SSB Invests Record $130 Million in 2026

Belizeans are always being told to “pay into Social Security” so there’ll be money there when they retire. But where exactly is all that money going? Today, the Social Security Board gave a breakdown of how it’s investing hundreds of millions of dollars from the national fund, from loans and local businesses to major real estate projects. Since January, they’ve already invested one hundred and thirty million dollars in 2026 alone, a record amount. They are growing the fund now, so pensions and benefits can still be paid out for years to come. The two biggest drivers of those investments were Hydro Belize shares and bonds.

 

Leo Vasquez, General Manager of Finance and Investment, SSB

“So come from January one to April 30th, we have now invested an additional $130 million for 2026 alone. We have never done that number in any year. Two big drivers. The hydro Belize equity is really our shares investment. We have invested 1.4 million in Hydro Belize shares. And we have invested 42.5 million at 6% in Hydro Belize bonds. Remember, Hydro Belize was Fortis. They came out to the market, presented an opportunity for us, where the power, where energy is the source, not the distributor, because we’re in BEL. But this is when hydro Belize funds 100% or supplies 100% of its energy to BEL. So the 1.4 million shares investment will give us 30% for two seats on the board. And of course, then the 42.5 is a 6% year on year return. And then we get the 42.5 back at the end of the 20 years, unlike the shares investment. Well, we expect that because we expect that to earn about $4 million per year in terms of dividends. And we plan to keep that for a lot longer than 20 years.”

 

Currently, total investments stand at six hundred and fifty-four million dollars in local markets, and officials say they hope to expand into international investments.

 

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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