Benita Keme-Palacio - Greater Belize Media

Belize’s Imports Surge While Exports Dip

Belize’s imports increased by 14% in October 2024, while exports took a hit, dropping by over $1.5 million. The Statistical Institute of Belize reported that imports reached $281.1 million, compared to $246.6 million in October 2023, an increase of $34.5 million.

Imports of ‘Machinery and Transport Equipment’ recorded a spike of 24.2%. The ‘Mineral Fuels and Lubricants’ category also grew by $9 million. Meanwhile, ‘Manufactured Goods’ rose by $6.1 million due to higher imports of steel rods, plywood, and other construction materials. However, the ‘Chemical Products’ category saw a decrease, dropping by $1.7 million due to lower fertiliser imports.

For the first ten months of 2024, Belize’s total merchandise imports reached $2.448 billion, a 9.2% increase over the same period in 2023.

In contrast, Belize’s domestic exports for October 2024 fell by 5.4%. The SIB attributed this drop of $27.1 million from $28.6 million to lower sales of ‘Bananas, Sugar, and Marine Products’. Banana exports saw a significant drop of $2.1 million, and sugar exports fell by the same amount. Meanwhile, exports to CARICOM countries grew by $2.3 million due to higher sales of sugar and orange concentrate.

For the first ten months of 2024, Belize’s total exports reached $363.5 million, an increase of 1.5% compared to the same time period in 2023.

Belize’s Economy Grows by 6.6%

Belize’s economy grew significantly in the third quarter of 2024. This is according to the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB). It said that the economy expanded by 6.6% compared to the same period in 2023. The SIB reported that the total value of goods and services produced from July to September reached $1.23 billion, up $75.6 million from the $1.15 billion recorded last year.

According to the SIB, production in the primary sector for the third quarter of 2024 was valued at approximately $72.4 million. This reflects an increase of $1 million, or a 1.5% increase, from $71.4 million in the same period of 2023. The primary sector, including agriculture, recorded improvements in key crops such as bananas, citrus, and sugarcane. The fishing industry also grew by 25.5%, with production rising from 447.1 thousand pounds to 560.9 thousand pounds.

The secondary sector, covering industries like manufacturing and construction, grew by 3.3%. “Electricity generation grew from 88 thousand megawatt hours to 100.9 thousand megawatt hours,” reported the SIB. This was attributed to the higher rainfall experienced that led to a raise in water levels in dams to produce more electricity. However, the manufacturing sector saw a slight decline due to lower production of flour and dairy products. The production of beverages like rum and beer increased.

The largest contributor to overall growth was the tertiary sector. This sector includes services like trade, tourism, and transportation, and it grew by 9%. The “Accommodation and food services” industry reported a 20.7% increase due to a rise in overnight visitors. Despite there were fewer cruise ship arrivals compared to previous years, the increase in overnight visitors contributed to the strong performance in tourism.

Multidimensional Poverty in Belize Decreases

According to the latest data from the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB), Belize recorded a decrease of 4.4% in multidimensional poverty. Multidimensional poverty measures deprivation not just in income but across several key areas such as health, education, employment, and living standards. The index considers both the proportion of people affected (incidence) and the severity of their deprivation (intensity).

The SIB reports that the improvements in sanitation, internet access, and dependency ratios have helped reduce poverty levels. Yet, the overall intensity of poverty remained largely unchanged from 38.4% to 38.0%.

Rural poverty dropped significantly from 39.9% in 2023 to 30.9% in 2024. In contrast, urban areas saw a slight increase from 8.3% to 9.7% in poverty.

Toledo remains the hardest hit with 67.9% of its population living in multidimensional poverty. Meanwhile, the Belize District reported the lowest rate at 9.5%.

Households with no formal education face a poverty rate of 36%.

Family size and household composition are also significant factors. Households with more children or elderly members face higher poverty rates. Those who are unemployed face a 50.2% poverty rate, compared to 18.6% for those not in the labour force.

Higher Food and Rent Costs Push Belize’s Inflation

Today, the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) reported a 2.1% rise in the country’s overall inflation rate for October 2024. The national Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased to 119.7, up from 117.2 in October 2023. This jump is largely attributed to higher costs for food, restaurant services, and home rental prices. Fuel prices and certain communication equipment saw a decline.

Costs in the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ category increased by 4.7%. This was driven by increases in the prices of fresh vegetables, fruits, and bakery items.“Notable increases were recorded in prices for fresh vegetables and pulses, such as cabbage, lettuce, black beans, and red kidney beans (8.3%),” reported the SIB.

Higher rent and dining-out costs were also recorded. The ‘Restaurants and Accommodation Services’ category saw an increase of 4.9%. Home rental prices contributed to a 1.5% rise in the ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels’ category.

However, lower fuel prices contributed to transport prices decreasing by 3%. The cost of diesel dropped by $1.55 per gallon, while both premium and regular gasoline prices fell as well.

Belmopan experienced the highest inflation, reflecting an increase of 5% in prices, while Independence Village had the lowest. It recorded a nearly flat inflation rate of -0.03%.

For the first ten months of 2024, the year-to-date inflation rate stood at 3.5%. While fuel prices and some communication equipment have seen reductions, the higher costs of food, rent, and restaurant services are contributing to the ongoing rise in living expenses for Belizeans.

SIB Reports a Growing Willingness to Spend

Are Belizeans willing to spend more money? According to the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB), the country saw an increase of 14% in consumer confidence for the month of October. The SIB reported that the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) jumped from 38.9% in September to 44.3&.This shows that Belizeans grew confident about making major purchases and their financial outlook for the year ahead. The main driver behind the increase in the CCI was the “durable goods such as homes, cars, furniture, and appliances.”

In terms of regional differences, urban areas saw a 6.6% increase in consumer confidence. Meanwhile, rural areas experienced a more significant boost of 19.8%.

When broken down by gender, male consumer confidence increased by 11.8%, while female confidence grew by 15.9%. The SIB says that both genders became more optimistic about their financial situations and the economy over the next year.

Younger consumers, particularly those aged 18-24, reported the most significant improvement in confidence. Consumers aged 25-34 also showed a strong increase of 21.1%. These age groups transitioned from pessimism to optimism, driven by an improvement in sentiments regarding durable goods purchases. Older age groups, including those aged 45-54 and 55 and older, also reported notable increases in confidence.

Ethnic groups across the country reported improved consumer confidence, with the Maya seeing the largest rise of 30.6%. This was largely driven by a 93.8% increase in the durable goods component. Mestizo/Hispanic groups also saw significant improvements, with their CCI rising by 18.8%.

Higher Unemployment Rate Among Women

The Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) held its fourth final press conference for 2024, presenting key data on the Labour Force Survey, poverty, GDP, consumer prices, and external trade.

Anya Mejia, Statistician I at the SIB, shared details from the Labour Force Survey for September 2024. The survey, which covers 3,000 randomly selected households, showed that Belize’s working-age population in September 2024 was 412,319, with 72.4% of this group in the labour force.

According to the SIB, the unemployment rate stood at 2.1%, a decrease from September 2023. Notably, female unemployment was higher at 3.1%, while the majority of employed persons (60%) were male.

Mejia reported that 35.6% of employed individuals were informally employed, earning an average of $1,329 per month. Informal workers typically completed primary education and worked an average of 34.5 hours weekly.

Underemployment affected 2.2% of the workforce, with women accounting for 62.5% of this group. Most underemployed workers were seen in the services and sales sector. Youths aged 14-24 continued to show the lowest participation rates, especially young females.

Meanwhile, 25% of youth aged 15 to 24 were neither in education, employment, nor training (NEET). Young women accounted for 70% of this group.

Court Denies OJ’s Appeal; Rape Case Proceeds to Trial

Attorney Orson Elrington’s challenge to his rape charges has been dismissed by the court, and his case will now proceed to trial.

In July 2024, Elrington’s attorney, Hubert Elrington, announced plans to appeal the magistrate’s decision to commit his client to trial.” The DPP has brought a case, right? And her first duty is to show that there is a difference between a crime and a non-crime,” Hubert said. He suggested that the matter should be referred to the High Court.

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Cheryl Lynn Vidal responded, “We didn’t think that there was any likelihood that he would not have been committed to stand trial.” She added that she looked forward to the defendant’s challenge in the high court.

Elrington’s appeal against the magistrate’s decision was based on claims that the magistrate mishandled his application and that the DPP had improperly communicated with the complainant during the investigation. But the court found no evidence to support these claims and ruled it had no jurisdiction to hear the appeal.

This means that the case will move forward to trial.

Elrington was charged with rape in March 2024 and granted bail of $8,000. The charges stem from allegations by two women who accuse Elrington of sexual assault after they were invited to his home for drinks. According to Police Commissioner Chester Williams, one woman reported becoming unconscious and waking up next to Elrington in a semi-nude state, with no memory of what transpired.

Convicted Murderer William ‘Danny’ Mason Claims ‘Cruel’ Prison Conditions

Did you know that convicted murderer William ‘Danny’ Mason has a DVD player in his jail cell? In fact, according to the Attorney General’s ministry, Mason’s cell includes amenities such as “its own toilet and its own shower, with running water… a standing fan, a writing table, a bed, and a DVD player with audio to watch movies.” This was a response to Mason’s attorney, Peter Taylor.

Taylor wrote to Virgilio Murillo, the CEO of the Belize Central Prison, claiming his client has been confined to a cell for 23 hours a day for the past eight years, with only one hour for recreation. Taylor described the conditions as “cruel, degrading, and inhuman treatment,” adding that Mason’s cell lacks proper lighting, making reading and writing difficult, and he is denied interaction with other inmates and visitors. Taylor also requested Mason’s recreation time be increased from one hour to three.

The ministry rejected the request, stating that Mason’s cell “is more than adequate for a single person.” It added that Mason is housed in Tango 10, a high-security area for dangerous prisoners, and is allowed one hour of recreation in line with prison rules.

Mason, along with Ernest Castillo, Ashton Vanegas, and brothers Keiron and Terrence Fernandez, were convicted in 2019 for the murder of Pastor Llewellyn Lucas in 2016. Pastor Lucas’ burnt remains were found on Mason’s ranch, with his head discovered in a bucket inside a vehicle occupied by Mason and his co-defendants. The five men were sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 35 years.

Trump Humiliates Trudeau

President-elect Donald Trump mocked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a social media post on Monday. Trump called Trudeau “Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada.” Trump’s comments are part of his ongoing criticism of Canada, as he has pledged to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian exports unless Canada and Mexico address issues like undocumented migration. This could have serious economic consequences for Canada, which depends heavily on exports to the U.S.

The post came after a Thanksgiving weekend dinner between the two leaders at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, which Trump described as “a pleasure.” Despite the extensive discussion between the two on the effects of tariffs, there is no indication that Trudeau changed Trump’s stance. At one point, Trump even joked that Canada could become the 51st U.S. state.

Members of Trudeau’s Liberal Party downplayed the comments. “The president was teasing us,” said Canadian public safety minister Dominic LeBlanc.

During his first administration, after a G7 summit, Trump berated Trudeau, calling him “dishonest and weak” on Twitter.

In response to Trump’s tariff threat, Trudeau has shifted toward a more assertive stance. Trudeau suggested Canada could retaliate with tariffs on U.S. goods. “We will, of course, as we did eight years ago, respond to unfair tariffs in a number of ways, and we’re still looking at the right ways to respond,” Trudeau told a business audience in Halifax, Nova Scotia. “One of the most important things for us to do is not to freak out, not to panic,” he added.

World Human Rights Day 2024: “Our rights, our future, right now”

Every year on December 10, World Human Rights Day is observed to raise awareness about the fundamental rights and freedoms that every individual is entitled to, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, gender, or religion. Today marks the 76th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations in 1948.

The day observes the importance of safeguarding human rights and serves as a reminder of the ongoing fight against discrimination and inequality.

This year’s theme, “Our rights, our future, right now,” reflects the need for immediate action to ensure human rights are respected in light of global crises. Pope Francis, marking the day, urged leaders to listen to the millions deprived of basic rights by war, calling it “the mother of all poverty.”

Meanwhile, the Conference of European Churches expressed concern over the rising violations of human rights. Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira cited the conflicts of war in Ukraine and other global crises, saying, “Violations of freedom of religion and belief, rising inequalities, discrimination, and violations of the rights of refugees, migrants, asylum seekers, displaced persons, and Roma remind us of the fragility of these achievements.”

35 Years Since Ratifying Children’s Rights Convention