Cabinet approves moves against terrorism

In news from Cabinet, we are informed that government will enact legislation to conform with recommendations made by the UN to combat terrorism. Among the measures are beefed up efforts to prevent money laundering and make it easier to quickly freeze the assets of suspected terrorists. Notably missing from the proposed action is a decision to immediately suspend the sale of Belizean passports. Sources in Belmopan indicate that sales will continue until the end of the financial year, so as not to cause a shortfall in programmed hard currency revenue.

In other Cabinet decisions, duties will be raised on blank CD’s in an effort to help local musicians and deter piracy. Regulations authorising Casas de Cambio in that Corozal Free Zone were also given the green light. The move is an attempt to cut the black market in U.S. dollars and bring those funds into the banking system.