The Government of Belize is spending public funds on 116 rental properties across the country but won’t release the contracts.
In response to a Freedom of Information request from News Five, the Ministry of Public Service shared a list of government rental spaces from June 2024 to 2025, including the names of landlords and locations.
Between June 2024 and June 2025, the government has been paying rent on 116 buildings. Belize City accounts for 29 rentals, Belmopan 28, and Punta Gorda 11.
But when News Five asked for copies of the actual tenancy agreements, the ministry declined, saying the contracts are exempt from public disclosure. The ministry argued that publishing rent amounts could inflate market prices and hurt the economy.
The ministry cited advice from the Attorney General’s Ministry in justifying the refusal and even pointed to comments made by former Prime Minister Dean Barrow. They referenced his past defence of keeping rental contracts private when Barrow stated, “The ministry can refuse to release those documents because people would have an interest in knowing the location, for example… because land prices in that area will go up… These are the sorts of exceptions that are absolutely well recognised.”
News Five reached out to Barrow for his take on the issue and will take a closer look at his response, the landlords names and ministries in tonight’s 6 p.m. newscast on Greater Belize Media.