This Is The State Of The Nation… According to the Prime Minister
PM: Belize’s Economy Grew 5.1% This Year, Employment Rate Hits 98%
Prime Minister John Briceño delivered his State of the Nation Address in Belmopan today and described the country’s economic performance as strong across nearly every major indicator.
PM Briceño said the Statistical Institute of Belize’s (SIB) most recent quarterly report showed economic growth of 5.1 per cent, alongside a countrywide employment rate of 98 per cent. “At the macro level, Belize is doing exceptionally well. Year on year economic growth continues apace, at levels more often than not higher than historical averages.”
The government’s capital spending remains substantial, according to Briceño, with $324 million in capital investments set to be disbursed this fiscal year across highway upgrades, healthcare, education, and citizen protection.
He also pointed to a recent credit rating reaffirmation from Standard & Poor’s. “A recent Belize sovereign rating agency report by Standard and Poor’s reaffirmed Belize’s sound credit score of B-/B with a stable outlook. This relatively high rating is an independent affirmation of the diligent manner in which we have managed the country’s finances.”
Briceño acknowledged the report also flagged external vulnerabilities, citing the sugar industry as a clear example. Fusarium disease and mealybug infestation have cut sugar production nearly in half compared to three years ago, prompting the government to allocate $5 million toward pest extermination and $3 million toward disease eradication. A separate $50 million Green Climate Fund grant will support 5,000 sugar cane farmers directly, with an estimated 87,000 indirect beneficiaries, through replanting, irrigation, and pest management support.
On investment, Briceño said BELTRAIDE’s BelizeINVEST unit facilitated 13 approved projects worth more than $255 million during the 2025-2026 fiscal year, tied to more than 900 new jobs, with an additional seven pending projects worth over $900 million and eleven more projects worth over $67 million currently in the pipeline.
Tourism took a hit from sargassum blighting beaches in Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, Hopkins, and Placencia, denting arrivals in recent months. Briceño said the Belize Tourism Board has developed a response plan funded through BTB resources and international financial institution grants and loans.
“Just a few days ago, Belize was trending as the second most popular mountain destination in Central America, a distinction based on global social media posts. This kind of direct consumer endorsement is the best validation of the high quality of our tourism product.”
Minimum Wage Set to Rise to $6/Hour
Briceño also outlined a series of cost-of-living relief measures. He acknowledged that much of Belize’s inflation pressure comes from imported goods outside the government’s direct control.
“Like sargassum, the cost of living challenges we all face are largely imported. While Belize has achieved self-sufficiency in basic food items, that is, we can feed ourselves, our wider economy is a net importer, and those prices are outside of our control.”
Briceño confirmed the Cabinet has removed GST from electricity bills for all 100,000 residential BEL customers and that the Public Utilities Commission has expanded the number of customers eligible for BEL’s lower social electricity rate.
Can Belizean Workers Really Survive on Five Dollars Minimum Wage?
On transportation, the Cabinet approved another phase of fuel subsidies for private bus operators to prevent fare increases, along with a $20 million investment to acquire new electric buses for the National Bus Company. “Very soon, commuters will enjoy new, comfortable and safe seats on their daily shuttles. And since the operating costs of electric buses are substantially less than those of the old diesel versions, the private sector shareholders of the NBC can look forward to healthy dividends.”
Briceño said GST-free shopping days ahead of the school year provided over a million dollars in relief, with the Christmas GST-free weekends expected to save Belizeans a further $5 million.
Briceño confirmed the minimum wage, recently raised to $5 per hour for roughly 50,000 workers, will rise by another 20 per cent to $6 per hour “in the near future”. He also confirmed that nearly 16,000 public sector employees, including teachers, police, coast guard officers, soldiers, and public servants, will receive an 8 per cent salary adjustment by the close of this fiscal year, worth $112 million annually in total.
Briceño noted that the PAYE income tax threshold was raised to $29,000 annually in 2025, eliminating income tax for workers earning at or below that amount. “This change benefited 2,851 workers, putting approximately 2.6 million dollars back into their take-home pay, an average of more than 900 dollars per worker.”
A separate tax credit for workers earning between $29,000 and $32,000 benefited an additional 2,179 Belizeans, bringing total direct income tax relief to more than 5,000 employed Belizeans.
Belize’s Largest Infrastructure Project Ever
The Prime Minister announced that construction on the redevelopment of the Port of Belize in Belize City will begin next year. He described it as the largest infrastructure project in the country’s history. “Next year will also see the start of the largest infrastructure project in Belize’s history, the redevelopment of the Port of Belize, in Belize City. Representing a potential investment of over 800 million dollars, the project includes the deepening and widening of the marine access to Belize City, building brand-new cargo facilities and, finally, erecting a modern cruise tourism gateway.”
Briceño said the project will help lower the cost of imported goods for ordinary Belizeans. “Perhaps the most urgent benefit is that a new, modern, more efficient cargo port will reduce the shipping cost of imports, putting money back into the pockets of every Belizean family.”
He also confirmed Belize will benefit from a $250 million Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact with the United States, targeting energy and education spending, thanking the Opposition and Social Partners for their support of the programme.
On energy infrastructure specifically, Briceño said new domestic electricity generation will begin construction in the coming months, aiming to build 120 megawatts of solar power and 40 megawatts of battery storage, backed by $127 million in financing secured from the Saudi Fund and the World Bank.
“Six years ago, there was no plan for power generation independence. Today, we have successfully arranged 127 million US dollars in ready financing from the Saudi Fund and from the World Bank.”
PM Addresses Load Shedding
Briceño addressed Belize’s recent load-shedding, calling the outages “an anachronism of our time” and laying out both immediate and long-term measures to strengthen the country’s electricity supply.
“My government, working closely with Belize Electricity Limited, is taking decisive action to strengthen our country’s energy security. These critical measures will reduce our dependence on expensive fossil fuels and avoid having to purchase electricity from the Mexican market when CFE’s prices spike.”
In the short term, Briceño confirmed a six-month contracted arrangement between BEL and Belgium-based Power Solutions N.V. to bring 20 megawatts of mobile diesel generation online, aimed at reducing the risk of load shedding when Mexican supply is curtailed.
Under a declared emergency covering the next five years, Briceño said BEL will work with local investment partners to rapidly deploy medium-sized solar farms with battery storage, targeting roughly 30 megawatts of new solar generation supported by five-hour battery storage by June 2027.
Longer term, the government’s plan calls for up to 120 megawatts of solar generation and 40 megawatts of battery storage by 2030, financed through the World Bank and the Saudi Fund for Development.
Briceño also announced a new submarine electricity cable to San Pedro, financed through the Millennium Challenge Corporation, which he said will support Ambergris Caye’s continued growth and allow BEL to supply San Pedro and Caye Caulker with cheaper renewable power from the mainland.
“It will also allow BEL to provide the islands of San Pedro and Caye Caulker with cheaper, renewable power from the mainland, thereby relegating the expensive gas turbine generation presently required on the islands to emergency and backup service.”
He confirmed BEL has begun rolling out smart meters nationwide as part of a broader modernisation effort. “Having inherited 13 years of neglect, we are building better, and we will persist in our #planBelize commitment to providing Belizeans with reliable, greener and more affordable energy.”
PM: “Sarstoon Is Belizean!”
Briceño also spoke on the recent Sarstoon River incident. He defended Belize’s sovereignty over the area while reaffirming the government’s commitment to resolving the territorial dispute through the International Court of Justice.
“On the 10th of September, fifty-three Belizeans stood on the Sarstoon River, waters that are ours by treaty, by law, and by right, and they did not flinch. Twelve vessels could not make them turn back or break their spirit, even when they could not complete their passage.”
Briceño insisted Belize’s legal claim to the area is settled. “Sarstoon Island is Belizean soil. The mid-channel of that river has marked our border since 1859, and no show of force will rewrite what law and history have already settled.”
He reaffirmed the government’s continued trust in international legal processes, while warning against mistaking patience for weakness. “We placed our trust in the International Court of Justice because we are a country that believes in the rule of law, and we will not be provoked into abandoning that path. But let no one mistake our patience for weakness.”
Briceño specifically praised the Belize Defence Force and Belize Coast Guard personnel present during the encounter. “To the men and women of the Belize Defence Force and the Belize Coast Guard who stood calm and steady that day, you did not just defend a boundary. You defended who we are as a people. Belize will always stand behind you, as you stand for Belize.”
He closed the section succinctly: “Sarstoon is Belizean. Belize is whole.”
PM: Over 101,000 Students Enrolled Nationwide
Briceño highlighted what he described as major gains in Belize’s education sector during his State of the Nation Address, citing record enrolment, expanded financial assistance, and continued infrastructure investment tied to the Belize Education Sector Plan 2026-2030.
“There are now 101,506 students enrolled, from pre-primary through to university, taught by 6,044 teachers in 646 institutions, making it the largest generation of learners this country has ever had in its classrooms.”
Briceño said the Education Upliftment Program now covers 27 high schools, including all 20 secondary government schools and 7 government-aided schools, benefiting more than 14,000 students. In total, he said, more than 19,000 students, or 83 per cent of all secondary school students, now receive full or partial financial assistance, benefiting over 8,500 families, with more than $16 million invested this year alone, a $5 million increase from the previous year. On school feeding, Briceño said 20,000 students now receive a hot meal daily across 104 schools, an investment of $10.4 million.
“A hungry child cannot learn.”
He also confirmed internet access has been expanded to 283 schools, benefiting more than 78,000 students and over 4,500 teachers, alongside continued expansion of the 501Academy curriculum platform.
Briceño noted more than 1,100 teachers and administrators participated in the country’s second EdTech Conference. He also confirmed the Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact has officially begun, with $46.8 million earmarked for education spending under the programme.
Police Conviction Rate Hits Record 80%
Briceño reported significant gains in national security. He cited improved police resources, a record conviction rate, and major drug seizures so far this year.
“Over the past two months, we have significantly improved the interdiction capability by acquiring fifteen vehicles for the Police Department, installing numerous surveillance cameras at strategic locations, and, most importantly, strengthening the morale of the men and women of the Police Department.”
Briceño said the Police Department’s conviction rate has climbed to a record 80 percent.
He also detailed major drug seizures recorded since the start of the year, including 1,372 kilograms of cannabis and 582 kilograms of cocaine, along with seizures of methamphetamine, hashish, crack, and heroin.
“These statistics highlight our national security efforts and demonstrate the determination of our government to deter drug cartel activities from our nation and our resolve to protect our Belizean people from the impact of drugs, addiction, and the violence associated with drugs.”