Business Community Struggling; What’s Next?

Bernard Wagner

It’s been forty-five days since there has not been a confirmed case of COVID-19 recorded in Belize, a fact that has placed Belize in a unique health position on this side of the world.  But even as most businesses have been allowed to re-open, companies who trade in non-essential services, have been experiencing declining revenues contributing to the unemployment numbers especially in the tourism sector where large scale layoffs are taking place.  An economic recovery plan is yet to be presented to create business opportunities to restore economic activity so the private sector continues to shrink.  Some sectors of the Belize Indian Community are also feeling the pinch.  Belize City Mayor, Bernard Wagner says that a first recommendation to the National Oversight Committee is for the lifting of additional restrictions to allow the economy to reboot. 

Bernard Wagner, Belize City Mayor

“We need to relevant authorities to begin to see that the pandemic; while you want to be cautious, you have to begin to open back business. What is business in a city, if it is not functioning and we need our city to begin to open up. We need to see life back in a city. A city is nothing without life, without the business activity and many of the business owners in our city are struggling. We cannot allow this to continue any further. We have gone forty-five days without any new case and that clearly is some level of; that is telling you a story and I am hoping that the oversight committee will continue to look seriously at reopening back business so that we can get back to the business of the people.”

Dinesh Bhojwani

Dinesh Bhojwani, Representative, Belize-Indian Community

“From our perspective and I think certain industries and certain stores and certain sectors, genres are doing better than others. I think a lot of it is based on necessity. There are stores that are not necessarily involved or dealing with things that are necessities probably aren’t doing as well. I think stores that are dealing with necessities and food items are probably doing a little bit better. It was great to see this weekend that everybody was out and about, travelling and enjoying and keeping the dollars in Belize.”