Three Southern Communities Lead Belize’s New Economic Shift

Three villages, Hopkins, Seine Bight and Maya Center, are stepping into the driver’s seat as the first communities to sign on to the EU-backed PROSPER project, a four-year push to turn local ideas into real economic growth. Instead of top-down planning, this initiative puts power in the hands of villagers. From building out sustainable tourism to expanding cacao farming and nurturing small businesses, the focus is clear, create steady opportunities, especially for women and young people. These communities didn’t get here by chance. They earned their spot after a rigorous screening that measured everything from local resources to business potential and community engagement. Now, they’re setting the pace for what comes next. Twelve more villages in Toledo are expected to follow, turning this pilot into a broader movement aimed at strengthening economic resilience from the ground up.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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