hipolito - Greater Belize Media

T&T PM Pledges Tougher Laws on Vices and Noise

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says her administration is preparing a sweeping legislative agenda aimed at tackling social issues ranging from substance abuse and gambling to noise pollution and pension reform.

Speaking at a United National Congress (UNC) public meeting, Persad-Bissessar announced plans to raise the legal age for marijuana and gambling to 25 and the legal age for alcohol consumption to 21. She said the proposed changes are part of a broader government strategy to address addiction and reduce the social harm caused by these substances.

“These are not just vices; they are public health and societal concerns,” the prime minister told supporters. “We intend to take firm, responsible action.”

The Prime Minister also committed to introducing legislation to regulate the use of fireworks. The new laws would restrict fireworks to specific days and time periods, a move intended to reduce disruption to residents, pets, and the elderly.

She also took aim at music trucks, which she described as a public nuisance. Upcoming legislation, she said, will introduce a mandatory cut-off time for events using amplified music in public spaces, including trucks. Exceptions would be made for national festivals, but Persad-Bissessar stressed that excessive noise must be brought under control.

“We need a more balanced approach to entertainment and public peace,” she added.

Trump Escalates Trade War with New Tariffs Targeting 14 Countries

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited global trade tensions by announcing steep new tariffs on 14 countries, warning they could face duties of 25% to 40% starting August 1 unless they make trade concessions.

The move, part of Trump’s broader strategy to pressure trading partners into boosting U.S. exports and relocating manufacturing to the United States, marks a significant escalation in his ongoing trade agenda. Countries targeted include key U.S. allies such as Japan and South Korea, as well as Southeast Asian economies like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.

In near-identical letters to the leaders of affected countries, Trump said he was committed to “more balanced and fair TRADE” and left the door open for exemptions if countries eliminate tariffs and reduce trade barriers. He warned of further tariff increases if retaliatory measures are taken.

The highest tariffs, 40%, will hit Laos and Myanmar, while others, including Cambodia, Thailand, and South Africa, face rates between 30% and 36%. All were previously subject to a 10% baseline duty.

Asian officials responded cautiously. Japan called the move “truly regrettable,” while South Korea and Malaysia said they would intensify negotiations to secure more favourable trade terms before the deadline. However, experts say the region’s ability to present a unified response is limited due to differing national interests.

Analysts believe many countries may have to accept some level of tariff pain, as Trump’s measures appear more permanent than previously expected.

Do You Support the Controversial Thirteenth Amendment?

On Monday, Police Commissioner Dr. Richard Rosado asked Belizeans to support the 13th Amendment, following the murders of Evadnie and Luke Jones on Cedar Street on the south side of Belize City.

He said, “I want to beg and implore the public to support the police department as a united front as resolute support for the amendment for the gang and gun laws being proposed in the 13th Amendment of the constitution. I do believe that 13th Amendment is a needed enhancement of the legislation that will assist us, not only in protecting the community and in ensuring the the rule of law is upheld but also in assisting us to dismantle the entrenched network of violence that exist.”

But the sweeping constitutional amendment proposed by the Government has ignited fierce national debate, with critics warning of a dangerous erosion of civil liberties and democratic norms.

The Belize Constitution (Thirteenth Amendment) Bill, 2025, introduced by Prime Minister John Briceño, seeks to expand the government’s powers to declare “special areas” for public safety, establish a Gun and Gang Court, and retroactively validate past States of Emergency (SOEs) and related actions.

The government argues the amendment is necessary to combat rising gang violence and to resolve legal uncertainty following conflicting High Court rulings in 2023 (Claims Nos. 613 and 818), which questioned the constitutionality of previous SOEs.

“Crime evokes strong emotions from the citizens of a country… They all deserve strong and decisive action from their government,” said Prime Minister Briceño during the bill’s introduction.

This is what the bill proposes.

Special Areas: The Governor General, advised by the National Security Council, could declare any part of Belize a “special area,” where rights such as freedom of movement and protection from warrantless searches may be suspended.

Gun and Gang Court: A new court with powers of both the Magistrate and High Courts would be created to fast-track gang-related cases.

Retroactive Validation: Past SOEs and regulations, including those ruled unlawful, would be deemed constitutional under the new law.

However, critics are sounding the alarm.

Civil society groups, legal experts, and opposition leaders have condemned the bill as a “shortcut to repression” that threatens the very foundation of Belize’s democracy.

“This is how democracies die—not in a moment, but in amendments,” wrote columnist Nuri Muhammad in an op-ed.

The Belize Association of Defense Attorneys issued a letter warning that the bill “threatens civil liberties, weakens the rule of law, and gives too much unchecked power to the executive.”

Labour Senator Glenfield Dennison also criticised the bill’s retroactive clauses, stating, “When you lose the High Court, you go to a Court of Appeal and then after Court of Appeal you go to CCJ. They never teach me that when you lose the High Court you’re going to change the constitution to make it suit you.”

Legal observers have raised concerns that the bill could normalise emergency powers and lead to arbitrary detentions, particularly in marginalised communities. Past SOEs have disproportionately affected young men in Southside Belize City, with reports of detentions lasting up to 90 days without charge.

The public will soon have the opportunity to weigh in. The Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee has scheduled a public consultation for Wednesday, July 16th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Swift Hall in Belize City.

‘United We Bargain, Divided We Beg’: UB Union Urges Action on Salary Delay

Tensions are rising at the University of Belize (UB) as the University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union (UBFSU) issued a pointed public demand for the immediate implementation of a long-promised 9% salary increase.

The union’s statement calls out both the Government of Belize and UB’s leadership for what it describes as “delayed justice” and a failure to uphold commitments to university employees.

The salary adjustment, originally scheduled to take effect on April 1, 2025, was confirmed in an April 10 bulletin from UB’s Human Resources Department. The bulletin acknowledged a delay in implementation due to financial planning constraints but assured staff that the increase would be retroactively applied and fully processed by the end of the fiscal year on August 1, 2025.

However, the UBFSU remains unconvinced. In its press release, the union criticised the administration’s assurances as “insincere” and accused both UB leadership and the government of using subvention negotiations as an excuse to delay action.

“After ten years of patience, we will no longer accept delays, excuses, or passed responsibilities,” the release stated.

Key Demands from UBFSU:

To the Government of Belize: Immediate commitment to increased subvention in the April 26 budget to support the 9% salary increase.

To UB Leadership: Take full responsibility for securing adequate funding and stop deflecting accountability.

To Union Members: Prepare for mobilisation if concrete commitments are not made.

The union says that UB employees have not received a meaningful salary adjustment in over a decade, despite rising inflation and increased workloads. It also highlighted that Belize invests only 0.4% of its GDP in tertiary education, less than half the 1% average seen in similarly sized nations.

UBFSU is calling for a meeting on Thursday, July 10, involving the Ministers of Education and Finance, union leaders, and UB Board representatives to align on a path forward. “After unrealised promises and press releases, we will accept nothing less than concrete commitments,” the union said.

Court Rejects Bid to Strike Out BSCFA Claim

The High Court of Belize has ruled that the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA) can proceed with its claim against Belize Sugar Industries Ltd. (BSI) and T&L Sugars Ltd., rejecting efforts by the latter to strike out the lawsuit on jurisdictional grounds.

Justice M. Javed Mansoor delivered the decision, following arguments centred on whether the Belize court has jurisdiction to hear the BSCFA’s claim for unpaid Fairtrade (FT) sugar premiums for the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 crop years.

T&L Sugars Ltd., a UK-based company, had filed an application to strike out the claim, arguing that any dispute must be resolved through arbitration in London under the terms of the now-expired 2021 Letter of Enhanced Agreement (LOEA), or by the High Court of England and Wales if arbitration was declined. They contended that the court in Belize had no authority to hear the case and further argued that the BSCFA failed to disclose the existence of the arbitration clause when it sought permission to serve the claim outside Belize’s jurisdiction.

The BSCFA, however, maintained that the LOEA had expired and had not been renewed or extended for the crop years in question. Therefore, they argued, the arbitration clause did not apply to the current dispute, and the Belize court retained jurisdiction.

Justice Mansoor agreed, noting that there was no evidence the arbitration agreement survived the LOEA’s expiration or that it applied to the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 crop years. The court found that the BSCFA’s claims, including conspiracy and breach of constructive trust, presented real and triable issues, and that striking out the claim at this stage would not be in the interest of justice.

The court also agreed with the BSCFA that the second defendant’s alleged actions are intertwined with those of the first defendant, BSI, which has already filed its defence. Excluding T&L from the proceedings, the court noted, would “hinder the court’s ability to fully adjudicate the conspiracy claim.”

As a result, the application by T&L Sugars Ltd. to strike out the claim and challenge service out of jurisdiction was dismissed. The court ordered that the matter proceed to trial, with both defendants required to answer the BSCFA’s claims. The association was awarded costs of the application.

Spanish Lookout Farming Project Gets Conditional Environmental Green Light

The Department of the Environment (DOE) has granted environmental clearance for a proposed farming development by the Spanish Lookout Community Corporation Limited, following the review and recommendations of the National Environmental Appraisal Committee (NEAC). The project, which is to be located near Runaway Creek and the Sibun River along the Coastal Highway in the Belize District, was the subject of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reviewed by NEAC earlier this month.

After careful evaluation of the EIA report and public concerns, NEAC recommended approval with a number of strict conditions aimed at reducing potential environmental, social, and archaeological impacts. These include a prohibition on aerial spraying throughout the project site. Developers are instead required to use only environmentally friendly methods for agrochemical use, such as drone or mechanical spraying.

Additionally, the committee noted that Excel Construction Ltd., which holds a mining license in the area set to expire in July 2026, must not engage in any mining activities within the project site until a full environmental assessment is conducted in consultation with the Mining Unit of the Ministry of Natural Resources. A vegetative buffer of 150 feet must also be maintained on both sides of the Sibun River for the duration of the project.

One of the most significant requirements is the legal establishment of a 1,649-acre Conservation Zone identified in the EIA. This area must be permanently protected due to its ecological and archaeological importance. The NEAC also directed that a water catchment system be created within the project area to ensure a stable water source during expected future droughts.

If water from the Sibun River is needed, developers must first conduct additional studies to determine potential environmental and hydrological impacts, and submit their findings to the DOE for a decision in consultation with NEAC.

Fatal Highway Collision Claims Life of Corozal Farmer

A tragic road traffic accident on the Philip Goldson Highway has left one man dead and another in police custody. The incident occurred this morning between miles 70 and 71.

Police responding to the scene discovered two extensively damaged vehicles: a silver Jeep Compass with a crushed front end and a red Toyota Tacoma that had veered off to the right side of the road, also with severe front-end damage.

According to police, the silver Jeep Compass, driven by Marcos Villanueva, was traveling northbound from Orange Walk to Corozal when it collided head-on with the Toyota Tacoma, which was heading in the opposite direction.

The driver of the Tacoma, 61-year-old Jesus Chicas, a farmer from San Roman Village in the Corozal District, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Villanueva has since been detained by police as investigations into the fatal crash continue.

Devastating Floods Kill Nearly 100 in Central Texas

At least 95 people are confirmed dead, and dozens remain missing following catastrophic floods that swept through central Texas over the weekend, with the tragedy hitting especially hard at Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp along the Guadalupe River, where 27 campers and counsellors lost their lives. Ten campers and one counsellor are still unaccounted for.

Emergency responders continue to search the region for survivors, with officials warning that the final death toll could still rise. The mayor of Kerrville, Joe Herring Jr., where at least 75 of the deaths occurred, said he received no prior warning about the torrential rains that led to the disaster.

In the wake of the disaster, U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has called for a federal watchdog investigation into staffing shortages at the National Weather Service (NWS), questioning whether the lack of personnel may have delayed flood warnings that could have saved lives.

“The roles left unfilled are not marginal, they’re critical,” Schumer stated in a letter to the Commerce Department’s Inspector General. “We must do everything possible to provide answers as to why the community was not alerted sooner.”

The NWS offices responsible for monitoring the Guadalupe River region reportedly issued multiple flood watches and warnings but have been operating with reduced staff following cuts under the previous administration.

The scale and intensity of the flooding highlight a troubling trend: climate scientists say extreme rainfall events are becoming more frequent as global temperatures rise, largely due to fossil fuel emissions. Central Texas—a region crisscrossed by rivers and prone to flash floods—remains particularly vulnerable.

Belize City Man Charged for Robbing Teen at Gunpoint

A Belize City construction worker has been arrested and charged for allegedly robbing a teenage girl at gunpoint in broad daylight and later escaping from police custody.

Police have formally arrested and charged 26-year-old Omar Morales with the crime of robbery.

The incident occurred last week Tuesday at around 9:50 a.m.

According to police, a 16-year-old female minor reported that she was at the corner of East Canal and Regent Street when she was approached by a Hispanic male who was armed with a firearm.

The assailant reportedly demanded that she hand over her belongings, and fearing for her life, the teen complied. The gunman made off with two chains valued at $50 and a cellphone worth $1,100.

Police say surveillance footage proved instrumental in identifying and apprehending Morales. During the course of the investigation, officers were able to recover the stolen phone.

Morales has also been slapped with an additional charge of escape from lawful custody. Police report that while detained at the Precinct One police station, Morales managed to jump the counter and escape. He was later recaptured by authorities.

Morales remains in custody pending arraignment.