BELMOPAN, Fri. Sept. 12, 2025

   With Parliament having come off recess, today there was a House of Representatives Meeting under the stewardship of Deputy Speaker, Hon. Marconi Leal, Jr., since the Speaker of the House, Hon. Valerie Woods, is in the final stages of her cancer treatment. While there were a handful of members absent on the Government side, including Hon. Kareem Musa, Hon. Kevin Bernard, Hon. Anthony Mahler and Hon. Osmond Martinez, the Opposition bench was full, as Hon. Hugo Patt was sworn in today.

    Notable among the bills introduced was the Climate Change and Carbon Market Initiatives Bill, 2025,which Minister of Sustainable Development and Climate Change, Hon. Orlando Habet described as the first climate bill for Belize. Habet reported that the bill sets a legal and institutional foundation and provides the structures “that will allow us not only to protect our land, our waters and our people, but also to benefit from the new opportunities of the global carbon market.” A new institution to emerge from this piece of legislation will be the Belize National Climate Change Council that will serve as the highest policy entity for climate action. It will be accompanied by the Department of Climate Change and a National Transparency Unit. There will also be a carbon registry and the introduction of a high integrity carbon market in Belize that protects landholder rights and guarantees free, prior and informed consent for indigenous peoples and local communities. The bill also provides for compliance and enforcement mechanisms, including penalties. According to Habet, the passage of the bill will allow for investment and the channelling of financing into the hand of communities.

Loan motions totalling US$14 million presented for improved labour force participation and employability

   Introduced at today’s meeting were two loan motions each valued at US$7 million for improved labour force participation and employability, particularly among women, youth and migrants. The program will be jointly financed by the Taiwan ICDF and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) with an additional US$1 million grant by the IDB.

   ITVETs will be utilized for the skills training component, while a labour intermediation platform will be used to help connect graduates with employers and track job outcomes, as well as provide real-time demand data. In total, US$8.5 million of the loan funds will be used to support ITVETS and ensure they are better equipped. It will also allow coverage of training fees for students to access certified programs without financial barriers. Stipends will be provided to trainees for transportation, food and childcare. Equipment for trainees will be financed.

   The motion had the support of the Opposition.

   Mesopotamia area representative, Hon. Lee Mark Chang, during his comments on the initiative, spoke about the need for shorter programs to retain the attention of youth, and also advised that some of the funds be used for re-skilling call-center workers. “AI is quickly advancing, and many young Belizeans will lose jobs if we do not prepare them for new skills for the future,” he said.

   Chang has also called on the Ministry of Education to partner with him to establish a skills training program on one floor (1,500 sq. ft.) of his constituency office, which he said would be provided rent free. He noted that this will help youth who lack skills but who cannot cross into some areas due to the risks resulting from gang rivalry in Southside Belize City.

Belize seeks expanded stake in CABEI with US$40 million subscription (only US$10 million is payable during four years)

   Recognizing the strategic advantages of voting membership in the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), Belize formally requested an increase in its shareholding to qualify for voting rights.CABEI’s Board of Governors gave its approval in December 2023 for an increase to 4,000 Series “B” Shares valued at US$10,000 per share totalling US$40 million. However, the payable capital is 1,000 shares, or US$10 million, to be paid in four annual instalments of US$2.5 million while the remaining 3,000 shares or US$30 million is deemed callable capital – payable only if called by CABEI, or, as Prime Minister John Briceño put it, “whenever the bank needs it.” The PM provided the example of Argentina, which he says bought a similar 4,000 shares about 20 years ago and all they have paid thus far is the initial US$10 million.

   The motion for the payment of the shares was tabled in the House because existing laws do not currently authorize the Minister of Finance to subscribe to these shares or make the required payments.

   CABEI’s voting members help shape the Bank’s policies and have a say in how regional development funds are allocated, but those funds are also often prioritized for loans, grants and technical assistance, particularly during national emergencies. It also comes with the possibility of institutional leverage of gaining credibility and negotiating power when engaging with other international financial institutions.

   Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Tracy Panton said that while they are not opposed to development opportunities, the Government is ignoring the fiscal reality, as “families keep crying with the cost of living, when teachers and nurses are under strain, and our healthcare system is collapsing.” She stated, “This money is not going to Belizeans but to bankers.” She also described the callable $30 million as a “hidden debt” which could appear when we least can afford it. She demanded a risk assessment and cost benefit analysis.

   The motion was taken through all its stages today and passed.

GoB requests 6-month suspension of principal repayment for Corozal-Sarteneja Road loan

   The Government has requested a 6-month suspension of repayment of principal on the US$50 million 2019 loan from the Export-Import Bank of Taiwan for the Corozal-Sarteneja Road upgrade and the construction of the Pueblo Nuevo and Laguna Seca bridges. The start date for repayment was July 22, 2025, whereas the new start date would be January 22, 2026.

   The reason for the request, as provided by the Prime Minister, was a 2-month delay (including weather-related) in the completion of the project, now set to conclude by the end of this month.

   Panton asked why deferrals and extensions are needed in our loan commitments when the Prime Minister insists that the economy is robust and people are working. She noted that in February this year, there were amendments to Belize’s loan commitments. “… We’re asking for a deferral, hiding behind the guise that the project is not completed . ..If we’re making the money, let us pay our bills,” she insisted.

   Notably, although the PM stated during the debate that it was the lender which requested the extension, the loan motion itself states that the request was made by the Government of Belize.

   The motion was taken through all its stages today and approved.

Belize gains access to US$20 million loan from World Bank in the event of natural or health disasters

   The Government of Belize has secured access to a US$20 million loan from the World Bank’s International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) under its International Development Association to boost disaster and health emergency response. The financing, known as a Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option (Cat-DDO), provides rapid access to funds in the event of a natural or health disaster.

  The loan includes a 40-year repayment term with a 10-year grace period and would be managed by the Ministry of Finance. Disbursement would occur immediately following a qualifying event, so that Belize can respond swiftly to shocks while protecting public finances. Since it is a contingent line of credit, Belize does not owe the US$20 million unless it draws down the funds.

   The PM reported that they will lobby the World Bank to be able to draw down funds for the sargassum “plague” whenever it reaches a threshold.

   In order to qualify for the Cat-DDO, Belize had to introduce several reform initiatives to demonstrate its commitment. According to the PM, those included a national land policy, a national risk management policy, a national building codes policy, a micro-insurance regulations policy and others.

   The Opposition also supported the loan motion, which was taken through all its stages today and passed.

House gives legal effect to “Proposal 22” in joint unions’ CBA

   Brought back for second reading at today’s House of Representatives meeting was the School Teachers’ Pensions (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which will give effect to “Proposal 22” in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Government and the three public sector workers unions. In particular, this proposal sees the government covering 100% of pension and benefits for teachers and staff in grant-aided schools, whereas previously it was only paying 70%, with the remainder left uncovered due to school managements refusing to take up the responsibility.

   The Trade Licensing (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was also approved, allowing for an extension of one month for when the Act of 2024 comes into force. After a first delay in its implementation, the Act was set to come into force in October 2025. The PM says Cabinet does not believe that the municipalities have educated the business community enough about how they will be charged under the new regime.