Economy - Greater Belize Media

Unions Propose Construction of Government Office Complex

Here’s a thought—what if, instead of pouring millions into rent every year, the government actually built its own office complex? That’s the suggestion from PSU President Dean Flowers, who last week challenged the government to stop renting and start investing in public infrastructure. He’s also calling on the Auditor General to step in and find out—are Belizeans really getting value for money when it comes to these rental deals?

Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union

“If we were to only invest in our office complexes, we would save the tax payers a whole lot of money in the millions. I can say to you that a careful analysis in rentals for some years will show as much as six million dollars in only rent. If you are to do a proper analysis on rental on a five year period it would amount to sixteen million Belize dollars. We can build a beautiful office complex for ten million dollars. So the government needs to stop giving away the land and instead acquire or withhold a peace of land and address these ridiculous rental prices, which we all know are inflated and I challenge the auditor general to review these numbers and to check in on these building to determine whether we are getting value for money. The contractor general, we are also paying a contractor general who needs to ascertain these things.”

Northern Fishermen Owes Millions—Still No Action

Tonight, we’re asking the tough questions about accountability and fairness in Belize’s tax system. Over sixteen million dollars in unpaid taxes—yes, sixteen million—is still sitting on the books, uncollected by the Government of Belize. And it’s not just any business. Among the top defaulters is the Northern Fishermen Cooperative Society, which recently had to be bailed out by the Holy Redeemer Credit Union. It still owes more than eight million dollars. The Belize Tax Service has now published a list of tax defaulters, including names like Plexar Capital, Eco Friendly Solutions Limited, and Marine & Service Limited. So, here’s the question: why are these debts still unpaid and what message does this send to everyday Belizeans who do pay their taxes? When the Holy Redeemer Credit Union held its annual general meeting a few weeks ago, the spotlight briefly turned to the Northern Fishermen Cooperative, a group recently bailed out by HRCU after facing serious financial trouble. But while the President of the Board addressed the situation, one major detail was left out: the Cooperative’s staggering eight-million-dollar tax debt to the Government of Belize.

Wendy Castillo, President, Board of Directors, HRCU

“With the Northern Fishermen [Cooperative Society’s] loan, like we explained to you earlier, Northern Fishermen had a facility with the Belize Bank. They also had a facility, meaning a loan, with HRCU. When the bank foreclosed or decided that will no longer give those privileges to Northern Fishermen, Northern Fishermen Cooperative, a sister cooperative to HRCU, approached us. What members must realize is that Northern Fishermen has been a member of HRCU. All the fishermen, most of them, have membership with us. They have never been delinquent with us, HRCU; they remain meeting their obligation to this day, so they approached HRCU to buy over those facilities. They are highly collateralized, meaning that they have a lot of assets more than what, combining the loan with the one they have at HRCU, would amount to. So, for us, the board, as by regulation, reached out to the registrar, who is the Central Bank, to say we want to take over the loan from Belize Bank and bring it to HRCU with the present loan they have. We consolidate it, bring it together, and so the registrar said, we will allow HRCU to do that but because of the portfolio, the amount, we want you to provision for it in full.”

Couple Pays $16,000 for Land Never Received

Imagine handing over sixteen thousand dollars for land you thought was yours, only to find out it never was. That’s the reality for a San Pedro businesswoman who says she and her husband were scammed in what’s now being investigated as a land fraud scheme. The couple says they trusted Valeriano Vasquez, who claimed to be selling two parcels of land north of San Pedro. But after wiring the money, the land never changed hands—and worse, it turns out it was already owned by someone else. Now, with no refund in sight, police are stepping in. ASP Stacy Smith has the details.

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“On Friday twentieth June, Dolores Teul, a business owner of San Pedrito area of the San Pedro town reported to police that on thirtieth December, 2023, Valeriano Vasquez, also known as Jimbo, offered to sell her two parcels of land located in North San Pedro between thirtieth. December, 2023 entered January, 2024, Teul reported that she paid over a total of sixteen thousand dollars, which was the price quoted for the parcels off lands, and she was issued a receipt. Teul also stated that on ninth May, she made checks at the Lands Department, Belmopan, where she learned at both parcels of land, which were the subject of the transaction, were registered to different individuals. Teul far stated that her efforts to recover the sums paid over to Mr. Vasquez has proven fruitless. As a consequence of this report, police are presently seeking Valeriano Pedro Vasquez, a Belizean justice of the peace of the Eli subdivision of San Pedro twon for the crime of obtaining property by deception.”

UBSFU Demands GOB Subvention Increase

The Briceño administration is facing fresh criticism, this time from the University of Belize’s own faculty and staff. Acting Union President Julianne Pasos is calling it like she sees it. She says the People’s United Party promised to increase government subvention to the university after the 2020 general election. But instead of more support, Pasos says the subvention is now at its lowest point ever.

Julianne Pasos, Acting President, UBFSU

“They promised to restore the ten million subvention and increase that by one million every year should they become the government of Belize. They have been in power since 2020 if I’m not mistaken. Ironically, the subvention of the university from 2021 to 2024 has been at its lowest at seven point six five million. Last year, the UBFSU called out the government in a press release that they put out in June, almost a year ago. The response by the then government was that it would have been irresponsible of them to increase it given the pandemic and the economic crisis we were experiencing. And we understand that. That same year, they put out a press release saying that they, and I will pull it out, it says the government of Belize and the MOECST are deeply committed to the responsible sustainable development of the University of Belize. The Ministry’s objective is to have a clear plan for the sustainable responsibility. An element of that plan is to increase the subvention to UB from the current level to Belize ten million in 2025/2026 financial budget that was presented. The budget that was presented once again indicates a seven point sixty-five million for the university with no projection for increase. Now our issue is the government keeps making promises. The subvention is not just something we are calling for, it’s something that the university needs.”

Rights at Risk? Legal Experts Slam Controversial Amendment

There’s a legal storm brewing in Belize and it’s centered around the proposed Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution. As we reported on Thursday, the unions, as well as the opposition party, have sounded off on the controversial changes being proposed by the Briceño administration. Tonight, defense attorneys are raising red flags, warning that this isn’t just another bill, it could change the very foundation of our democracy. In a strongly worded letter to the National Assembly, the Belize Association of Defense Attorneys says the amendment could do serious damage to our democracy. They’re warning that the bill, as it stands, threatens civil liberties, weakens the rule of law, and gives too much unchecked power to the executive. So, what’s in the amendment? It introduces sweeping changes, like allowing warrantless searches in vaguely defined ‘special areas,’ creating a new Gun and Gang Court, and even retroactively validating past government actions that were already challenged in court. This comes in the wake of a High Court decision that challenged the constitutionality of previous states of emergency. The attorneys say this is a step too far. They argue that the bill lacks proper judicial oversight, opens the door to abuse, and was introduced without public consultation, something they say undermines trust in the entire process. When it comes to fighting crime, Belizeans want results, but not at the expense of their rights. That’s the message coming loud and clear from the country’s defense attorneys. They’re calling for a more balanced, transparent, and rights-based approach and they’re ready to help rewrite the bill to get it there.

Glenfield Dennison, NTUCB Senator

“Me live in the SOE area, every single time they pass the SOE my house the eena it, every single time. So when they decide, alright Dennison you want to give trouble dah airport, SOE for you. I hope you go to Kolbe with me, I hope you go shake the gates at Kobe. Because when you willy nilly change the constitution because you don’t like a judgement, the type of state we are in comes into question in my head. These types of things should not be happening in our little Belize. Our little regime should be democratic, ruled by the voice of the people. There is a constitutional amendment still in the House of Representatives for a certain pass leader of the opposition when they wanted to remove him from the house. That is not a joke, we don’t play with legislative process and say you want to act up we will make you cant be a member of the house of representatives. So I call on the media to pay attention to the thirteenth amendment because it says if you never done bring your court action for those breaches of the SOE as of the twenty-ninth of May, you cant bring it again.”

Belize Hosts Third Annual Climate Resilience Forum

Climate change isn’t waiting and neither is Belize. As rising temperatures and unpredictable weather continue to impact vulnerable nations like ours, building resilience has become a year-round mission. That’s why today, the Ministry of Blue Economy and Marine Conservation teamed up with NEMO and the Food and Agriculture Organization to host the third annual Climate Resilience Forum. It’s a space where those on the front lines: farmers, fishers, community leaders, come together to talk about the real challenges they’re facing and how to tackle them head-on. We were there this morning to hear what’s being done to protect our people, our resources, and our future.

Andre Perez, Minister of Blue Economy & Marine Conservation

“I’m hoping that by the end of the day, this panel discussions will come out with one comprehensive plan. One whereby it’s important that as we move forward, as a small nation. As a small island development state, we must come together and work as one body, to capital these things. And everybody has so much to contribute and putting our resources together, our heads together, that we promote as one unified front and one plant for the rest as the time comes.”

Felicia Cruz, Director, Ministry of Blue Economy & Marine Conservation

“It really constitutes representations from a suite of different partners, including our ministry, the National Climate Change Office. And really our goal is to highlight the impacts of climate change in the blue economy and to look at it at different perspectives from the sectoral perspective in terms of tourism and fisheries from the community perspective in terms of the Red Cross and their efforts as well as the National Emergency Management Organization and really how they have helped. In terms of preparedness in the face of hurricanes and other inclement weather that clearly has caused impacts to our coastal areas and to our communities.”

‘Costly but Effective’: Tackling San Pedro’s Sargassum Crisis

If you’ve been anywhere near the coast lately, you’ve probably seen it and smelled it. The sargassum crisis in Belize is back with a vengeance, and some residents say this year’s wave of rotting seaweed is the worst they’ve ever experienced. It’s not just an eyesore, it’s affecting tourism, daily life, and the environment. That’s why earlier this year, Area Representative Andre Perez and the Hol Chan Marine Reserve launched a three point five million dollar harvesting project to tackle the problem head-on. But while the effort was initially praised, critics are now questioning whether it’s a long-term fix, or just a temporary cleanup. Today, Perez gave an update on the investment and what’s next in the fight against sargassum.

Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural South

“I think the last I think the last time where it was really really bad was back in 2018. Last year it was not bad, ut this year it has come relentlessly. It has been across the entire region. I live in San Pedro and I can tell, of course, Caye Caulker sometimes it extends across the shorelines as much as far to fifty feet and it’s horrible. You know when we’re when we were tackling the Sargassum, we have to put all our hands on it. We have to come up with innovative ideas. Trial and error is important. You know, we cannot just sit and say what is cheaper? Of course we need to look at that. But what is practical? And I can tell you right now, these two harvesters are working Monday to Friday. We’re soon releasing all the data we’re gathering in terms of the cost. Yes, indeed, it’s a bit costly, but it is very effective. It has been working primarily off the coast of where the southern part of Ambergis Caye is right now. Some resorts, they have partnered with us because it’s like, how say it’s not cheap. Right. But to criticize it. No, and that’s not, that’s unfair. I don’t know who said, I’ve never heard anybody criticizing it. No. However, it’s working. What we need to do is that it’s proving itself now is to increase it. We need more than two, especially this year. What is it? Put it put to test as ever before.So it is working and it is clear that we need more.”

Cabinet to Review New Union Proposals

Former Minister of Education Francis Fonseca says the unions have rejected the latest offer, but there’s still hope for a resolution. With new proposals heading to Cabinet next week, Fonseca is urging a return to the table—and a move away from disruptive actions like airport closures, which he says hurt everyone, from public officers to the tourism industry. Here’s more on what he had to say.

Francis Fonseca, Former Minister of Education

“The unions, as you know, have rejected the last offer made by the Government of Belize. Our negotiating team, the cabinet subcommittee, met earlier this week to discuss certain proposals that we want to make to Cabinet. We will be making those proposals to Cabinet on Tuesday next week, and based on that discussion with Cabinet and whatever instructions we are given by Cabinet, then we will be scheduling a meeting with the JUNT for us to move the process forward in terms of whatever instructions we are given by Cabinet. So we are very hopeful that, based on our own discussions, that those proposals will be well received, that they will be met with good faith, and that we will have an opportunity for an early resolution of this matter. I’ve always maintained that we have in place a structure and a mechanism for the resolution of these disputes. We have always been able to dialogue around the table. In my view, it is very unfortunate, very disappointing that the unions have moved away from the table and are not, you know, resolving these issues in good faith, in a respectful way around the table. So, I think, certainly the efforts to close or disrupt activities at the airport, that cannot be acceptable to anyone and that is not in the interest of anybody, not in the interest of the teachers, the public officers and not in the interest of the tourism industry.”

Panton Responds to Attacks Over Union Meeting

Back to today’s press conference where the political heat wasn’t just about policy. We asked Leader of the Opposition Tracy Panton to weigh in on a growing controversy: a series of ads aimed at discrediting union leaders. Panton herself has become a target in the latest wave of productions, following a recent sit-down she had with a few union representatives. So, what does she make of it all? Here’s what she had to say.

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition

“ It in my view, in our view, it is unnecessary. It is uncalled for. It is an attempt to intimidate. It is an attempt to cast aspersions against leaders in our country from political leaders, church leaders, union leaders who seek to defend the rights of citizens. Who forgot when the now Prime Minister put on his green T-shirt and got in the front of the line and marched with the teachers and promised them everything and the kitchen sink when he and his team became the government. And he will tell you oftentimes in the House, if you listen to House meetings, how much he loves teachers because his mother and his wife served in that profession. And so, I think that to use state resources to try and derail and try and to detract from the real issues, this country and people are experiencing really ought to stop. It will not derail the discussions we are having with the unions. They can scream and holler, but we will hold this administration to account.”

Panton to GOB: Clean House Before Tax Hikes

And while the headlines have been dominated by union demands and government responses, we took the conversation a step further, asking Opposition Leader Tracy Panton where she stands on the hot topic of tax hikes. Her response? Not so fast. Panton says before the Briceño administration even thinks about raising taxes, it needs to take a hard look at how it’s managing the country’s finances and where it can boost revenue without burdening Belizeans. Here’s how she broke it down.

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition

”Absolutely not. We are not there yet. We must fix what is broken. We must stop the bloated contracts. We have to minimize the travel. I remember at one point under the Barrow administration; we were told you only go on absolutely necessary travel because what happens here at country must take precedent. The needs of the people must be placed first. When are we getting to get, as my colleague on my right side earlier, when are we going to get an accounting for the fifty-four million we floated as a bond, investing in the futures of tourism? When are we going to know how those money is spent and what impact those projects have had on our tourism economy and by extension, our wider economy. These are critical questions, and we can’t raise taxes until we are able to fix the system. The kind of hemorrhaging that continues, for example, at the customs department, the fact that we don’t collect taxes. At the Lands Department, there are lots of areas that require greater scrutiny and certainly trying to plug those loopholes, before we talk about increasing taxes.”