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Cabinet Rejects BTL-SMART Deal; Social Partners Say ‘Work Not Yet Finished’
Cabinet has rejected BTL’s proposed acquisition of SMART/Speednet, but the Social Partners say the decision does not end the regulatory, financial and accountability questions surrounding the controversial transaction. In a late announcement Thursday, August 13, Cabinet said that after reviewing available information and considering views expressed by stakeholders and the public, it had reached an informed position that it “does not support the proposed acquisition.” The deci
2 hours ago
WHY HAVE TWO SYSTEMS?BTL Chairman reiterates ‘business case’ for SpeedNet acquisition
Belize Telemedia Limited says its network can accommodate approximately one million users but currently serves only 225,000—a capacity gap at the centre of its business case for acquiring Speednet. BTL Chairman Markhelm Lizarraga says adding Speednet's approximately 100,000 customers would still leave the combined customer base using only slightly more than 30 percent of BTL's existing network capacity. That calculation formed one of the more detailed explanations provided to
6 hours ago
‘ALL OF US OR NONE OF US!’ Social Partners draw line on Cabinet meeting over BTL-Smart deal
It is ostensibly “all of us or none of us” for Belize's Social Partners, which have told the Government that any Cabinet meeting over BTL's proposed Speednet acquisition must include representatives from all four groups. The position follows an invitation from the Government for only the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) to meet with Cabinet on Thursday, August 13. But in a joint statement, the BCCI and NTUCB, t
6 hours ago
Economy
BCCI warns price controls could discourage investment
Current price-control regulations could discourage investment, reduce product availability and place smaller importers at a competitive disadvantage, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) has warned. The BCCI, the country's leading private-sector advocacy organization, is calling on the Government of Belize to reverse the expanded price-control measures introduced in 2023, arguing that the framework—implemented during a period of exceptional global inflation and
Local Boot Maker: Defence Ministry procurement debate is also about industrial policy
The investigation into procurement at Belize's Ministry of Defence has largely focused on whether taxpayers paid too much for imported military boots. Jaime Marin, proprietor of the local manufacturer Umbraland, argues that the larger question is whether the Government is failing to use its own purchasing power to develop domestic industry. Mr. Marin points to Section 19 of the Fiscal Incentives Act, 2023, which provides that 20% of all government stores purchased and contrac
BPF Pushes 'Buy Belize First' Policy to Boost Local Economy
Belize People's Front Leader Nancy Marin is calling for a "Buy Belize First" procurement policy, arguing that government spending should prioritize Belizean-made goods to strengthen local businesses and reduce the country's dependence on imports. Marin unveiled the proposal as part of a broader economic policy statement in which she argued that government procurement should become a tool for building domestic industries rather than supporting overseas producers where local al
Politics
BPF Pushes 'Buy Belize First' Policy to Boost Local Economy
Belize People's Front Leader Nancy Marin is calling for a "Buy Belize First" procurement policy, arguing that government spending should prioritize Belizean-made goods to strengthen local businesses and reduce the country's dependence on imports. Marin unveiled the proposal as part of a broader economic policy statement in which she argued that government procurement should become a tool for building domestic industries rather than supporting overseas producers where local al
BCCI to GOB: Why Wait? Strengthen Controls Now
The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) is urging the Government to immediately strengthen financial controls over public procurement, arguing that many reforms can be implemented now without waiting for ongoing investigations or a broader review of procurement laws. In a June 29 letter to Prime Minister John Briceño, BCCI President Giacomo Sanchez said the recent procurement and payment-processing irregularities should serve as an opportunity to strengthen the sys
Briceño Convenes Special Cabinet Meeting on Procurement Amid Heightened Scrutiny
Prime Minister John Briceño convened the full Cabinet and chief executive officers for a special meeting on public procurement this week as the government continues to face scrutiny over procurement practices involving the Ministries of Home Affairs and Defence. The session was designed to review procurement best practices, legislative requirements and recurring weaknesses identified through government audits. The meeting featured presentations from the Financial Secretary, C
General
Five Belizean students turn sargassum crisis into agricultural opportunity, win STEAM award
By Ingrid Ferlo A summer camp that five Orange Walk high-school students almost skipped has produced an award-winning idea aimed at turning one of Belize’s most persistent coastal problems into a resource for agriculture. The students developed a concept to collect and process sargassum into agricultural fertilizer, earning their team the “Best Use of STEAM” award at a national festival held in San Ignacio, Cayo, on July 18, 2026. The five Bishop Martin High School students —
Global Institutions: Crisis Easing; Not Yet Over
The world's principal institutions overseeing energy, finance, development and trade say the immediate shock from the Middle East war is easing, but warned that the global economy remains vulnerable and governments should remain prepared for further disruption. In a rare joint statement issued after a high-level coordination meeting on July 7, the heads of the International Energy Agency (IEA), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank Group and World Trade Organization s
'You Can't Boss Us Around': EBC Cites Constitution to Resist FOIA Request
The Elections and Boundaries Commission says Belize's Freedom of Information Act cannot compel it to release redistricting records, arguing the Constitution places the Commission beyond the direction or control of outside authorities. In a response to public interest litigant Jeremy Enriquez, the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) rejected an expansive Freedom of Information request seeking records relating to Belize's long-delayed electoral redistricting exercise. The
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