The clock is ticking on a potential public service strike. Earlier this month, the Public Service Union gave official notice of their intent to take industrial action, and that twenty-one-day countdown is almost up. With the deadline just days away, Labor Minister Florencio Marin joined Thursday’s negotiations as an observer, keeping a close eye on talks between the government and the joint union team. Today, he told us the unions have promised a response to the government’s latest proposal by Sunday. And that response? It could determine whether the Ministry of Labor steps in, or whether the country braces for a strike.
Florencio Marin
Florencio Marin, Minister of Labor
“We do have an obligation to start participating from the labor ministry. We have been asked to get ourselves involved, either to mediate or send it back to them to continue negotiations, or if need be to take it to a tribunal. That is where we are at right now.”
Reporter
“Is Sunday the cut off date?”
Florencio Marin
“No it is not. But the unions told the government side they will respond on Sunday. So form there we will know. One of the things in their letter they have wrote is that they have reached an impasse. And from what I saw in the meeting it did seem quite constructive in the conversation they had. I actually enjoyed witnessing it. But I have to wait until Sunday to see what the response is. I am hoping it is a positive one.”
After more than a decade of waiting, Belize is finally moving to modernize its workplace safety laws. The Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Bill has landed in the National Assembly, aiming to replace outdated legislation and extend protection to all workers, not just those in factories. Labor Minister Florencio Marin says it’s about more than rules, it’s about dignity, fairness, and keeping Belizeans safe on the job. But with such a long delay in getting here, the question is: Why did it take so long, and will it deliver the change workers have been demanding?
Florencio Marin, Minister of Labor
“The introduction of this bill in this house reflects not only commitment of ourworkers and employers but our nation’s commitment to human dignity, fairness and the value of labor. By strengthening and enforcing OSH policies, we are not only protecting workers, we are building a safer, healthier and more productive society. The current factories act which this bill seeks to appeal is outdated and limited in scope. Our workplaces have evolved significantly and so too must our laws. This bill extends protection beyond factories to include all work places and sectors ensuring that every worker in Belize has the right to a safe and healthy working environment. The development of this bill has spanned more than a decade. With the Cabinet’s renewed mandate in 2024 and technical support from the ILO, we finalized the draft bill through wide stakeholders consultations. This bill aligns with Belize’s international commitments under ILO Conventions 155 and 187 and supports the implementation of our decent working country program 2024, 2009.”
With the legislation, Belize will establish an National OSH Advisory Committee and a OSH Inspectorate under the Ministry of Labor
Belize’s breathtaking marine spaces—the coral reefs, the mangroves, the turquoise waters—are more than just postcard-perfect. They’re vital to our way of life. But right now, they’re in trouble. Climate change is hitting hard, eroding our beaches, damaging habitats, and threatening the wildlife that calls our coast home. That’s why, back in 2022, the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future was launched—to protect and restore what we’re at risk of losing. This week, journalists from across the country got a behind-the-scenes look at how data, science, and smart investments are helping build a resilient blue economy. So, what does it take to save the sea? Let’s dive in.
Leandra Cho-Ricketts
Dr. Leandra Cho-Ricketts, Executive Director, Belize Fund
“Well a big part of what the Belize Fund does is to provide support through financial support that is, and that’s a very critical source of support needed for Belize. And what enable us to do that is funding coming out of the Blue Bond. So this program is really important for Belize and the work of the Fund is crucial as it is a partner with government in ensuring that the monies we have are invested into Belize and into people on the ground. And that’s a big focus of the fund. Trying to make sure we find the right partners to connect with to support initiatives and projects that can create meaningful. And impactful changes and lasting changes on the ground. So all our grantees, they’re selecting true calls and those calls look at particular areas of priorities and in, and today the areas we’re looking at are directly relating to protection for biodiversity and focus on marine protected area management. So our support is all primarily for those.”
Josue Olive
Josue Olive, Program Manager, Belize Fund
“It has to be competitive. And how do we do competitive? We ensure that the projects that we get are aligned to one, at least one of our four thematic areas, right? Protection for biodiversity, sustainable fisheries, climate resilience, or blue business innovation.”
All eyes are on Belize City tomorrow, where government and union negotiators are set to meet once again. On the table? That long-standing demand for an eight-and-a-half percent salary adjustment. The government is expected to present its counterproposal and today, we asked Prime Minister John Briceño what the unions can expect. Here’s what he had to say.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“What I have said with the unions, I will not comment. I want the ministers and deputy prime minister to be in charge of that. They will meet with the unions tomorrow as opposed to just sending the letter. We will meet with them, give them the letter and we hope that they are going to accept. We think we have been bending over trying to accommodate it as best as we can. But we are trying to do something not only for the unions but for the country, because at the end of the day it is all of us tax payers that have to pay that bill.”
Is the government truly out of money or out of ideas? And should voters hold themselves accountable when promises go unmet? Former Opposition Senator Mike Peyrefitte isn’t holding back when it comes to the ongoing standoff between Belize’s unions and the government. Teachers, public officers, and their managers are still locked in a dispute with the Briceño administration over an eight-and-a-half percent salary adjustment and other unmet demands. But Peyrefitte says the unions shouldn’t be surprised. In his view, the People’s United Party government has failed to grow the economy since taking office in 2020, and now it’s struggling to meet its financial obligations. He points out a tough truth: many public officers voted for this government. Peyrefitte accuses the administration of painting a “rosy picture” of economic success while failing to deliver on promises, especially financial ones. He challenges anyone to name a single new, viable industry that has boosted the economy under the current leadership.
Mike Peyrefitte
Mike Peyrefitte, Returning Chairman, U.D.P.
“With the unions, well, we could have told them that. The PUP paints this rosy picture of a government that’s flush with cash and doing so well and yet they can’t meet their legal obligations to the unions. Well I say this as well, too, for some of the people in the public service. You also get the government that you vote for. A lot of them voted PUP. This is their government, so they must ask themselves why their government is not helping them and they must see the government that they elected. They are deceptive and they don’t plan on keeping their promises any at all, especially their financial promises. I totally believe them, that they don’t have it. They have not grown this economy since they came to government in 2020. They have done nothing, name me one new growth industry that’s viable that has added to this economy. Name me one. They have done nothing to grow the economy, they have done nothing to generate revenue.”
The back-and-forth between Police Commissioner Doctor Richard Rosado and PSU President Dean Flowers took center stage recently and now, Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa is weighing in. According to Musa, Flowers fired the first shot in this war of words. So, should the top cop even be involved in a union dispute? And what does the minister think about those bold ads targeting union leaders? We put those questions to him today. Here’s his response.
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“Well the Belize Police Department and Doctor Rosado are not creating any sort of ads or attacking the unions. So let us not try to bridge those two or combine those two together. I believe those are political ads. If you look back at the history of how this all started I believe that Mr. Flowers was personally heavily attacking the commissioner of police calling him a bully and puppet, which is unreasonable in my opinion. Dr. Rosado was only acting in the most professional capacity. I think they handled all the demonstrations quite professionally. Obviously the one in Dangriga went on a bit longer, went on for almost two hours and of course the police department has a responsibility to commuters and citizens. That situation got a little tense obviously. The commissioner was able to sit down with the unions after that and they were able to make peace. The commissioner has aways been open to honoring the unions’ request when they want to peacefully protest, it is just that there has to be this level of cooperation and understanding which the unions have since demonstrated.”
Belmopan is about to become the new hub for climate action in the Caribbean. The University of Belize’s main campus will soon be home to the new headquarters of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center, also known as the 5Cs. Ground was officially broken today, marking the start of a major project on five acres of UB land. And it all comes as the 5Cs celebrates twenty years of leading the fight against climate change. News Five’s Paul Lopez was there and brings us this report.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Today, the University of Belize and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center broke ground for the construction of 5Cs headquarters on UB Belmopan Campus. An official groundbreaking ceremony was held at the location in tandem with the 5Cs’ twentieth anniversary. Executive Director at 5Cs Dr. Colin Young says it’s a mutually beneficial partnership.
Dr. Colin Young, Executive Director, CCCCC
“This is going to a mutually strategic partnership where the 5Cs will assist UB to develop a center of excellence, have climate change programs, provide scholarships and training for faculty and students and the 5Cs will also assist with resource mobilization to assist the university.”
The event saw the presence of a Caribbean delegation, including Prime Minister of Saint Lucia Phillip Pierre. Prime Minister John Briceño was also present to give remarks and participate in the ceremonial groundbreaking.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“For me it is a sense of accomplishment. As I have said before, the climate change center, when the 5Cs agreed to come to Belize, I was the deputy prime minister, and we worked several years along with the prime minister back then to get the support from the Caribbean to put the 5Cs in Belize. Now we can look back and realize that yes it is the right decision. Belize has everything. It is a living laboratory where you can go from the sea all the way up to the mountain and the forest, the wildlife, fisheries, the marine life. We have everything here. Twenty years later, as the prime minister, it gives a sense of accomplishment to see that something that you started off has come to this.”
It was a full-circle moment today at the University of Belize, as UB President Dr. Vincent Palacio called it a ‘homecoming.’ Two decades after the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center first started in a small room on campus, the university is now breaking ground on the center’s brand-new headquarters, right back where it all began.
Dr. Vincent Palacio, President, University of Belize
“So now look at us today, breaking ground for the headquarters. I say to 5Cs, welcome back home. Today marks a significant step forward in how we prepare our nation and region for the climate challenges ahead. The University of Belize has allocated five acres to the 5Cs because we understand that education must engage with national development. Climate change is not an abstract issue, it is here and our response must be rooted in institutions that serve.”
Saint Lucia’s President Phillip Pierre also took to podium to share a few remarks.
Prime Minister Phillip Pierre, Saint Lucia
“I see it as the start of the construction of a center of excellence. a center where there can be a part from the regular things that happens in these buildings. A center where there can be rigorous intellectual debates, a center of research where we can sit with our academics, intellectuals, people in the forefront of climate change and work to get some homegrown solutions to the climate crisis.”
The Caribbean Community Climate Change Center will continue to celebrate its twentieth anniversary throughout the course of the week. Tonight, an award ceremony is being hosted in Belize City. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
Today’s not just another day at sea, it’s International Seafarers Day, a time to recognize the unsung heroes who keep global trade moving and our shelves stocked. Right here in Belize, efforts are underway to make sure every vessel in our waters is not just seaworthy, but safe for the hardworking crews on board. The Belize Port Authority and IMMARBE have teamed up for a two-week training focused on flag safety procedures. News Five’s Britney Gordon was on the ground to bring us the full story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Before any ship sets sail, it must pass a serious safety check and that includes meeting international standards tied to the flag it flies. For vessels registered under the Belizean flag, that means strict compliance with global maritime and environmental rules. To make sure those standards are met, the Belize Port Authority and IMMARBE have teamed up with experts from the Italian Shipping Academy for a special training right here at home. Acting Ports Commissioner Kaylon Young says it’s a big step forward in keeping our waters and our crews safe.
Kaylon Young
Kaylon Young, Acting Ports Commissioner
“Internationally we are obligated to inspect vessels. And that’s from flag state perspective and coastal State perspective. So vessels that fly oil flag internationally, they must be inspected by IMMARBE. And the foreign vessels that come into our waters must be inspected by the Belize Port authority. We don’t have these trainings here in country, so we often have to send people outside of the country to do these training and get this technical expertise. What we’ve done now is to maximize on our on our resources and brought this, brought the Italian institution here to Belize to come and train the participant’s”
The International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize (IMMARBE), which facilitates the registry of vessels under the Belizean flag, plays a crucial role in ensuring that these vessels adhere to conventions, laws and regulations that Belize has in effect. Kenisha Allen, of IMMARBE, says that the organization jumped on the opportunity to strengthen their inspection capacity.
Kenisha Allen
Kenisha Allen, Office Administrator, IMMARBE
“We’re sister companies, I guess that’s the term that we can utilize. With the International Maritime Organization, Belize is a member state. Being a part of that organization, you have the flag, which is the registry, the port and coast. So we’ve all integrated into ensuring that we all have similar types of training and collaboration for different maritime events, such as the Day of the Seafarer, which is today June twenty-fifth, and is celebrated globally.”
The Italian Shipping Academy typically trains a limited number of participants through the International Maritime Safety Security and Environment Academy department. This year, the organization wanted to increase the number of participants they were able to reach by travelling to Belize for the session.
Carmen Giordano
Carmen Giordano, Italian Shipping Academy
“The Italian Shipping Academy I.M.S.S.E.A. department is used to provide for vocational courses on maritime safety and security issues according to the IMO models, with the IMO collaboration with the IMO. I.M.S.S.E.A. is born on 2009. So since that date we are going to provide for this kind of course. And when IMMARBE and the Belize Port Authority reached us out for asking us for expertise and to improve the capacity building of their officers, we always, we directly said yes. Absolutely, yes.”
The academy built a model course tailored specifically to Belize’s needs to identify inefficiencies and promote safer, cleaner shipping procedures.
Kaylon Young
“For ships that come into Belizeans waters, we have to ensure all their emergency equipment are open park emergency, fighting gears, emergency generator. If the ship loses power, we have to ensure that the ship has sufficient means to regain back its power. If the ship loses steering. We have to ensure that the emergency steering is functional. We have to ensure if there’s a fire board, the ship has the capacity to fight this fire board. We have to ensure that the ships are not polluting discarding any pollutants in our waters. And so this training helps us to develop that capacity to know what to look for. So when we go and do our inspections, we are more equipped with the knowledge and the expertise to ensure the safety of our resources.”
This training is not just about technical procedure, it is about preserving lives and ensuring the Belize is doing its part to create safer waters globally. Britney Gordon for News Five.
This morning, the University of Belize turned the spotlight on the nation’s economy—past, present, and future. At a special policy research seminar, renowned economics professor Victor Bulmer-Thomas unveiled a thought-provoking paper titled ‘The Belizean Economy in the Twenty-First Century: When and Why Belize Fell Behind and What to Do About It.’ The study dives deep into Belize’s economic journey and lays out bold, long-term strategies for turning things around. So, where did we go off track and how do we get back on it? News Five’s Britney Gordon has the story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Belize’s economy may be bouncing back, but is it really catching up? In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic brought tourism to a standstill and sent the economy into a sharp decline. Fast forward five years, and the government is celebrating an impressive 8.2% GDP growth in 2024, second highest in the region. But a new study is raising eyebrows. Economist Victor Bulmer-Thomas says that despite the recovery, Belize still ranks as the third poorest country in the region. His message? The numbers may look good, but they’re hiding a much deeper problem.
Victor Bulmer-Thomas
Victor Bulmer-Thomas, Honorary Professor
“I then asked the question of why? What has happened that might have brought that about? And I focused on three things in particular. One is exports. Which are really not high enough for a country that like Belize and which aspires to have a higher standard of living. The second was the low investment ratio, particularly by the private domestic investors who face all sorts of difficulties in trying to compete with the foreign investors, for example. And the third thing was the issue of government. Government spending in terms of education, health, all those sorts of things, which are needed to bring the standard of living home. But to increase government spending, there has to be an increase in government revenue.”
Using data from the Statistical Institute of Belize and the Central Bank, economist Victor Bulmer-Thomas found that Belize’s income per capita in 2024 is nearly the same as it was in 2007—meaning living standards haven’t really improved. He suggests the government could boost revenue by cracking down on tax evasion instead of raising taxes. Dr. Dylan Vernon from the Belize Policy Research Institute says the country still faces major economic challenges.
Dylan Vernon
Dr. Dylan Vernon, Executive Director, Belize Policy Research Institute
“There has been a decrease in living standards and indicates that we are comparatively in decline of that matrix. So the paper basically highlighted that it told us why, which is basically the fact that we have low investment we have an export situation where we’re not exporting enough, importing too much and so that, that contributes to the issue.”
According to the study, Belize’s position has also declined in Central America over the past few decades.
Victor Bulmer-Thomas
“I’m not going to single out any country in particular, but given that there are thirty-four countries in the Caribbean, if you include all the non-independent ones, sixteen independent and eighteen non-independent. All of them trying to export services like Belize. There are many examples of successful service experts, not just tourism, which Belize could look to try and diversify its economy and raise its standard of living.”
Could a data-driven strategy be the key to unlocking Belize’s economic potential? A new study thinks so. It recommends that Belize start using something called the input-output matrix—a tool that tracks how goods and services move between industries.
Dr. Dylan Vernon
“We will be making , in fact, we are making this the paper that was presented accessible free of cost downloadable on the website of the University of Belize on the page for free. And also we’ve done a couple flyers that break down the information for wider access. But the most important thing that BELPRI will be doing now is to advocate for use of this input output approach as a policy making tool for Belize.”
BELPRI hopes to share this information with relevant stakeholders and the public to fuel the mission for a more robust and sustainable economy. Britney Gordon for News Five.
The study is free to download on the University of Belize’s website.
Two and a half million dollars a year, that’s what the Government of Belize is spending just to rent office space. It’s a number that’s hard to ignore, especially when it’s coming straight from taxpayers’ pockets. But here’s the real question: who’s getting paid? Are these rental deals fair market value, or are they quietly benefiting a well-connected few? From five-figure monthly rents to buildings once owned by the government itself, tonight we dig into the details. News Five’s Paul Lopez sits down with Minister of Public Service Henry Charles Usher to get answers, and to find out if the public is really getting its money’s worth. Here’s that report.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
It’s a question that’s got a lot of people talking, how does the Government of Belize justify spending two and a half million dollars a year just on rent? Every month, over two hundred thousand dollars is being paid out across fifteen ministries to house public officers. That’s a hefty bill coming straight from taxpayers’ pockets. These rental deals are signed off by the Ministry of Public Service, led by Minister Henry Charles Usher. So, is this money well spent, or could it be better used elsewhere?
Henry Charles Usher
Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service
“We are trying our best to make sure those contracts are kept within what you can find commercially. When the government of Belize rents from a landlord for a commercial space. They are competing with other tenants. One of the highest paying commercial tenants are the BPOs. So, they drive up the cost of these office buildings. I wish there was a government rate that the landlords provide to government. There is not but we want to make sure the offices are good.”
Here’s something that’s raising even more eyebrows, did you know the Government of Belize is paying rent to the same landlord for not one, but two major ministries in Belize City? That’s right. The Immigration and Nationality office on the Northern Highway and the Central Health Region office on Coney Drive are both housed in buildings owned by the late H.D. Thompson. And get this, the government is shelling out eighteen thousand dollars a month just to rent five floors for the Central Health Region alone. What’s more surprising? That office used to sit on government-owned land right next to KHMH.
Henry Charles Usher
“The reason why the ministry of health moves is that the building was condemned. So, now that we have moved them out, we need to do the renovations on that building so that we can put them back in their, or if KHMH has been expanded to be able to use. Again it is about making sure that the offices the public servants are in that they don’t, it is not something that is making them sick that it has all the proper amenities need to get the job done.”
Paul Lopez
“It is not the case that this family is being favored?”
Henry Charles Usher
“It is a case of availability, what is needed for this department of ministry and that is the primary choice.”
And then there is the Ministry of Blue Economy’s office on Seashore Drive. The government is paying fourteen thousand dollars monthly to rent that property.
Paul Lopez
“We understand the owner of that to be one Stanley Hoy. Do you justify entering into an agreement with him and paying fourteen thousand dollars for that?”
Henry Charles Usher
“I believe we looked at the cost for square footage to ensure it fell within the parameters the government has set. We found it was conducive to what the Ministry of Blue Economy needed.”
Paul Lopez
“That was only five years ago being rented for forty-five hundred dollars. How do you justify the jump?”
Henry Charles Usher
“At the time I believe it was residential. You have to look at the difference between residential before, now you have to look at the difference between residential and commercial property. When it was being rented for that price is was at a residential rate, which is less. Nobody is going to pay above a certain amount to live in a house, no matter if it on the seas side, beach side. For an office space the rent is different. It is based on square footage. Once it falls within the parameters of the square footage that government has set then it is justified.”
In Belmopan, the government is paying twenty-two thousand dollars to an unnamed Asian national to rent office space for the Immigration and Nationality Department.
Paul Lopez
“Who are we paying twenty-two thousand dollars to the Ministry of Immigration. My understanding is that it is an Asian National. Who is that person?”
Henry Charles
“I don’t know the name of the landlord in that case. But, again we have to look at the square footage to see how much of the building is being rented and what is the price per square foot.”
Paul Lopez
“Is it not in your ministry’s interest to know who these people are?”
Henry Charles Usher
“Of course and we do, we have all the files for everybody. I am just saying off the top of my head I cant say who that would be.”
We challenged Minister Usher to release the names of every landlord the government rents from.
Henry Charles Usher
“Of course there are contractual obligations on certain things, but once the attorney general’s ministry says it is ok then I don’t have a problem. It is the people’s money and not something already known.”
We will hold the Minister of Public Service Henry Charles Usher to his commitment. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
