Benita Keme-Palacio - Greater Belize Media

Saint Kitts Prosecutor Charged with Corruption, Murder Cover-Up

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of Saint Kitts and Nevis has charged Crown Counsel Prosecutor Shantrice Dorset with serious offences related to the murder of 29-year-old Akeem Archibald. The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force reported that Archibald, a resident from Conaree Village, was riding his motorcycle near his home at 9:39 p.m. when a gunman shot him.

Archibald was fatally shot on July 20, 2024, and the main suspect was identified as Khyron Philip. Dorset is accused of assisting Philip in fleeing the country to avoid justice. She faces multiple charges, including being an ‘Accessory After the Fact to Murder,’ ‘Attempting to Pervert the Course of Justice,’ ‘Misconduct in Public Office,’ and ‘Corruption.’

She is accused of using her position to influence the surrender of the firearm used in the murder under an amnesty program, as well as misconduct and corruption.

This is the first time in the country’s history that a current attorney and Crown Counsel has been arrested and charged with such serious offences.

Saint Kitts and Nevis’s DPP stressed that Dorset is presumed innocent until proven guilty and warned against speculation that could harm the investigation or trial. Dorset was denied bail and is currently in custody at His Majesty’s Prison while the case progresses.

Sea Cucumber Closed Season Announced for 2025

The Belize Fisheries Department (BFD) has announced that the sea cucumber fishery will be closed from February 1 to July 31, 2025. This closure is in line with Statutory Instruments No. 67 of 2009 and No. 107 of 2022. During this period, it will be illegal to harvest, buy, sell, or possess sea cucumbers. The fishing season opened on September 1, 2024, and was set to end January 31, 2025, or when the catch quota was met.

Under these laws, “No person shall fish for, harvest, buy, sell, possess, export, or attempt to export any sea cucumber species between February 1 and July 31, inclusive, in any year,” stated BFD.

Violating this closure, including possession of sea cucumbers during this period, “will be charged and prosecuted in a court of law in accordance with the Fisheries Regulations.”

The department encourages public cooperation in conserving this important resource. For more details or to report illegal fishing, the public can reach the Fisheries Department at 224-4552 or email fisheries_department@fisheries.gov.bz.

Belizeans React to New Currency Designs

Belizeans are buzzing over the new currency designs unveiled by the Central Bank of Belize yesterday. The new notes will feature national heroes George Cadle Price and Phillip Goldson and are set to be released in June or July. While the designs are updated, the value and exchange rate will remain unchanged, according to the Central Bank. The new notes will not feature Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait, a common feature in the currency notes of other Commonwealth countries.

The updated designs also come with enhanced security features to combat counterfeiting. Prime Minister John Briceño weighed in earlier this week, describing the new currency as “a beautiful note.” He said that the modern design, featuring Belizean icons, would be well-received by the public. “It is something that Belizeans will accept, and it is our people on our note,” Briceño added.

Since the grand reveal, Belizeans have been expressing their opinions about the new designs. A recent poll on News 5’s Facebook page, which has gathered 3,841 votes up to 10:45 this morning, revealed mixed reactions. Of respondents, 53%, or 2,039 users, said they did not like the new design, while only 10%, or 377 users, voted that they liked it.

Meanwhile, 1,085 users felt the notes resembled Mexican pesos, and 199 users appreciated the added security features. Another 4%, or 141 users, indicated they weren’t bothered by the change, with one commenter saying, “As long as I can buy and pay my bills, I’m good.”

The poll is still active until later this evening; if you’d like to participate, click here to cast your vote.

BNTU and M.O.E. Sign Major Agreement

After months of tension and a possible demonstration, the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU) and the Ministry of Education (MoECST) have signed a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to improving Belize’s education system.

Following a five-hour meeting, both parties agreed on key reforms to tackle longstanding issues, including teacher salaries, increments, and allowances. During the meeting, BNTU President Nadia Caliz stated her satisfaction with the progress and that this was just the beginning of regular, biannual meetings to address challenges.

Education Minister Francis Fonseca pointed out the ministry’s commitment to tackling some of the most pressing challenges. According to the joint statement, the goal is to ” “create an education system that meets the needs of the nation and its people” by “affixing their signatures to” the following:

Salary and Allowance Improvements: MoECST promises to ensure timely payment of salary increments and allowances for teachers. A new digital system for processing applications will launch in mid-February, with the goal of minimising disruptions for educators.
Teacher Recruitment and Development: The Ministry plans to expedite teacher and administrator appointments and support in-service teachers with scholarships for high-priority areas like math and science.
Digital Transformation: Efforts to modernise include integrating teacher accounts with BEMIS and offering online courses to enhance professional development.

The ministry also offered 11 scholarships for teachers, temporary teaching permits for specialised subjects, and additional support for educators in remote areas.

Although the immediate crisis seems resolved, Caliz clarified that the union council will decide on future actions, including whether to stand down from potential industrial action.

Belize Leads in Global Anti-Money Laundering Efforts

Belize has become a leader in the fight against money laundering, terrorism financing, and weapons proliferation, according to the latest report from the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF). Belize has not only surpassed expectations but has set a new standard for technical compliance, earning “Fully Compliant” ratings for 38 out of 40 key anti-money laundering measures.

The CFATF’s 4th Round Mutual Evaluation Report (MER) highlighted Belize’s impressive ratings in both technical compliance and effectiveness.”Belize now has the distinction of having the strongest technical compliance ratings in the world, surpassing the previous record holder, Qatar.”

In terms of effectiveness, Belize also performed strongly, with Substantial ratings in five of the eleven Immediate Outcomes, including a regional first in proliferation financing.

“Belize has a robust regime in place to ensure that ML is identified, investigated and prosecuted. This framework consists of laws, working groups and policies within the different law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies,” CFATF reported.

According to the government of Belize, this success is the result of nearly two years of rigorous evaluation and collaboration among Belize’s national authorities, which culminated in the country achieving Regular Follow-up status—a distinction held by less than 15% of the world’s nations.

Man Goes Missing After Trip to Chetumal

A Belizean man has gone missing after travelling to Chetumal, Mexico. Vincent Young, 34, was last seen on November 13, 2024, around 3:45 p.m. in Corozal. Records show that he entered Mexico but has not returned to Belize. His family is now seeking answers since Young’s whereabouts remain unknown.

Sally Lou Young, Vincent’s sister, told News 5 that her brother simply told their mother he was heading to Mexico, but no further details were given. “What he was doing with who, when, where, and why we don’t know,” she said.

After filing an official report with the Corozal police, the family travelled to the Chetumal border and confirmed Vincent entered Mexico legally on November 12. However, there is no documentation of him returning to Belize.

“He went legally into Mexico in his personal vehicle. He entered Mexico and hasn’t returned. As of now, that’s all we know,” Sally Lou said.

Sally Lou stated that the situation is now “international,” making it more complicated for the family to intervene directly. She said Belizean and Mexican authorities are continuing their investigation. She added, “If anyone happens to see him, hear of him, or call them to contact the family,” to let the family know.

PM Proposes Solution to Farmers’ Financial Struggles

Sugarcane farmers in the north have long reported their struggles with poor road infrastructure, but the financial burden they face is equally concerning. Prime Minister John Briceño is calling this financing system “gouging” and proposing a bold solution.

“One of the challenges our farmers have is the issue of financing. They get these one-year financing loans from the bank, and the interest rates are as much as fourteen percent,” Briceño said, adding, “They are gouging them.”

Briceño explained that this high interest rate forces farmers to continually renew their loans, leaving them stuck in a cycle of debt with little room for growth. To address this, the Prime Minister has proposed a new plan. “One idea we are looking at is providing the financing… using this excess liquidity, passing it on to DFC, and DFC could go to the farmer.”

This proposal aims to lower interest rates and offer farmers longer repayment periods, giving them much-needed breathing room to rebuild their fields, according to Briceño.

PM Briceño Calls for Fairer Contributions from Tourism Sector

In late 2024, reports emerged that the government was considering raising the hotel tax from 9% to 12.5%. Although the Ministry of Tourism has not made a final decision, the proposed increase is part of a broader plan to reform tourism taxes.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister John Briceño told reporters, “We have invested tens of millions of dollars in the tourist industry, and taxpayers have paid for it.” He added that Belize has made significant public investments to support the industry in infrastructure development and marketing, which has led to Belize having “the fastest growing tourism in the region.”

“So now that we have done all that. I think it is only fair to get back some of that money and give the relief to people who need it most,” Briceño said.

On a single day in March 2024, Belize welcomed the highest number of visitors ever recorded, with 16,000 passengers arriving on its shores. The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) had projected that 2024 will not only meet but surpass pre-pandemic levels, making it a historic year for the industry.

“I do believe the tourism industry needs to pay their fair share,” Briceño added.

Imports Soar by 10.2%, Exports Drop 2.3%

Belize’s trade figures for November 2024 show a mixed bag, with imports soaring by 10.2% to $230.4 million compared to $209.1 million in November 2023. Meanwhile, exports took a hit, primarily due to a dramatic drop in sugar exports. The country saw strong growth in categories like ‘Machinery and Transport Equipment’ and ‘Food and Live Animals,’ but a sharp decline in ‘Mineral Fuels and Lubricants’ and sugar exports raised concerns.

According to the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB), the increase in imports was driven by significant purchases in several key sectors. ‘Machinery and Transport Equipment’ led the charge, rising by 36.5% to $61.9 million, with high-value items such as airplanes and heavy-duty trucks boosting the total. Meanwhile, imports into the Commercial Free Zone grew by $8.9 million, reflecting higher demand for footwear and floor fans.

The ‘Food and Live Animals’ category also saw a substantial uptick, climbing by $8.1 million due to imports of wheat and orange concentrate. The SIB reported that a major decline in ‘Mineral Fuels and Lubricants’ occurred, which dropped by $8.3 million as the country imported no diesel fuel in November.

On the export side, the SIB reported that Belize’s total exports fell slightly by 2.3%, totalling $22.3 million. The sharpest decline was in sugar exports, which plummeted by over 75%, dropping from $6.5 million in November 2023 to just $1.4 million. Conversely, Citrus Products saw a massive boost, with exports tripling to $3.5 million. This was driven by a surge in orange concentrate sales.

Despite these fluctuations, the SIB stated that the overall export trend for the first eleven months of 2024 remained stable, with a slight 0.4% increase compared to the same period last year.

Cost of Living Up by 2%

Belizeans are feeling the pinch as prices surged 2% in November 2024 compared to the same month last year. This increase was mainly driven largely by increased costs in food, housing, and restaurant services, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report from the Statistical Institute of Belize.

The overall national inflation rate stood at 120.1 for November 2024, up from 117.7 in November 2023.

Food prices alone contributed almost half of the inflation, with a 3.6% increase in the cost of food and non-alcoholic beverages. Key items like pineapples, watermelons, and limes saw price hikes of 14.7%, while everyday essentials like breads and tortillas went up by 3.4%. Meanwhile, housing costs also rose by 2.5%, with increased rental prices and a rise in LPG prices.

In contrast, transport costs dipped by 0.8%, largely due to a drop in fuel prices. The price of diesel fell by $1.13 per gallon, and regular gasoline saw a decrease of $0.71. However, passenger transport services, including taxis and international flights, became more expensive.

Belmopan and Corozal recorded the highest inflation rates at 4%, with notable price increases in food, household goods, and rentals. On the other hand, Independence saw minimal change in prices, with an inflation rate of nearly zero.

For the year to date, inflation stands at 3.3%, primarily driven by food and housing costs. Prices in most categories have increased, while communication equipment like cell phones has seen a decline.