BCCI Tells PM: ‘Fix the System’ Before the Next ‘Mira Millions’ Happens

The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) has written directly to Prime Minister John Briceño with a ten-point plan to fix the country’s public financial management systems. The BCCI’s letter arrives as the Briceño administration faces mounting scrutiny over procurement irregularities pointing to the ‘Mira Millions’ controversy.

In a letter dated June 29th, 2026, BCCI President Giacomo Sanchez recognised the government’s decision to initiate a formal investigation as a “clear commitment to accountability” but said the reported irregularities serve as a “timely reminder” that Belize’s public financial management systems need structural reform, not just enforcement.

The Chamber’s core recommendation is an overhaul of the SmartStream accounting platform, or the implementation of an automated monitoring and compliance system alongside it, designed to catch irregularities before transactions are processed rather than after the damage is done.

Among the ten safeguards proposed are supplier transaction controls that limit the number of invoices processed for the same supplier within a single business day, automated anomaly detection to flag unusual cumulative payments, duplicate payment detection, and a maker-checker protocol requiring a second independent officer to approve all payments above a defined threshold.

The Chamber also called for comprehensive audit trails, role-based access controls, and periodic independent assessments of all government financial management systems.

The Chamber was explicit that many of these fixes can be implemented immediately, stating, “Many of these enhancements are capable of being implemented without delay and do not require completion of the current investigation or the Cabinet-approved comprehensive review of the procurement rules.”

The Chamber reminded the PM that “strong governance is not achieved by legislation alone. It is built on robust institutions, modern and well-secured systems, and a culture of accountability at every level of public administration.”

What the PM Says Is Coming for GOB’s Procurement System

And while the Chamber’s letter lands on PM Briceño’s desk, the prime minister told reporters on Wednesday that a major procurement overhaul is already in the works.

Briceño said the Cabinet will be presented with a Central Procurement Unit developed in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank. The unit will operate through an electronic portal that every ministry will be legally required to use for all purchases, including those under $10,000.

“There has to be openness and transparency and accountability. I think that that’s going to transform things,” Briceño said.

According to Briceño, the portal will also maintain a registry of pre-qualified suppliers, allowing ministries to purchase directly from approved vendors at negotiated government rates. He said the system would eliminate fragmented purchasing across ministries and help the government secure discounts it currently misses.

Briceño went further, saying the system will have three layers of oversight: a committee that sets procurement rules, a committee that monitors compliance, and a third dedicated to auditing.

He described it as “a game changer in the way government procures its goods and services”, especially since at least 20% of government goods and services must come from micro and small enterprises.

PM Briceño maintained that this new approach surrounding the procurement system “has nothing to do” with the ‘Mira Millions’ case now under investigation.

 

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