2025-06-20 - Greater Belize Media

High Rent, Low Transparency? Union Demands Answers

Fourteen thousand dollars a month for rent. That’s the jaw-dropping figure revealed this week after a press conference that left a lot of people talking. Public Service Union President Dean Flowers dropped a bombshell: the Ministry of Blue Economy is shelling out fourteen grand every month to rent office space in what appears to be a converted house in Buttonwood Bay. Yes, a house. But wait, there’s more. Turns out, the Immigration Department is paying even more, twenty-two thousand dollars a month, for its lease. And now, people are asking: how many other ministries are spending big bucks on rent? And more importantly, is this how taxpayers want their money spent? Tonight, we’re breaking it all down. We’ll hear from the minister, look at the numbers, and ask the big question: are we really getting our money’s worth?

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Fourteen thousand dollars a month, for rent. That’s the figure raising eyebrows after a press conference on Thursday, where Public Service Union President Dean Flowers revealed that the Ministry of Blue Economy is shelling out that amount for office space in just one building. It’s a revelation that’s sparking fresh questions about government spending and accountability, especially at a time when public resources are under the microscope.

Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union

“Blue Economy, they are paying fourteen thousand for one of their buildings, fourteen thousand.”

Imagine paying fourteen thousand dollars a month for what looks like a house. That’s the reality for the Ministry of Blue Economy, according to Public Service Union President Dean Flowers. The building in question? A two-story structure at 1688 Seashore Drive, right across from the Belize Sign Monument Park in Buttonwood Bay. It may look like a retrofitted residence, but it’s currently home to a full government ministry. Today, we caught up with Minister Andre Perez. While he didn’t deny the hefty rental figure, he did try to justify the cost.

Andre Perez, Minister of Blue Economy

“Let me start off by this, I heard the PSU mentioned all of these places that they claim are exorbitant rent and all of this. But the Ministry of Blue Economy is a relatively new, just going in second term. We need to rent and I think the figures are reasonable. But where we are the ministry is growing already, more people being put in, because remember five years ago we started from scratch. So it is growing and to say government, government has always been renting. Why didn’t they raise it ten years ago when all these cronies were renting, so I am surprised he is not saying what happened in the past. Why until now? But in case of my ministry it is well justified. We are getting value for money.”

Back in 2020, the same building now housing the Ministry of Blue Economy was being rented as a home for just four thousand, five hundred dollars a month. Fast forward five years, and the government is now paying fourteen thousand dollars monthly for that very same space. That’s a steep jump, and it’s raising eyebrows. When asked about the massive markup, and whether any kickbacks were involved, Minister Andre Perez didn’t deny the cost but tried to justify the deal.

Andre Perez

“Let me tell you about kickbacks. This is all ludicrous. We are guided by the Ministry of Public Service, so I cannot comment on that. But, my response to that is hogwash. You cant be going by that. It is a building and it is right by the sea. So it is fitting. Let me add something. We adopted the park by the front. We adopted it with the community there working together. It is a beautiful park and a tourist attraction. So instead of asking how much we are paying. It is actually beautifying the neighborhood and the residents are happy for our office to be there.”

And it’s not just one ministry under scrutiny. PSU President Dean Flowers also revealed that the Immigration and Nationality Department is paying a whopping twenty-two thousand dollars a month in rent.

Dean Flowers

“Topping the list for the highest monthly rental is the Immigration and Nationality Department which is under the Office of the Prime Minister. They are paying twenty-two thousand to a certain landowner. And we must ask ourselves if that is the office in Belize City, or the office in Belmopan, I would believe we have already, which is a much more beautiful building, compared to the office in Belize City, I can tell you the cost of that building was never twenty-two thousand under the previous administration.”

When it comes to government rent payments, the numbers keep climbing, and so do the questions. We reached out to the ministry for answers about that hefty twenty-two-thousand-dollar monthly rent for the Immigration and Nationality Department. What did we find? The payments are being made for a building in Belmopan and the money is reportedly going to an unnamed Asian national. Even more interesting? According to Minister Andre Perez, it’s the Ministry of Public Service that’s actually handling the payments.

Dean Flowers

“And this is the shocker, the Ministry of Youth also has one here for fourteen thousand. I am trying to understand which building host the Ministry of Youth that is worth fourteen thousand dollars.”

Minister of Youth Anthony Mahler is pushing back against claims of excessive rental spending. Speaking to News Five, he denied Dean Flowers’ statement, saying the Ministry of Youth rents three modestly priced buildings: one in San Ignacio for one thousand, two hundred and thirty-five dollars, another in Benque for two thousand dollars, and a third in Corozal for just six hundred and fifty dollars. But while the debate over rental costs continues, Belize City’s main fire station is still operating out of the Marion Jones Sporting Complex, under poor conditions and despite repeated complaints.

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

We sought comments from the Ministry of Public Service. Minister Henry Charles Usher promised to get back to us. We will continue to follow.

PSU President Exposes Government Vehicle Spending

Just when you thought the government’s rent bill was the big headline, Public Service Union President Dean Flowers had more to say and it’s drawing even more attention. At a recent press conference, Flowers revealed that the government is shelling out a staggering seventeen million dollars a year in overtime payments. And that’s not all. He also pointed to government spending on vehicles between 2021 and 2025, another area where the numbers are adding up fast.

Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union

“Let us look at vehicles. Let us look at vehicles. Because that is also a new hustle, a continues hustle. I look at 2021, 2022 coming out of COVID. That is the year people were eating. We spent, in accordance with the records that we were able to put our hands on, ten point two million dollars in vehicles and what stood out to me here is that twenty percent of that went not to the dealers, because we have our established dealers, but two point two million dollars were put in the hands of a small group of private citizens. Let me tell you how many of them it was, one two three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen of them. Two point two million. We didn’t do much purchases in 2022, 2023. We see again in 2023, 2024 they didn’t get a whole lot but we would have spent a substantial amount. Again in 2024/2025 those same group of individuals, but only five of them were responsible for twenty-eight percent or one point two million dollars. So certain car dealers the make serious money.”

UBSFU Demands GOB Subvention Increase

The Briceño administration is facing fresh criticism, this time from the University of Belize’s own faculty and staff. Acting Union President Julianne Pasos is calling it like she sees it. She says the People’s United Party promised to increase government subvention to the university after the 2020 general election. But instead of more support, Pasos says the subvention is now at its lowest point ever.

Julianne Pasos, Acting President, UBFSU

“They promised to restore the ten million subvention and increase that by one million every year should they become the government of Belize. They have been in power since 2020 if I’m not mistaken. Ironically, the subvention of the university from 2021 to 2024 has been at its lowest at seven point six five million. Last year, the UBFSU called out the government in a press release that they put out in June, almost a year ago. The response by the then government was that it would have been irresponsible of them to increase it given the pandemic and the economic crisis we were experiencing. And we understand that. That same year, they put out a press release saying that they, and I will pull it out, it says the government of Belize and the MOECST are deeply committed to the responsible sustainable development of the University of Belize. The Ministry’s objective is to have a clear plan for the sustainable responsibility. An element of that plan is to increase the subvention to UB from the current level to Belize ten million in 2025/2026 financial budget that was presented. The budget that was presented once again indicates a seven point sixty-five million for the university with no projection for increase. Now our issue is the government keeps making promises. The subvention is not just something we are calling for, it’s something that the university needs.”

Rights at Risk? Legal Experts Slam Controversial Amendment

There’s a legal storm brewing in Belize and it’s centered around the proposed Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution. As we reported on Thursday, the unions, as well as the opposition party, have sounded off on the controversial changes being proposed by the Briceño administration. Tonight, defense attorneys are raising red flags, warning that this isn’t just another bill, it could change the very foundation of our democracy. In a strongly worded letter to the National Assembly, the Belize Association of Defense Attorneys says the amendment could do serious damage to our democracy. They’re warning that the bill, as it stands, threatens civil liberties, weakens the rule of law, and gives too much unchecked power to the executive. So, what’s in the amendment? It introduces sweeping changes, like allowing warrantless searches in vaguely defined ‘special areas,’ creating a new Gun and Gang Court, and even retroactively validating past government actions that were already challenged in court. This comes in the wake of a High Court decision that challenged the constitutionality of previous states of emergency. The attorneys say this is a step too far. They argue that the bill lacks proper judicial oversight, opens the door to abuse, and was introduced without public consultation, something they say undermines trust in the entire process. When it comes to fighting crime, Belizeans want results, but not at the expense of their rights. That’s the message coming loud and clear from the country’s defense attorneys. They’re calling for a more balanced, transparent, and rights-based approach and they’re ready to help rewrite the bill to get it there.

Glenfield Dennison, NTUCB Senator

“Me live in the SOE area, every single time they pass the SOE my house the eena it, every single time. So when they decide, alright Dennison you want to give trouble dah airport, SOE for you. I hope you go to Kolbe with me, I hope you go shake the gates at Kobe. Because when you willy nilly change the constitution because you don’t like a judgement, the type of state we are in comes into question in my head. These types of things should not be happening in our little Belize. Our little regime should be democratic, ruled by the voice of the people. There is a constitutional amendment still in the House of Representatives for a certain pass leader of the opposition when they wanted to remove him from the house. That is not a joke, we don’t play with legislative process and say you want to act up we will make you cant be a member of the house of representatives. So I call on the media to pay attention to the thirteenth amendment because it says if you never done bring your court action for those breaches of the SOE as of the twenty-ninth of May, you cant bring it again.”

Danny Mason Back in Court—And Speaking Out

Tonight, William “Danny” Mason is once again behind bars after appearing before Justice Nigel Pilgrim at the High Court. He was expected to make a plea for mitigation, but that didn’t happen—key documents, including his Social Inquiry Report, are still missing. But the courtroom wasn’t quiet. Mason used the moment to speak out about what he claims are serious issues inside the prison, from being kept in isolation to being denied access to his attorney. He says, “It’s been nine years, and I’m tired of the delay.” Justice Pilgrim has now pushed the case to June thirtieth and says he’ll be writing to the Kolbe Foundation to ensure Mason gets the legal access he’s entitled to.

Belize Hosts Third Annual Climate Resilience Forum

Climate change isn’t waiting and neither is Belize. As rising temperatures and unpredictable weather continue to impact vulnerable nations like ours, building resilience has become a year-round mission. That’s why today, the Ministry of Blue Economy and Marine Conservation teamed up with NEMO and the Food and Agriculture Organization to host the third annual Climate Resilience Forum. It’s a space where those on the front lines: farmers, fishers, community leaders, come together to talk about the real challenges they’re facing and how to tackle them head-on. We were there this morning to hear what’s being done to protect our people, our resources, and our future.

Andre Perez, Minister of Blue Economy & Marine Conservation

“I’m hoping that by the end of the day, this panel discussions will come out with one comprehensive plan. One whereby it’s important that as we move forward, as a small nation. As a small island development state, we must come together and work as one body, to capital these things. And everybody has so much to contribute and putting our resources together, our heads together, that we promote as one unified front and one plant for the rest as the time comes.”

Felicia Cruz, Director, Ministry of Blue Economy & Marine Conservation

“It really constitutes representations from a suite of different partners, including our ministry, the National Climate Change Office. And really our goal is to highlight the impacts of climate change in the blue economy and to look at it at different perspectives from the sectoral perspective in terms of tourism and fisheries from the community perspective in terms of the Red Cross and their efforts as well as the National Emergency Management Organization and really how they have helped. In terms of preparedness in the face of hurricanes and other inclement weather that clearly has caused impacts to our coastal areas and to our communities.”

‘Costly but Effective’: Tackling San Pedro’s Sargassum Crisis

If you’ve been anywhere near the coast lately, you’ve probably seen it and smelled it. The sargassum crisis in Belize is back with a vengeance, and some residents say this year’s wave of rotting seaweed is the worst they’ve ever experienced. It’s not just an eyesore, it’s affecting tourism, daily life, and the environment. That’s why earlier this year, Area Representative Andre Perez and the Hol Chan Marine Reserve launched a three point five million dollar harvesting project to tackle the problem head-on. But while the effort was initially praised, critics are now questioning whether it’s a long-term fix, or just a temporary cleanup. Today, Perez gave an update on the investment and what’s next in the fight against sargassum.

Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural South

“I think the last I think the last time where it was really really bad was back in 2018. Last year it was not bad, ut this year it has come relentlessly. It has been across the entire region. I live in San Pedro and I can tell, of course, Caye Caulker sometimes it extends across the shorelines as much as far to fifty feet and it’s horrible. You know when we’re when we were tackling the Sargassum, we have to put all our hands on it. We have to come up with innovative ideas. Trial and error is important. You know, we cannot just sit and say what is cheaper? Of course we need to look at that. But what is practical? And I can tell you right now, these two harvesters are working Monday to Friday. We’re soon releasing all the data we’re gathering in terms of the cost. Yes, indeed, it’s a bit costly, but it is very effective. It has been working primarily off the coast of where the southern part of Ambergis Caye is right now. Some resorts, they have partnered with us because it’s like, how say it’s not cheap. Right. But to criticize it. No, and that’s not, that’s unfair. I don’t know who said, I’ve never heard anybody criticizing it. No. However, it’s working. What we need to do is that it’s proving itself now is to increase it. We need more than two, especially this year. What is it? Put it put to test as ever before.So it is working and it is clear that we need more.”

San Pedro Area Rep. Says the Entire Island Stinks

While Hol Chan’s harvesting boats are out at sea scooping up sargassum, the San Pedro Town Council is tackling the problem the old-fashioned way—shovels, wheelbarrows, and a whole lot of manpower. Every day, crews are clearing the beaches and hauling the seaweed off to be used as landfill. The aim is to transform the area into a scenic community boardwalk. But not everyone’s on board. Some residents say the smell of rotting seaweed is just too much. The council says they’ve adjusted their strategy to cover the sargassum before it starts to stink. But when we asked Area Representative Andre Perez for his take, his response was blunt: “The entire island stinks anyway.”

Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural South

“After some days the Sargassum ferments and it releases these bad gases and smell as well, but the area where the San Pedro Town Council is covering is part of a street that should have been like a boulevard. And they’re following it up. And I’m more than sure that we’ll be covering it with sand or to it’s either way. It has to be gotten rid of. But, and that area that they’re using, I agree with it. I’m supporting it that. It is a model and I commended Town Council for doing that work there. But in terms of the smell, it’s everywhere. It’s not only where they are filling. You walk across any area in San Pedro, it doesn’t have a beach. It’s across with everything.with sargassum.”

HIV Isn’t a Death Sentence—But the Fight Just Got Tougher

The United Nations is calling on the Caribbean to boost its efforts in the fight to end AIDS. Earlier this month, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS released a publication that revealed that since the United States pulled funding from the Global Fund, eighty percent of HIV treatment facilities are struggling to keep their doors open. Largely affected are civil society organizations, which conduct outreach and prevention programs. The UN is urging governments across the region to prioritize supporting these organizations as they play a pivotal role in HIV care. News Five ‘s Britney Gordon reports.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

For decades, the Caribbean has been making real progress in the fight against HIV—fewer deaths, fewer new infections, and more people getting the care they need. But that progress is now under serious threat. Right now, over three hundred and forty thousand people in the region are living with HIV. Every single day, forty-one more are newly infected, and fourteen lose their lives. And just as we need to push harder, a major source of support has been pulled away. The United States has withdrawn its funding from the Global Fund, a move that’s hitting civil society organizations the hardest. These are the groups on the front lines, doing the outreach, the education, the prevention work. And now, many of them are struggling to stay afloat.

Dr. Richard Amenyah, Multi-country Director, UNAIDS

“ It’s not just a data point. These are real people who are impacted. These are real communities who are impacted. These are geographic areas of people who are being left behind, who are impacted. For UNAIDS and PANCAP, we decided to have a better understanding of this situation and to also see how has this funding can directly impacted the beneficiaries as well. And we see there’s a lot of mental health issues. If I know HIV is not curable. And I need to be on my medications every day. And I require social support for certain services that may not be directly be delivered by the health system. Then I need to depend on civil society groups to be able to do some of these things.”

Civil society organizations play a quiet but crucial role in HIV treatment. Every day, diagnosed patients battle against stigma, shame and other mental health struggles. Kimberly Simpson shares how the community often leans on each other through these organizations for support.

Voice of: Kimberly Simpson, HIV Positive

“Yes, we have a group where we support each other and stuff like that. And there are times we have our meetings and we would discuss certain things but like I said, when it come to that part, no longer having that to help us or support us, I know it will be difficult to each one of us. Some of us might be afraid to admit it or say that but it will be difficult because not everyone is brave like me.”

For more than twenty years, countries across the region, including Belize, have been providing life-saving HIV treatment. And in 2023, Belize reached a major milestone by eliminating mother-to-child transmission of the virus. But while medical progress is clear, changing public attitudes is still a work in progress. Chair of the National AIDS Commission, Dolores Balderamos-García, says the government and the commission are working hard to support people living with HIV—not just with medicine, but with compassion and care.

Dolores Balderaos-Garcia, Chair, National Aids Commission

“The Ministry of Health now is fully on board with the National AIDS Commission in utilizing what we call differentiated service models. And why do I call it differentiated service models? Because not everybody might want to go to the clinic, especially if you’re a gay man or if you are selling sex. The stigma and discrimination is still such that. There are some persons in the, what we call the key vulnerable populations who may not want to be out there going to a clinic. And even if it is not absolutely real, the perception of the stigma and discrimination is still significant, even though we’ve been fighting this thing for over thirty-five years.”

Dr. Richard Amenyah stresses that while the region has been making progress, civil society organizations cannot be forgotten from their strategy. He stresses the need to engage the NGOs with the health systems, facilitate training, and build capacity for outreach.

Dr. Richard Amenyah

“We know civil society organizations, their support for the HIV response. It’s largely within the area of HIV prevention. Working in trying to strengthen community partnership, engagement, advocacy and addressing issues around human right stigma and discrimination and all those wraparound elements which impact structurally and socially On the HIV response. HIV is not just a health issue where you just take medications, but it’s also about community support, peer support, and community solidarity. And so we decided to find out how has this pause in funding or cut in funding impacted the HIV response.”

The Caribbean’s battle against HIV isn’t just about medicine, it’s also about money. And right now, a major roadblock is staring governments in the face: debt. With international funding drying up, UNAIDS is urging regional leaders to stop looking abroad and start finding solutions at home. That means generating their own revenue to keep vital health services running, especially those led by civil society groups. National AIDS Commission Chair Dolores Balderamos-García agrees, it’s a tough but necessary step if the region wants to keep moving forward in the fight against HIV.

Dolores Balderaos-Garcia

“Guyana apparently is doing very well in their HIV fight and also countries like Trinidad and Barbados. But there are challenges in the smaller, maybe Eastern Caribbean countries. I don’t wanna speak what I don’t know because I don’t know each one individually. But looking for funding sources, we will have to look within. In my view. That’s my humble view. Now, what we are asking in terms of our ramped up and, we have to scale up our HIV response now in order to achieve the goal of 2030, that by 2030 HIV would not be a significant health threat to our people.”

The time to act is now, before the hard-earned progress achieved in the region is undine. The fight must be holistic and inclusive to ensure that HIV patients are supported in all aspects of their journey. Britney Gordon for News Five.

One Man, One Mic, and a Lot to Say

In true David Almendarez fashion, the former U.D.P. candidate held a solo press conference in Belize City today and he spoke out boldly. Almendarez launched into a fiery critique of the current government, but not before turning his sights on his own party. He pointed fingers directly at Opposition Leader Tracy Taegar-Panton, blaming her for what he calls the U.D.P.’s downfall. It was a press conference full of political punches.

David Almendarez, Former UDP Candidate

“I want to address the alliance. First, I want to congratulate the first female opposition leader ever, congratulations are due, respect is due. But, if you notice a week ago, we had a set of people where their headquarters is in Euphrates, but when we have a meeting on BelChina they show up. It is amazing because this same alliance was hellbent on destroying our party. They put candidates knowing they could not automatically win an election. That is what you call a blue konkas move. Even if every single one of your candidates had won, you could not mathematically form the government. That was a direct aim at the UDP. So, you can’t beat the PUP. So you damage the same party where you bring your cronies out Saturday to try disrupt. Why you want to be a part of something that you broke up. Why don’t you to Euphrates. You have a big spot at Euphrates. Why are you so concerned about what is happening at this side when dah you broke it up.”