By William Ysaguirre (Freelance Writer)
BELIZE CITY, Mon. Oct. 20, 2025
  Belize is to chair the World Bank’s Small States Forum (SSF) for the period January 2026 to December 2028. The World Bank announced Belize’s chairmanship last Thursday, October 17, during the World Bank Group’s annual meeting with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), held in Washington, D.C., from Monday through Thursday, October 13–17. Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño now takes on the role of Chairman of the forum.
  Belize assumes leadership of this forum at a critical juncture, when the World Bank Group is seeking to finalize a strategy to respond to small states’ needs in ways that reflect consideration of their particular challenges and vulnerabilities. The draft strategy recognizes persistent challenges such as volatile growth and limited job creation, particularly among youth and within the private sector.
  The Small States Forum (SSF) is an annual event held during the IMF and World Bank meetings, where small states may dialogue on development issues affecting them, and highlight the specific challenges they confront, such as their vulnerability to economic and environmental shocks. Small states may also use the forum to advocate for the World Bank Group to tailor its approach to their small economies. The SSF members engage directly with the World Bank’s Governors.
  Financial Secretary Joseph Waight of the Ministry of Finance led the Belize delegation to the SSF meeting, where the Republic of Cabo Verde passed the leadership to Belize. The Forum had convened to review and finalize the draft strategy as soon as possible. In a pre-recorded video, Prime Minister Briceño thanked the Forum for this designation and reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that small states receive the tailored attention they need through fit-for-purpose programs and initiatives from the World Bank.   Waight spoke of Belize’s priorities for inclusion in the strategy being prepared by the World Bank, when he addressed the Forum. The Governor of the Central Bank of Belize, Kareem Michael, accompanied Waight, along with Belize’s Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Nestor Mendez; Deputy Chief of Mission, Joshua Pott, at the Embassy of Belize in Washington, D.C.; Elvira Mendez, adviser in the Executive Office of Canada, Ireland, and the Caribbean for the Board of Directors of the World Bank; and counsellor Cinnamon Botarro in the Central America Chair of the IDB Board of Directors.
