New DV Bill, Budget Unclear

Belize’s National Assembly has been debating a sweeping new Domestic Violence and Intimate Partner Bill that seeks to replace the existing Domestic Violence Act with a stronger legislative framework, but serious questions about funding and readiness are already emerging.

The bill, if passed, would broaden protections for victims and introduce interim protection orders issued by senior Justices of the Peace. However, Minister of State Dolores Balderamos Garcia confirmed that training for those justices is still ongoing.

“We do hope this can be rolled out very soon. The training is still taking place, and in the eyes of many people, it may be taking a bit longer than many would like to see,” she said.

That was not the only concern raised inside the House. Mesopotamia Area Representative Lee Mark Chang pressed the government on financing, pointing to recent budget cuts. “They just cut fifty-five million dollars out of the budget,” Chang said.

According to the Belize Crime Observatory, 70%-80% of domestic violence victims are female, with young adults among the most vulnerable.

Tonight on News 5 Live at 6 o’clock, we will have the full report and what Prime Minister John Briceño had to say on the matter.