Belize Moves to Build Modern Competition Framework

Belize is moving to tighten oversight in a big way, taking its first major step toward creating a full competition law, something the country has long gone without. The effort comes amid years of concern about market dominance in key industries, especially telecoms. This week, officials from across Belize are meeting in Belmopan with regional and international partners for a capacity‑building workshop aimed at shaping a modern, effective competition framework. The purpose is to curb anti‑competitive practices and level the playing field for both consumers and businesses. Leading the discussions is David Miller, Executive Director of Jamaica’s Fair Trading Commission, who explains why strong competition law not only protects consumers, but also strengthens regulators.

 

David Miller, Executive Director, Jamaica Fair Trading Commission

“Competition law is building that framework within which competition can flourish. Regulators in a sense can mimic competition where in a sense they have to be aware of the rules of competition and the structures that regulators bring to the oversight of those companies, those market participants will ensure as best as possible that it can be done. As you said, electricity is like a natural monopoly, especially in a small space, economies like ours. So, it is even more important to have that regulation and that oversight competition policy. It is even more so in telecoms. Telecoms have become just like light, electricity and water, many years ago. It is an essential service nowadays. We have to have telecoms services to live, operate, and do business. So that telecoms services oversight is just as important to prevent things from going array. I don’t know the specifics of the Belize economy but at the same time, such conduct is typically seen in other jurisdictions, and we want to prevent them as much as possible and that is what Jamaica has done for many years in a structured manner.”