2025-05-30 - Greater Belize Media

GOB Ordered to Pay Former PM Dean Barrow Significant Damages

The Government of Belize has been ordered by the Court of Appeal to pay former Prime Minister Dean Barrow a total of $185,000 in damages after it was found that a Commission of Inquiry into the sale of government assets violated his constitutional rights.

The payout includes $125,000 in compensatory damages for emotional distress and reputational harm and an additional $60,000 in vindicatory damages to underscore the seriousness of the rights violations.

The Court upheld an earlier decision by the Supreme Court, which found that the Commission, established by Prime Minister John Briceño in 2021, failed to give Barrow a fair opportunity to respond to damaging allegations before publishing its report.

Barrow, who served as both Prime Minister and Minister of Finance during the period investigated, argued that the COI’s findings, publicly accusing him of favouritism, mismanagement, and possible criminal conduct, were made without giving him a fair chance to defend himself. The court agreed, describing the commission’s language as “pungent” and its process as a “blatant violation” of Barrow’s right to natural justice.

The Court also rejected the government’s appeal to reduce or overturn the damages, stating that the award was justified given the public nature and severity of the Commission’s accusations. Although it declined to label the entire inquiry biased, the court quashed all portions of the COI report that referred to or implicated Barrow, leaving only process-orientated recommendations intact.

Barrow was also awarded full legal costs.

Belize Sees Sharp Drop in Imports and Exports

Belize’s trade activity took a hit in April 2025, with both imports and exports seeing a year-on-year decline, according to the latest data from the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB).

Imports fell by 16%, down from $263.8 million in April 2024 to $221.5 million in April 2025. This drop was mainly due to reduced spending across several major categories. Imports into the Commercial Free Zone saw the largest fall, plummeting by $17.6 million to $25.8 million. Other notable decreases were recorded in ‘Other Manufactures’, ‘Food and Live Animals’, and ‘Machinery and Transport Equipment’.

Domestic exports also suffered a 21.9% drop, sliding from $56.9 million in April 2024 to $44.5 million this year. Although a large shipment of sugar was exported in April, sugar earnings still plunged by over 30% to $19 million, according to SIB. Revenues from molasses, bananas, and citrus products also declined.

Meanwhile, exports of red kidney beans more than tripled, and marine products rose by $0.7 million due to strong lobster and conch sales.

Over the first four months of 2025, imports fell 7.1% to $914.3 million, while exports declined 6.9% to $115.9 million, with sugar and molasses driving most of the downturn.

Food and Rent Push Up Prices in April

Belize’s national inflation rate rose by 1.3% in April 2025, driven mainly by rising food and home rental costs, according to the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB).

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) stood at 119.6 in April, up from 118.1 a year earlier. Food accounted for over half of the monthly price increase, with costs for bread, meats, fruits, and non-alcoholic beverages climbing. Juices saw the sharpest rise at 15.4%.

Home rental prices also contributed, up 2.3% compared to April 2024. LPG prices followed suit, with the cost of a 100-pound cylinder rising by $6.87. Personal care items and household cleaning products also recorded notable increases.

In contrast, fuel prices continued to fall. Premium and regular gasoline dropped by $0.49 and $0.89 per gallon respectively, while diesel prices fell by $1.21. Prices for mobile phones and communication equipment also declined.

SIB also reported that Belmopan and San Pedro recorded the highest inflation rates at 3.5%, while Independence Village saw a 2% decrease in consumer prices due to drops in food, fuel, and personal items.

Year-to-date inflation now stands at 1.6%, with prices for food, rent, and personal care items continuing to lead the upward trend.

American Man Found Dead on Placencia Road

Authorities are investigating the death of an American man. The body was found late Thursday night on the Placencia Main Road.

Police responded to the scene around 9:51 p.m., where they found the lifeless body of a man, later identified as Fred Mason Hoffman, lying on the floor wrapped in a sheet. According to initial reports, Hoffman was last seen alive earlier that same morning.

Authorities have not yet confirmed whether foul play is suspected. A post-mortem examination is expected to help determine the cause of death.

22 Measles Cases Confirmed

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has confirmed 22 measles cases across the country to date.

According to the ministry, 69 individuals presenting with fever and rash have been tested as part of heightened surveillance efforts. Of those, 66 samples have been processed, revealing nine lab-confirmed measles cases and 13 additional cases that are epidemiologically linked.

Health officials are urging the public to remain vigilant and stressed that the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine is a safe and effective means of protection. The ministry particularly warns that children under five and young people face a higher risk of serious complications from the virus.

Nationwide surveillance and response measures continue.

Driver’s License Printing Back Online

The Belize Motor Vehicle Registration and Licensing System (BMVRALS) has been restored. This follows a recent technical disruption that temporarily halted the printing of driver’s licenses across the country.

The BMVrals system, developed in collaboration with Taiwan and launched in 2018, is essential for processing and issuing driver’s licenses and managing vehicle registration data across the country. Since the system went offline, transport offices nationwide have only been able to issue receipts for licence renewals, as no new licences can be printed. Drivers must present these receipts at checkpoints in place of physical licences.

Contrary to earlier assumptions of a technical failure, the disruption stemmed from the non-payment of contractual fees to the Taiwanese system developers. While the necessary funds were available in a designated government account, administrative oversight delayed the payment, leading to suspension of the service.

In-house experts from the Central Information Technology Office (CITO) were authorised to troubleshoot the connectivity issues. Their efforts led to the full restoration of the BMVRALS system.

Belize Braces for Active 2025 Hurricane Season

Authorities are urging citizens to prepare for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which officially begins on Sunday, June 1st, and runs through November 30th. Forecasts indicate the region could experience a normal to above-normal level of tropical cyclone activity this year.

Meteorological predictions suggest that between 13 and 19 named storms could form in the Atlantic Basin, which includes the North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. Of these, 6 to 10 could become hurricanes, with 3 to 5 reaching major hurricane status (Category 3 or higher). For comparison, a typical Atlantic season sees about 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes.

Two primary climate factors are expected to shape the 2025 season:

A medium likelihood of neutral El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions, which generally support a typical hurricane season.

Warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures across the Atlantic Basin, which can fuel storm development and intensification.

Officials stress that they do not predict where or when a storm may strike. Belize could experience one or more impacts or none at all, but the country’s location in a high-risk zone necessitates annual vigilance.