GOB Pushes $900M Port of Belize Cargo, Cruise Project

Last week, we told you that Port of Belize Limited had finally submitted its Environmental and Social Impact Assessment to the Department of Environment. Tonight, there’s a major new development. Prime Minister John Briceño says government is gearing up to spend nine hundred million dollars on the proposed cargo and cruise expansion. He’s touting big gains for both the shipping and tourism sectors, and he says the project could bring real benefits for residents of Port Loyola and, by extension, the wider Belize City community.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Next is the four hundred and fifty million U.S. dollar upgrading of the Port of Belize at Port Loyola in Belize City, which persists as a high priority project, critical for trade and for tourism. Minister Usher, the smile, from Port Loyola. Since this decisive repurchase of the Port by government in December 2023, management of the port and, more recently, a special project execution unit, led by Doctor Gilbert Canton, have been working nonstop, first to complete a masterplan and subsequently to prepare the appropriate environment and social impact plan. One of the foremost consultants in the world, the firm of Moffat and Nicol have been supporting the planning process. I am pleased to report that ESIA blueprint has now been submitted to the Department of the Environment for consideration. The Port of Belize project will bring a historic transformation to the country’s central marine navigation channel, the Belize City harbor, the cargo port, the cruise tourism sector, and most importantly to the Port Loyola community.”

 

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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