2025-06-27 - Greater Belize Media

More Belizeans Working, Unemployment Hits Record Low

More Belizeans are finding jobs, according to the latest Labour Force Survey, which shows the national unemployment rate dropped to 2.1% in April 2025, down from 3.0% a year earlier.

The number of people employed grew by nearly 14,000, while 1,182 fewer Belizeans reported being jobless. “Only 46.9 per cent of working-aged women [were] a part of the workforce, compared to 72.3 per cent of working-aged men,” SIB reported.

The total labour force reached 183,368, and participation rose to 59.1%. Most employed persons worked in retail, tourism, public services, and agriculture. Informal employment remained high at 37.5%, especially in trade and farming.

On average, employed Belizeans earned $1,498 per month, up by $71 from last year. The underemployment rate stood at 1.8%, with women slightly more affected.

Toledo recorded the highest unemployment rate at 4.1%, while Belize and Cayo districts tied for the lowest at 1.4%. Overall, labour underutilisation, which includes the jobless, underemployed, and those ready to work, stood at 5.0%, down from 8.7% in April 2024.

SIB Reports Economic Growth for Belize in Early 2025

Belize’s economy grew by 2.0% in the first quarter of 2025, according to preliminary Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures released by the Statistical Institute of Belize. The total value of goods and services produced from January to March stood at $1.486 billion, up $29.5 million from the same period in 2024.

Growth was driven by the tertiary sector, particularly in ‘Accommodation and food services’ and ‘Financial and insurance services’. The latter rose by 12.6% to $118.4 million, while the hospitality industry grew by 12.2%, supported by a 5.2% rise in cruise passengers and a 1.9% increase in overnight visitors.

In contrast, the primary sector shrank by 10.8% to $126 million, as “reduced outputs recorded for all three of the country’s major agricultural crops” weighed on performance. Sugarcane production plunged by 29.7% due to the impact of fusarium, while citrus and banana output also declined.

The secondary sector contracted by 8.7%, largely from a 20.4% drop in manufacturing. “Citrus concentrate output fell by almost two-thirds,” and sugar production dropped 36.9%. However, electricity and water production rose by 9% and 1.5%, respectively.

Daylight Armed Robbery Shocks Orange Walk

A brazen armed robbery in broad daylight rattled residents of Orange Walk Town this afternoon.

According to witnesses who were near the scene, the incident unfolded around 1:30 p.m. in the busy vicinity of Fort Cairns Market. Witnesses say they noticed suspicious activity involving a blue pickup truck and a masked man approaching it with a hammer.

“Suddenly, another masked man appeared with a gun and fired a shot at the pickup truck,” one witness told News 5. “That’s when we realised it was a robbery happening right in front of us.”

Panic ensued as nearby vehicles attempted to reverse and flee the scene. One vehicle, occupied by Mayor Ladrick Sheppard, was rammed by another in the chaos. During the commotion, robbers shattered the windows of the targeted pickup truck and forcibly opened the doors.

The assailants made off with two bags before fleeing in a small white getaway vehicle. The attackers, all masked, were described as tall and dark-skinned. Two women and a male driver were in the targeted vehicle; all escaped without physical harm but were visibly shaken.

Police are investigating.

Belize Exports Surge in May 2025

Belize’s total domestic exports rose by 11.1% in May 2025, reaching $45.7 million, according to the Statistical Institute of Belize. The increase was driven by strong performances in molasses, bananas, citrus, and sugar.

Molasses exports surged from just $0.01 million to $3 million. Banana exports climbed by $1.8 million to $9.4 million, while citrus products, including orange concentrate and orange oil, rose by the same amount to $5.2 million. Sugar earnings edged up from $18.1 million to $19.3 million, despite lower world prices. Exports of red kidney beans brought in $1.1 million after no shipments were recorded in May 2024.

However, export earnings were dampened by the absence of cattle exports, which brought in $1.3 million last May, and a $0.7 million decline in marine products.

Meanwhile, total imports fell by 2.7% to $244.5 million. The decline was led by a $13.6 million drop in ‘Mineral Fuels and Lubricants’ due to reduced diesel imports.

For the year so far, exports totalled $161.7 million, down 2.4% compared to the same period in 2024, while imports stood at $1.159 billion, a 6.2% decrease.

La Isla Bonita Records Highest Inflation at 3.4% for May 2025

According to the latest report from the Statistical Institute of Belize, the inflation rate rose by 1.0% in May 2025. The All-Items Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased from 118.5 in May 2024 to 119.6 in May 2025, driven mainly by higher food and housing costs.

The ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ category recorded a 2.0% rise, with significant increases in the prices of fruits (7.8%) and cereal products like bread (2.5%). Beverage prices surged by 8.2%, fueled by costlier fruit juices (14%), purified water (9%), and soft drinks (8.8%).

Housing-related expenses rose by 2.3%, reflecting higher rental prices and an increase in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which jumped from $120.62 to $129.50 per 100-pound cylinder.

Conversely, transport costs fell by 3.3%, largely due to lower fuel prices. Diesel dropped by $1.30, regular gasoline by $1.11, and premium by $0.64. Despite this, intercity bus and taxi fares rose.

SIB also reported that San Pedro Town had the highest inflation at 3.4%, while Independence Village saw a 2.3% decrease.

The year-to-date inflation rate for the first five months of 2025 stood at 1.5%.

UB Fires Dr. Pio Saqui For “Gross Misconduct”

The University of Belize (UB) announced the immediate termination of faculty member Dr. Pio Saqui. According to UB, this followed an independent investigation into allegations of professional misconduct. The university described the decision as part of its continued effort to uphold high professional and ethical standards across its academic community.

According to an official statement, the university launched a formal investigation after receiving complaints against Dr. Saqui. An independent Ad Hoc Committee was tasked with conducting a thorough and impartial review, including interviews and evidence-gathering, all in alignment with UB’s internal policies.

After the Committee submitted its findings, the Office of the President sought an independent legal review. The university concluded that Dr. Saqui’s conduct amounted to gross misconduct as defined in the institution’s Faculty and Staff Handbook and the Belize Labour Act.

“As a result, the University of Belize has taken the decision to terminate the employment of the faculty member with immediate effect,” the release stated.

UB President Dr. Vincent Palacio said, “We will not tolerate conduct that undermines the safety, dignity, or trust of our academic community. This action reaffirms our commitment to upholding a culture of accountability, integrity, and student-centered learning.”

As we reported, Dr Saqui was placed on administrative leave on April 10 following multiple sexual harassment complaints. At least four complaints were filed, alleging inappropriate behavior such as unwanted touching, persistent sexual remarks, and invasive questions. A complaint dated April 8 highlights testimonies from students describing unsolicited physical contact and harassment. Back then, Dr. Paqui did not answer our request for comments.

BSI Confirms Sugar Crop Among the Worst in Decades

After Prime Minister John Briceño declared the 2024–2025 sugar crop “one of the worst we’ve had in a long time,” the Belize Sugar Industries (BSI) confirmed the grim reality in hard numbers, describing this year’s performance as one of the worst in over three decades.

Sean Chavarria, Director of Finance at BSI, said, “The total cane received is just under 884,000 metric tons. That’s a low for us.” He added that the only comparable year in recent history was 2020, which was still higher despite coming on the heels of the 2019 drought.

But it’s not just quantity that’s concerning, quality also took a hit. Chavarria explained that the Tons of Cane to Tons of Sugar (TCTS) ratio, a key measure of efficiency, stood at approximately 11.1 to 11.2 this season. “That’s one of the lowest we’ve seen since the 2010 crop,” he said.

After liquidation, total sugar production is expected to come in at just under 79,000 metric tons, a figure not seen since 2008, making this season one of the lowest-producing crops in 35 to 40 years.

“It’s not a very good crop. From our standpoint, it’s been very challenging,” Chavarria said, pointing to a mix of contributing factors including adverse weather, widespread disease, and manpower shortages. “We had long stops due to heavy rains in February and March, totaling 12 days. There was also a lot of ‘out of cane’ scenarios where farmers struggled to meet milling requirements.”

The Fusarium Wilt disease, which the Prime Minister described earlier in the day as a “fungus ravaging cane fields,” is one of the most significant threats. Chavarria confirmed that stakeholders are actively assessing the disease’s long-term impact but cautioned, “It might be a little too early to see the full effect.”

Despite the bleak short-term outlook, Chavarria remains optimistic about the future. “The hope that we have is that our problems are solvable. All these issues can be solved,” he said, emphasizing the need for field renovation, access to agricultural credit, and mechanization of harvesting to reduce dependency on labor and increase productivity.

PM Briceño: Sugar Industry Facing “Existential Crisis”

Prime Minister John Briceño told the nation this morning that “the sugar crop has come to an end, and it’ll be one of the worst sugar crops we’ve had in a long time.”

He said that the industry is experiencing an “existential crisis”, following the premature end of the 2024–2025 sugar cane harvest season and a devastating outbreak of a plant disease ravaging northern cane fields.

“I just received a short WhatsApp message from Marco Osorio, chairman of the Sugar Industry Control Board (SICB), informing me that cane deliveries have stopped, marking the end of the crop season,” the Prime Minister revealed.

“This has been one of the most, if not the most, challenging crop seasons in recent memory,” Briceño said, citing a combination of adverse weather, pest infestations, and most critically, the aggressive spread of Fusarium wilt disease, a fungal infection that has decimated cane fields across the northern districts.

According to the Prime Minister, a field assessment conducted last November by the Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute (SIRDI), the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA), and the Ministry of Agriculture revealed that more than 60,000 acres of sugar cane were infected by Fusarium. Of these, 8,060 acres were severely infested, while approximately 35,500 acres showed mild infection. The findings projected an estimated 30% decline in total cane production, equivalent to a loss of 215,000 tonnes of cane.

“What was surprising to many, myself included, is that this fungus has actually been around for nearly 30 years,” Briceño explained. “But the combination of heavy rains followed by extreme drought created the perfect conditions for it to multiply rapidly.”

The PM also acknowledged that the impact is not limited to quantity but also affects quality. “There will be a significant reduction in yield per acre as well as a fall in the quality of cane harvested. This affects efficiencies both in the fields and at the BSI factory.”

Marco Osorio’s update highlighted a cascade of issues facing the industry this season: poor cane yields, challenging field conditions, a limited harvesting workforce, lower sugar output, and an unfavourable cane price estimate, all factors contributing to the poor performance of the crop.

“This is a very difficult time for the sugar industry,” Briceño stressed. “It requires all hands on deck- Government, farmers, and the miller, to join forces and develop a coordinated plan of action.”

Despite the bleak outlook, Briceño remains hopeful. “The resilience of our farmers is being tested, but together we will find and implement solutions to advance the industry, and we will succeed.”

Belizeans Losing Faith in Economy, Says SIB Report

Belize’s Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) declined marginally in May 2025, according to the Statistical Institute of Belize. SIB reported that it fell by 0.5 percentage points from 47.7 in April to 47.5. The dip marks a continuation of the gradual downward trend in consumer sentiment observed since the start of the year.

The decline was driven by weakening perceptions of both current economic conditions and future expectations. The ‘Present’ component dropped by 4.0 percent to 44.1, while the ‘Expectations’ component fell by 5.6 per cent to 53.8. In contrast, confidence in making major purchases of durable goods rose by 10.6 per cent to 44.6.

Consumers in the Belize District recorded the sharpest decline, with confidence dropping by 9.1 per cent, led by a 14.9 per cent fall in expectations.

Meanwhile, the Stann Creek District saw the highest increase, with sentiment rising by 11.0 per cent, reflecting stronger optimism across all components.

SIB reported that rural consumers were more confident overall, reporting a 2.0 per cent increase in CCI, while urban sentiment fell by 3.8 per cent.

The report also stated that female consumers showed a 16.9 per cent increase in confidence regarding purchases of durable goods, despite an overall drop in optimism.

Coast Guard Discovers Abandoned ‘Colombian‑Style’ Vessel

Belizean Coast Guard crews have recovered a small, unflagged vessel of Colombian design drifting in northern Ambergris Caye waters. The suspicions are that it was abandoned after involvement in illicit narcotics or fuel‑resupply operations.

Earlier this year, Coast Guard officers interdicted a man possessing a kilo of cocaine near Turneffe Atoll but found no sunken or wrecked vessel nearby.

In September 2024, crews near Deer Caye recovered packages of cannabis. Meanwhile, Belize’s maritime territory has increasingly become a transit zone for Colombian drug shipments, often concealed in vessels drifting offshore.

The current find closely mirrors previous cases of semi‑submersible “narco‑subs” and fast boats used to evade detection in Colombia. This is a trend that intensified alongside Colombian cartels’ evolving tactics in Pacific narcotics routes.