Category: Economy

On Monday, the government rolled out some exciting news: GST-free shopping. For the next two weekends before Christmas, you won’t have to pay the usual 12.5% General Sales Tax on your purchases. Mark your calendars for December fourteenth, fifteenth, twenty-first, and twenty-second. This perk is for those paying cash for retail items and non-alcoholic drinks. It’s the government’s way of lightening the load on your holiday spending. Just remember, this doesn’t apply to items bought on credit, layaway, hire purchase, wholesale, or consignment. Plus, some businesses are sweetening the deal by offering their own customer rewards.

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

Alongside the government’s offer to waive the twelve-point-five sales tax this Christmas, we’ve discovered some businesses are adding their own discounts. The V Department Store on Coney Drive is celebrating its first anniversary with special deals on selected items and wines. Just look for the store’s colorful stickers to spot the discounts. General Manager Michael Theus shared that these deals are part of their anniversary celebration.

 

Michael Theus, General Manager, The Vee Department Store

“We offer a great amount of savings to persons who are on a thin budget and eventually we can take you through shopping for something items here at the V to show you exactly what that converts to and what the actual sticker price is and what the price will actually be after you have not paid the GST portion on it at the V. Similar likewise, we are running some promotions on some of our sticker items. So the V Department Store is also contributing. by offering additional savings to customers at 5, 10, 15 percent discount on certain items and then you get the GST off that similar too. So, I was running through some of our sales then to show you what you actually would have paid and what you will be saving when shopping at the V. On your regular days then, be it Monday through to Friday, then what we have our sticker sales on that discount will apply only and the GST will be applicable at that point there.”

 

Marion Ali

“And then of course you said there are some limitations as to what it applies to?”

 

Michael Theus

“Yes, we cannot do on liquor sales. We cannot do on sales that are called credit sales, where persons do a higher purchase and has to pay down the road after, we cannot do that. Likewise on wholesale items, we can do wholesale items. So it’s basically what the items you have in the store, our customers come in and purchase that are not exempted on the retail side that we can actually offer the GST exemption on the Saturday and Sunday.”

 

Marion Ali

“It would be basically anything that is retail?”

 

Michael Theus

“Pretty much, yes.”

 

Theus showed us how much a customer would be saving on a bottle of men’s cologne that currently costs eighty-four ninety-nine.

 

Kenrick Theus

“The price of this one is $84.99 and after our ten percent discount and after the GST removal, you’ll be paying $64.22, so that’s a savings that we’re passing on so people can enjoy.”

 

We took a tour around the city and found out that J and W Shopping Mart on Sixth Street is already spreading the holiday cheer! Owner William Zhou shared that they’re offering discounts on selected items. Plus, they’ve got an exciting raffle where the top three winners get prizes every month for a whole year!

 

William Zhou, Owner, J&W Shopping Mart

“We have specials for customers they get special discount.”

 

Marion Ali

On selected items or everything?

 

William Zhou

“Yes, selected items. Every customer who come by this store, every 10 get a raffle ticket.  We have 10 prizes. First prize you get a hundred dollars every month for one year. Second prize, seventy-five dollars shopping for a year, monthly. Third prize fifty dollars monthly for a year.”

 

The Government also announced that for the entire month of December, picnic shoulder hams, smoked ham legs, and imported turkeys will be zero-rated. We went over to Campos Smiling Meats that specializes in hams. Co-owner and manager, Alyssa Majil said they have specials at Christmas and year-round and their specials are not limited to hams.

 

Alyssa Majil, Co-owner, Campos Smiling Meats

“The picnic hams is 6. 50 a pound. Ham legs is 8. 50 a pound. And, um, boneless turkey ham, 11. 00. Well, these are dropped rates, right? Because normally, on a normal occasion, we would sell the picnics for $7. The leg hams, we sell those for $9. But you know da Christmas time, we want everybody feel dehn Christmas. Let’s say, a customer walks in and they only have thirty dollars. Miss, I only have thirty dollars and I want a little piece of ham because it’s just me and my kid, or me and my husband. Not a problem. I will make sure I find you a $30 ham. And this is not just a monthly thing that I do only because it’s December I do this all year round if a customer walks in and say well, I want to have six dollars I need a little piece of meat for six dollars. We give them what their money could and people can tell you I don’t I don’t sting you with my meat. I make sure they walk out of here satisfied.”

 

Majil’s meat shop has something special for everyone, including beef hams for those who don’t eat pork. Wondering how the GST waiver works? The government explained in a press release that businesses registered with the GST Unit and using cash registers that add GST will simply not include it on sales during the specified dates. Shoppers are advised to check their receipts to make sure GST isn’t mistakenly added and to report any issues to the Belize Tax Services Department. Marion Ali for News Five.

Earlier today, the Good Governance Unit held its second annual Anti-corruption Conference, shining a spotlight on how corruption affects Belizean society, the economy, and governance. This event is vital in the global fight against corruption, bringing together experts, policymakers, activists, and other stakeholders to discuss these pressing issues. Among the attendees was U.S. Ambassador Michelle Kwan, adding her voice to the conversation.

 

Michelle Kwan, U.S Ambassador

“Corruption can threaten the foundations of democracy, it can diminish the public confidence in institutions and divert valuable resources away from those that really need it.  Corruption stifles economic growth, impedes development and exacerbates inequality, leading to a cycle that can often be too difficult to break.  Whether it’s bribery, misallocation of public resources or the lack of accountability, corruption threatens not only governance but the safety and well-being of citizens.  No company or persons should be too big or important to be held accountable.  That is why the United States stands steadfast in our support for good governance in Belize and throughout the world.  This anti-corruption conference, the second organized by the Good Governance Unit with the support of the United States International Narcotics and Law Enforcement program is really a testament to our expanded partnership in combatting corruption.”

Also present at the event was Chief Executive Officer Rolando Zetina and Cesar Ross, Director of the Good Governance Unit.  Here’s what they shared about today’s conference.

 

Rolando Zetina, C.E.O., Ministry of Public Service

“Under the banner of this year’s theme: Empowered by Voice, United by Choice, Belize Against Corruption, we are reminded of our collective strength when government, communities, institutions and individuals work hand in hand towards a common purpose.  Today is also celebrated as Human Rights Day and as you know, human rights can improve individuals and communities to forge a better tomorrow.  Human rights and corruption are interconnected, as corruption can affect many human rights.  But that would be a discussion for another time.”

 

Cesar Ross, Director, Good Governance Unit

“Corruption is the cancer that causes us not to be able to give our children all that they deserve.  When the ambassador mentioned the artwork from last year one particularly, the minister and I went to St. Joseph Primary School and we spoke with the principal and the teacher and a little nine-year-old girl did an artwork and in the artwork, she had on one side teachers, politicians, priests and policemen.  And on the other side, she had, let us bloom, let us bloom.  A child telling us that unless we fix the problems that have been created, unless we find ways to end corruption, they are not finding themselves blooming.”

The Government of Belize, in collaboration with Belize Tax Services, has launched a fantastic initiative to give back to taxpayers across the country. On December fourteenth, fifteenth, twenty-first, and twenty-second, any local retail purchases will be GST exempt! Yes, for four days in December, you can shop at your grocery stores, supermarkets, hardware stores, and convenience stores—basically any retail store—without paying the usual twelve and a half percent in General Sales Tax. However, some items like gasoline, alcoholic beverages, and cigarettes won’t be GST exempt.

 

Michelle Longsworth, Director General, Belize Tax Services

“We are now announcing that we will have GST tax free days in December. This coming weekend, which is the fourteenth and fifteenth, Saturday and Sunday and next coming weekend which is the twenty-first and the twenty-second weekends, all high spending, this is the high spending months, these days will be GST free. Based on our data analytics and economic trends, we were able to properly advise to say this is an initiative that government can undertake bring government and the people closer. So the GST tax free days will see our tax payers going into stores purchasing tax free for those days, twelve point five percent, tax free. So that will be deducted form your spending. It is important to know for the business side, it is going o be simple. They don’t have to reprogram their registers. Most of them use the POS systems, there will be no need to reprogram their systems. They will just offer the twelve point five percent as a discount line. Meaning, that when you as the tac payers go in. we are empowering our tax payers. All year around, we as the tax administration we always advise people ask for your receipt, look for your receipt. All stores, everywhere you go, from the mom and pop that charges GST, to Courts, the big retail, everywhere, it is across the board, the entire country of Belize. Whenever you go into the store and you are purchasing cash based. The following goods are not exemptible, goods that are imported, at importation all importers will still have to pay their GST. Goods on consignment or others sold for wholesale purposes. The supply of goods on credit, or credit installment or higher purchases. Those are not included. The supply of motor vehicles, gasoline, LPG, diesel, guns, ammunition, cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, those are not included.”

Minister of Public Service, Henry Charles Usher, shared that the Government of Belize is foregoing five million dollars in GST revenue due to the four-day exemption. He explained that this is just one of many targeted initiatives the government is rolling out to help ease the high cost of living.

 

Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service

“It is important to understand that this is a targeted initiative, because we are always talking about cost of living and the effects of inflation. We know that inflation is something we import just like how we import goods. This government has taken the initiative to have targeted release efforts to consumers for Belizean citizens. You saw the prime minister announce at the State of the Nation Adrees, the announcement the movement of income tax. He announced that the mortgages of a hundred thousand dollars and less, there will be no stamp duty on those. Those are targeted relief to combat the cost of living. This is another targeted initiative, because most of the persons who are in the different bracket, because the already brought their goods. They have their freights coming in, bought it on Amazon or wherever. This wont cover that. What this will cover are those Belizean getting paid this week, because this week is payday week, that will be able to go to the stores and have a discount. This discount is important to understand that this twelve and a half percent relief to what the store is already offering. So if the store is offering a ten percent discount this is a twelve and a half percent on top of that. So you are looking at a twenty-two and a half percent discount. And, from the data that the Tax Service has, normally on a regular weekend, the tax collected from GST during the weekend is around one and a half to two million. Around this time of the year, Christmas time, demand is higher, it is closer to two and half million. So, you are looking at five million dollars between the two weekends that the government or the tax department is putting back into the pockets of Belizean citizens.”

 

People have been speculating about the election date like gamblers trying their luck at Boledo. But it looks like we’ll have to keep guessing. When we caught up with the Prime Minister today, the only hint he gave us was: soon.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“It is not going to be announced at the next House meeting, which is going to be next week Friday. I think that’s going to be the 13th of- you know, what they say, Friday the thirteenth. We’re not going to announce it then. We’re going to do it some other time. As I said, we will not call elections until 2025 and next year when it’s 2025.  And so I tell everybody, get ready, it’s 2025 it’s going to be an election year.”

 

Earlier today, the European Union, led by Head of Delegation Dr. Erja Askola, signed two important contracts with the country offices of the International Office on Migration and the International Labor Organization. These new projects aim to boost inclusive socio-economic development in southern Belize and enhance the capabilities of government institutions for integrated border control planning and management. The signing ceremony for these two grant agreements, worth around sixteen million Belize dollars, took place today. Both initiatives highlight the crucial partnership between the United Nations system and the European Union in breaking down barriers to inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development in Belize.

 

Dr. Erja Askola, Head of EU Delegation

“Our contracts that are going to be signed today they are based on a financing agreement that we have signed with the Government of Belize.  So we are passing to implementation, to putting things into practice.  So real action and real action on the ground, this is what counts to the citizens and this is what will result in concrete impact on the ground and this is what we want.  Now one of the contracts is one that implemented by IOM, mainly for customs migration and orders, but also on forest protection.  Very important and these are crucial priorities, joint priorities for the European Union together with the Government of Belize.”

 

Diana Locke, Head of Office, IOM Belize

“I will share with you, ambassador has shared with you the various ministries that will be involved and the partners, and I will tell you a little bit mor now, quickly, about the activities that we will have under there.  So one of them is aimed at developing a national strategy for border management and border integration.  Another one also in the environment area, conservation, is to update the management plan for conservation.  Along with the ministry of the border agencies, we will be helping to develop standard operating procedures for intra and inter offices working together.  We are also going to be doing a lot of capacity building, training for immigrations, customs officers, border officials, in a sense.  We will be doing online platforms for training that will be left behind, looking at the issues such as human rights, gender-based violence, some of these other topics that are not always associated with immigration services.”

Access to clean water is a cornerstone of rural development, and a water rig truck plays a crucial role in making this possible. These trucks are essential for drilling wells and providing reliable water sources in remote areas where infrastructure is often lacking. By bringing clean water to rural communities, water rig trucks help improve health, boost agricultural productivity, and support overall economic growth. They are a vital tool in the fight against poverty and a key component in building sustainable, thriving rural communities.  Earlier today, the Taiwanese government handed over a water rig truck to the Ministry of Rural Transformation.  Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano with the following story.

 

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

In rural Belize, access to clean and safe drinking water can be limited. Water trucks help deliver potable water to these communities, ensuring that residents have a reliable source of water for drinking, cooking, and hygiene.

 

Oscar Requena, Minister of Rural Transformation

“One of the sustainable development goals speaks, and that is SDG 6, speaks to ensuring that we provide clean, safe, potable water and that we improve sanitation, you know, across the world.  And in Belize, we have worked very hard, diligently over the last four years to deliver on that SDG.  Over the last four years, we have worked diligently across all of Belize.  We have drilled wells for water systems, for farmers, for institutions.  We have airlifted, we have chlorinated hundreds of wells across this country.”

 

Water is an essential resource that helps improve the quality of life and sustainability in rural communities that rely on agriculture as a primary source of income.  Wells provide a consistent and reliable source of water, which is essential for daily living.  This is especially crucial in areas where other water sources may be seasonal or unreliable.

 

Oscar Requena

“When I got to the ministry, we found two trucks that are twenty-four years old.  They work two days, three days [and] they break down for a month, one of them.   Fortunately, we have one that has been going and that has been helping us that throughout those challenges, as I’ve said earlier, we have drilled hundreds of wells across this country to serve the Belizean people.  But we were not satisfied and I said to my team, you know, we must be visionary because if we are going to lead a nation, as leaders we must be visionary, we must be goal-oriented, we must be focused and we must work hard in ensuring that we bring the goods and services to all Belizeans.”

Well rig trucks are indispensable tools in rural development, offering a range of benefits that enhance the quality of life, support economic activities, and promote sustainable development.  By providing a reliable source of water, well rig trucks help in the sustainable management of water resources.  Properly drilled wells reduce the need for surface water extraction, which can deplete natural water bodies and harm ecosystems.

 

Jiun-Shen Hwang, Counselor, Taiwanese Embassy

“The well rig truck can also be deployed to reinforce water supply for agriculture, for irrigation.  We are convinced that the project will contribute to the fostering of rural development and more decent living in rural areas.  First of all, to our shared values, we commit ourselves to a stronger partnership and mutual assistance.  With this project, we reaffirm this commitment as we celebrate thirty-five years of diplomatic relations.  We take pride in collaborating in our initiatives that directly benefit the Belizean people.”

 

In times of drought or other natural disasters, well rig trucks can quickly mobilize to provide emergency water supplies.  This capability is crucial for maintaining the resilience of rural communities against environmental challenges. Isani Cayetano for News Five.