Who Says Data Can’t Run the Country? Meet BELPRI UB

Belize’s newest public policy institute is making waves just a year after its launch. The Belize Policy Research Institute at the University of Belize (BELPRI-UB), is pushing to make evidence-driven decision making the norm across government.

“It’s been an intense year, very productive year, from our point of view, in starting to pursue our vision for a Belize in which more of our public policies are informed by objective analysis of evidence. That, in a sense, is our essence,” said Dr. Dylan Vernon, Executive Director of BELPRI UB.

He explained the institute’s mission: “Just as studying the national budget is important, so is knowing and influencing, and accessing and engaging in all public policies that impact our lives. And, in a nutshell, that is what BELPRI wants to contribute to.”

“Public policy,” Dr. Vernon added, “is the official actions that we take as society, as a country, collectively, to address an issue or problem affecting the public, affecting people, the nation. For sure then, the public has to be central to all aspects of public policy and too often, as we know, that is not the case. And this is where BELPRI, with the support of UB, is working… to make a difference.”

As an independent unit within UB, BELPRI retains academic freedom to provide honest analysis and trusted guidance. Dr. Vernon said this independence as critical: “Our credibility depends on our ability to stay objective, to speak truth to power, and to give guidance that is not influenced by politics.”