2024-12-18 - Greater Belize Media

PM Briceño Hails “No GST Weekend” as a Win-Win for Belizeans and Tax Authorities

Prime Minister John Briceño has described the recently introduced “No GST Weekend” as a success on multiple fronts. He said that this had economic benefits for Belizean shoppers and its unexpected advantages for the Belize Tax Service Department (BTSD).

Briceño said that while the initiative was primarily intended to offer financial relief to Belizeans during the holiday season, it also exposed irregularities in how some businesses report their GST collections.

“I think that this free GST weekend has had some other unexpected, I’m trying to find the right word, win for the Belize Tax Department,” Briceño explained. “It allowed them to see who are the ones that are questionable, what is it that they’re doing with their reporting of the GST. I know some stores they closed down, they didn’t want to participate, and you need to ask why. Or some of them coming up with some sort of excuse, or it’s already in the price, but yet they do not discount it in the invoices.”

The Prime Minister said the observations made during the weekend have prompted the BTSD to plan follow-up actions. “So what that has done is that has alerted the BTAs that we need to go and visit these businesses to see how they’re managing their operations. Probably do some audits to see if they are, what they’re collecting is being reported back, if they’re collecting it the right way. Not that we see them doing anything wrong, but it makes us question,” he said.

Beyond tax compliance, Briceño stressed the positive impact of the initiative on Belizean consumers. “Our citizens were excited because they felt like they were getting a discount,” he said. “That extra money gave them more spending power, allowing them to have a better Christmas.”

Briceño acknowledged that some hiccups occurred, but he expressed confidence that subsequent GST-free weekends would run more smoothly. He hinted that the initiative could become a recurring feature of the holiday season.

PM Briceño on GAF Incursion: “What do they expect us to do? Shoot them out of the water?”

It’s not the first time, and Belizeans are left wondering how much longer Belize will have to face the same confrontation at the southern borders.

On Tuesday, a Guatemalan patrol boat illegally entered Belizean waters near the Sapodilla Cayes once again. According to Coast Guard Commander Captain Elton Bennett, the Belizean patrol encountered a Guatemalan vessel, identified as a 65-foot vessel that “appeared to be a hydrographic vessel belonging to the Guatemalan Navy.”

These specialised ships are designed for surveying underwater features, such as water depth and seabed characteristics. While the vessel itself may not be armed, the BH-656 Gucumatz hosted a crew of Guatemalan coast guards on board, “patrolling their maritime territories,” reported local Guatemalan news.

Captain Bennett said that the incident was resolved after the Belize Coast Guard intervened, and the Guatemalan vessel departed after several hours.

Major Roberta Usher, BDF Chief of Staff, confirmed the vessel had been moving between Belizean and Guatemalan waters over the weekend, and authorities are still awaiting confirmation of any illegal intrusion. And while they wait, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is certain that this was an illegal incursion. In a press release, the ministry said that is “received information of a Guatemalan vessel that was illegally traversing within Belizean waters.”

And while it is not the first time, it marks the second sighting of a Guatemalan vessel in Belize’s waters in the last three months, the last time being back in September. Bennett pointed out that the lack of clear markers makes border determination difficult, with Belize exercising jurisdiction based on equidistance between the two countries.

In an interview today with the Prime Minister, John Briceño, he said that Belize takes “any” incidents such as these seriously. “Whenever that happens, we take it seriously… We would go and inform them that they’re in Belizean waters.” He also stated that using diplomatic efforts is important to avoid unnecessary escalation. “We need to be able to be firm but diplomatic. Making sure that they understand that they’re in our waters and that we will not allow them to come into our waters,” Briceño said, adding that Belize “writes to the OAS, and copy it to the Guatemalan government” every time such incidents occur.

Briceño also addressed concerns from Belizeans about territorial violations and pointed out the challenge of confronting a significantly stronger Guatemalan force. He told the media, “What do they expect us to do? Shoot them out of the water?”

Briceño added, “As much as we want to do more, what else can we do? Whatever citizen would say that I would want to hear the advice, what would they do?”

Fears Mount As Daughter Reports Mother Missing

The family of 43-year-old Silvia Carolina Sandoval is desperately seeking information on her whereabouts after she went missing on November 8. Sandoval, a resident of Valley Community at Mile 21 on the Hummingbird Highway, was last seen at her mother’s house. She was last seen in the company of an unknown man, according to her daughter, 20-year-old Daniela Lucero.

Lucero told News 5 that all attempts to contact her mother have failed. She said, “We call her…we try her on Facebook…on WhatsApp and with friends,” and that, “when we call it goes to voicemail.”

The situation has left the family deeply concerned. “This is the first time she has ever gone missing,” Lucero explained. “She always keeps in contact with us, so we’re really worried.” When we asked her if the family fears that Sandoval might be in danger, Lucero said, “Well since we don’t know the man she was with and since she gone we haven’t have contact with her.”

The family has already filed a missing person’s report at the Dangriga Police Station, but so far, there has been no word on Sandoval’s location. The family is appealing to the public for assistance.

Anyone with information about Silvia Carolina Sandoval’s whereabouts is urged to contact the nearest police station or reach out to family members directly at +501 638-1755.

Indonesia’s Solution to a Cow Shortage: Milk the Fish

Almond, oat, and coconut milk are well-known dairy alternatives—but fish milk? In Indonesia, this unconventional idea is making waves as the country faces a dairy cow shortage. Food innovators are now exploring powdered milk derived from fish as a potential solution, but opinions are divided.

In coastal regions like Indramayu, fishermen are hauling ponyfish to factories where the fish are deboned, ground into powder, and processed into a protein-rich product. To enhance its appeal, the powder is mixed with chocolate or strawberry flavours.

“It just tastes like normal milk, at least to me,” said Mafatihul Khoiri of the Berikan Protein Initiative, a company pioneering this approach. Advocates believe the so-called fish milk could create a $7.6 billion industry and provide jobs for 200,000 people, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Despite its economic promise, scepticism abounds. The Jakarta Post has criticised the innovation, calling it “more of a political distraction than a meaningful nutritional intervention.” Concerns include the milk’s micronutrient profile, bioavailability, and its ability to meet children’s dietary needs compared to traditional dairy.

Indonesia’s health minister, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, is also hesitant. “We can grow cows … Or we can import the milk from Australia. Or we can buy an Australian cow company or milk company,” he told the Journal. “There are many, many, many options to do before we are milking the fish.”

Globally, the idea of deriving protein from fish isn’t new. Fish collagen is commonly used in U.S. skincare products, and European scientists recently developed methods to reduce the marine odour of salmon protein powder. Rasmus Ree, a researcher at Norce, an EU-funded institute, called Indonesia’s experiment “potentially useful and hopefully economically viable.”

While some drinkers of the fish milk, like 23-year-old Rosaedah, have described it as “delicious,” nutritionists remain concerned about its heavy processing and added sugars. Still, for a coastal nation searching for alternatives to address protein shortages, fish milk represents an innovative—if contentious—step forward.

Belize Takes Major Step to Protect Rights of Older Citizens

Belize becomes the first English-speaking Caribbean nation to sign the Inter-American Convention on the Protection of Human Rights of Older Persons. Belize signed the convention on Monday, December 16, and now joins 12 other countries, including Uruguay, Costa Rica, and Mexico.

According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), around 106 million people over the age of 60 live in the Americas, with that number expected to reach 310 million by 2050, including 190 million in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Convention, adopted by the Organization of American States (OAS) in 2015, seeks to ensure that people aged 60 and older can fully enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Convention Belize signed covers 27 specific rights, including access to healthcare, social security, political participation, and community involvement.

“By joining this Convention, Belize reaffirms its dedication to human rights at every stage of life. We are fostering a society that values and protects its citizens, ensuring that ageing is not a period of vulnerability but an opportunity for continued contribution, respect, and personal fulfilment,” said Lynn Young, Ambassador of Belize to the United States and Permanent Representative of Belize to the OAS.

New Mediators to Be Sworn in at Senior Courts of Belize

A new group of criminal and civil mediators will be sworn in at the Senior Courts of Belize on Thursday, December 19. The Court says that the new cohort of court-connected civil and criminal mediators has completed a rigorous training and certification process that will be essential in assisting the court to resolve disputes efficiently without the need for full trials.

Their role is part of Belize’s ongoing efforts to improve alternative dispute resolution and enhance the delivery of justice across the country.

Chief Justice Louise Esther Blenman will lead the ceremony on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at the High Court in Belize City.

UK Government Invests £100,000 in Belize’s Seaweed Industry

The UK Government is backing Belize’s seaweed industry with nearly £100,000 in funding. The funds will support the Belize Women’s Seaweed Farmers Association (BWSFA) by helping local farmers build a more sustainable, profitable seaweed industry while creating jobs and strengthening the country’s resilience to climate change.

The initiative is named Empowering BWSFA: Strengthening Sustainable Seaweed Mariculture through Capacity Building, Marketing, and Innovation. This project addresses critical challenges within Belize’s blue economy, including overfishing, unsustainable practices, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. BWSFA President Jalima Gold spoke on the importance of expanding seaweed mariculture and promoting both environmental stewardship and economic growth.

British High Commissioner Christine Rowlands expressed her strong support, stating, “We are happy to continue our partnership with BWSFA; through the Blue Social Challenge Fund, this project will empower local communities to develop Belize’s blue economy, grow its mariculture sector, and continue to build climate resilience.”

The project also plans to launch a marketing campaign and develop ecotourism opportunities through seaweed farm tours to generate income and raise awareness about sustainable practices.