Billboard Controversies Test Freedom of Expression

From alcohol and entertainment to tourism and national identity, two billboard controversies are testing the limits of public advertising in Belize. The first erupted in Belmopan, where church leaders and residents pushed back against an advertisement featuring Soca artist Nailah Blackman and an alcoholic beverage. Months later, a billboard promoting Guatemala faced objections over how some Belizeans interpreted its message. But if public pressure can bring down an advertisement, what standard should authorities apply to the next controversial message? News Five’s Shane Williams takes a closer look.

 

Shane Williams, Reporting

“The four Guatemala welcomes you billboards have been taken down across the country. Just a couple months ago, it was this Nyla Blackman rude boy billboard that was the cause of public uproar. In truth, the issue may not be about rude boy, nor about the Guatemala sign, but about who determines what is acceptable and what is offensive, and which billboard will be targeted next. Will it be these Jesus is the answer billboards that we see popping up across the country?”

 

With the Rude Boy sign in Belmopan, church leaders insist the billboard was too explicit to stay up.

 

Louis Wade, Church Senator (File: May 19, 2026)

“The criminal code speaks specifically to indecent exposure of photographs, pictures or so on in public space. And so we want to do the right thing first. And so that’s the process we are taking.”

 

While the same billboard remains up in Belize City months later, the advertisement contract was paused in Belmopan. A tourism campaign meant to welcome Belizeans to Guatemala is instead fueling public outrage at home. The Guatemalan Institute of Tourism’s billboard carries the slogan, “Guatemala Welcomes You with Open Arms,” but some Belizeans fear the message could be mistaken for a claim of sovereignty over Belize. The controversy has now prompted an appeal from the Prime Minister.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Maybe the billboard owners should ask them to, if they could reword it to remove that, that, that kind of fear or phobia as if we’re saying, as Guatemala is saying, where Belize, we welcome them to be a part of Guatemala. Oh, we no. We would never be a part of Guatemala.”

 

All four signs have since been removed, as the campaign which ended on August thirtieth, has not been renewed with Belize Signs. There are also reports that vandals damaged the Sandhill billboard before its removal on Monday night. So now that the Guatemala billboards are down, which ones are next?

 

Louis Wade (File: May 19, 2026)

“It is a public space. There has been a public outcry.”

 

The controversy also raises a bigger question. If Christians can display religious messages across the country, how should Belize respond when people of other faiths, or no faith at all, object? And ultimately, who decides what is acceptable or offensive? Shane Williams for News Five.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

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