Belmopan Businesses Say Trade Licence Fees Went Up

Several Belmopan businesses are questioning higher trade licence fees this year, despite government assurances that fees should not have increased.

The government had announced in December 2025 that the Trade License Act of 2024 would not take effect in 2026, which delayed the rollout of a new licensing system for both urban and rural areas.

Under that delay, only town and city businesses were expected to pay fees, while rural businesses would remain exempt.

Despite this, several business owners report that their bills increased.

Belmopan Area Representative and Minister of Home Affairs, Oscar Mira, confirmed the increase was not intentional.

“There should not have been an increase. I think the new regime for trade licences did not come into effect as was previously thought that it would have,” Mira said. “The trade licence for Belmopan should not have changed. And I know that there were some, because I got the complaints as well.”

According to Mira, he’s working with the Belmopan City Council “to ensure that the trade license remains the same because the new regime did not pass in the Senate and therefore it cannot be implemented.”

He added that officials are now reviewing accounts to correct the discrepancies and reimburse affected businesses.

Full details tonight on News 5 Live at 6 o’clock.