de Pescadores del Norte, Plexar Capital LLC y Eco-Friendly Solutions Limited.

La Directora General, Michelle Longsworth, afirmó que este es un último llamado tras múltiples intentos fallidos de cobro, “Estos contribuyentes han ignorado todos los esfuerzos. Se les ofrecieron auditorías, planes de pago y el derecho a disputar evaluaciones. Rechazaron entablar un diálogo significativo.”

Uno de los señalados es Andrew Munnings, fundador de Munnings Funeral Home, quien figura con una deuda de $182,000. Munnings asegura estar cumpliendo con un acuerdo judicial y realizando pagos mensuales.
“Estoy pagando dos mil mensuales. No me avergüenzo. Trabajo duro. Solo quiero trato justo como cualquier otro empresario,” declaró.

Longsworth aclaró que el sistema tributario beliceño es de cumplimiento voluntario, y que el impuesto comercial se basa en ingresos brutos, no en ganancias.
“El GST es del 12% y no es un impuesto a la empresa, sino al consumidor,” explicó.

Munnings, por su parte, criticó la falta de apoyo a pequeños empresarios beliceños:
“Si les dan exenciones fiscales a los grandes, ¿por qué no a los pequeños emprendedores nacidos aquí?”

Mientras el gobierno exige pagos atrasados, algunos ciudadanos reclaman que todavía esperan reembolsos fiscales. Longsworth reconoció que han surgido comentarios en redes sociales, pero asegura que muchas quejas no son genuinas.
“Algunas personas han sido maliciosas. Pero quienes responden y dan información, reciben sus reembolsos de inmediato.”

5Cs Breaks Ground on New HQ at UB Belmopan

The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (5Cs) broke ground on its permanent headquarters at the University of Belize’s Belmopan campus this morning. Belize rolled out the red carpet and welcomed key figures from across the region, including Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister Phillip Pierre.

The groundbreaking takes place on its 20th anniversary as a major milestone for regional climate action.

During his address, Prime Minister John Briceño reflected on the origins of the 5Cs, which date back to the late 1990s under the Musa administration. He said the new headquarters is a culmination of years of regional cooperation and advocacy to establish a central hub for climate action in the Caribbean.

Briceño pointed out Belize’s unique environmental assets. “Belize is a living laboratory… we have the second-largest barrier reef and quite likely the largest living barrier reef in the world. In the western hemisphere, we have four atolls, and Belize has three of them.”

Briceño invited his Saint Lucian counterpart to explore Belize’s natural beauty to “see why it is that the 5Cs is best situated here in Belize.”

“Shyne” Barrow Welcomes “Uncle Mike” Back as Party Chairman

Moses “Shyne” Barrow has welcomed Michael Peyrefitte back as party chairman for the United Democratic Party.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Barrow thanked Peyrefitte for rescinding his resignation and praised Vice Chairman Alberto August for his interim leadership.

As previously reported, Peyrefitte’s return comes just months after he abruptly resigned, only six days after the UDP’s major general election defeat on March 12.

Since his resignation, internal divisions and tensions have escalated, most recently at a failed National Party Council meeting on June 14.

According to Peyrefitte, both sides of the divided party reached out and urged him to return. He stated he initially resisted but ultimately felt “obligated” to come back. “I’ve presented to the parties involved that I have a certain vision… We are in discussions… I am fully prepared to take charge… up until the point where we have a national convention,” he said.

Peyrefitte said that he has full support from the party’s top figures and added, “If it doesn’t work out, I can always resign again.”

According to Barrow, the party’s next steps include setting a date for the National Convention, reinstating members, and addressing key organisational matters that are “in line with the agenda to reunite and rebuild as we prepare the Party for transition to new leadership.”

KHMHA PR Manager Denies Claims that Nurses Abandoned Babies During Sickout

A sickout by over 40 staff at Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority (KHMHA) reportedly disrupted essential services on Tuesday, but management is saying that the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) remained fully operational.

KHMHA Public Relations Manager Tylon Tillett refuted a report by Facebook blog Belize News Network (BNN) which claimed nurses abandoned critically ill babies in the NICU.

Tillet called the report “totally false and misleading.” He said, “As the Public Relations Manager of the KHMHA, I am appalled at the level of skull duggery this so-called media network has stooped to,” he said.

“I urge the public to not be mislead by an obvious political arm that slanders the professionalism of the nation’s national referral center in protection of political interests,” Tillett added.

According to Tillet, “All the staff of the NICU was present today… 8 nurses cared for 13 babies.”

Meanwhile, the CEO of the KHMHA, Chandra Nisbet-Cansino formally declared a trade dispute with the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority Workers’ Union (KHMHAWU) and requested the establishment of an Essential Services Arbitration Tribunal.

Cansino accused the KHMHA Workers’ Union (KHMHAWU) of “violating the law” and “putting the safety of patients at risk” after the reported sickout. “Despite an offer being made for their consideration, the KHMHAWU has proceeded with industrial action as opposed to negotiation,” Cansino said on Tuesday in a letter to the Minister of Labour.

Environmental Task Force Formed After Years of Weak Enforcement

A National Environmental Enforcement Task Force has been formed. The task force is expected to adequately respond to what environmentalists say are persistent failures in environmental regulation and oversight.

A statement from the Department of Environment (DOE) says the task force is composed of “key regulatory agencies, was established during a meeting held to address longstanding challenges in compliance monitoring, enforcement capacity, and inter-agency coordination.”

Monthly meetings are expected to target violations linked to large-scale developments and chronic non-compliance with environmental clearance conditions. However, critics note that the DOE’s renewed urgency shows years of inaction, particularly as public pressure mounts over unchecked development and the lack of accountability in high-risk environmental zones.

Discussion points at the task force’s launch included the classification of environmental offences, the need for updated legislation, and plans for shared public awareness campaigns.

“This national task force represents a unified response to Belize’s urgent environmental challenges and underscores the government’s commitment to sustainable development, community well-being, and environmental justice,” DOE said.

Trump Says Iran Nukes ‘Obliterated,’ Intel Disagrees

In the tense days leading up to the U.S. military strikes on three of Iran’s nuclear sites, the White House and Republican congressional leaders coordinated a strategic messaging campaign to rally support and maintain a unified stance on Capitol Hill, according to CNN.

Emails circulated between June 14 and 17 reveal a deliberate push to reinforce President Donald Trump’s hardline position on Iran’s nuclear ambitions. One such email, sent to congressional offices on June 17 with the subject line, “POTUS has made it abundantly clear; Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon,” included statements from Trump and testimony from General Michael Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, asserting that Iran was dangerously close to nuclear capability.

The military action has come at a steep human cost. According to Iranian state media IRIB, at least 627 people were killed and nearly 4,900 injured between June 13 and June 25 during the conflict between Israel and Iran. The Iranian Health Ministry said that 86% of the deaths occurred immediately at the scenes of Israeli attacks.

Despite early U.S. intelligence assessments suggesting that the strikes may have only temporarily disrupted Iran’s nuclear program, President Trump dismissed those conclusions during a NATO summit press conference on Wednesday. “They didn’t see it. All they can do is take a guess,” Trump said, insisting the facilities were “obliterated.”

He also criticised media coverage of the strikes, accusing outlets like CNN of “demeaning” the U.S. military operation and demoralizing pilots involved in the mission. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed Trump’s defense, calling skepticism over the impact of the strikes “an insult” to military personnel.

KHMHA CEO Accuses KHMHA Worker’s Union of “Putting Patient Safety at Risk”

The CEO of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority (KHMHA) has accused the Workers’ Union of “violating the law” and “putting the safety of patients at risk” after over 40 staff members reportedly called in sick on Tuesday, which caused disruptions to essential services.

In a letter to the Minister of Labour, CEO Chandra Nisbet-Cansino formally declared a trade dispute with the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority Workers’ Union (KHMHAWU) and requested the establishment of an Essential Services Arbitration Tribunal.

“Attempts made to resolve the issue have been futile. The Authority maintains that the KHMHA staff do not qualify for a pension under the Pensions Act,” Cansino said in the letter. “Despite an offer being made for their consideration, the KHMHAWU has proceeded with industrial action as opposed to negotiation.”

The KHMHAWU recently rejected the government’s proposal of a 4% ex gratia payment towards retirement benefits for staff covering 2001–2017. The union called it a step back from earlier promises and criticised the hospital’s portrayal of basic benefits as generous incentives.

The hospital says the union failed to report a trade dispute as legally required. The sickout affected units such as dialysis and radiology, where several patients had to be sent home.

A text message sent to KHMHA staff informed them that “radiologists have call-in sick. Due to this, we will not be able to facilitate ultrasounds and contrasted CT scans.”

The Ministry of Labour is now being asked to intervene to facilitate resolution under the Essential Services Act.