University of Belize act reviewed by Cabinet

In Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting Ministers came one step closer to making the proposed University of Belize a reality by agreeing on its legal framework. The ministers also considered an act to provide for the establishment, management and development of the national university, which will be tabled at the next meeting of the House of Representatives. The University of Belize will bring all five tertiary institutions together to provide research and learning relevant to the needs of Belize.

Under the Ministry of Citrus and Banana Industries, Cabinet has decided to set up a Belize Commodities Secretariat. The newly appointed Executive Chairman is Foreign Service Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jose Alpuche. That body will coordinate government and private sector expertise and provide research and administrative support to both industries. The project will be equally funded by government as well as the banana and citrus industries.

Final preparations have also been completed on the National Health Insurance Scheme. Senior officials from Social Security Board and the Ministry of Health briefed the Ministers on the scheme’s design, the groundwork already covered as well as the steps that need to be taken. The project will first be tested in the Orange Walk District and the southside of Belize City before it is implemented all over the country.

Under the Ministry of Natural Resources, Minister John Briceño has begun a staff restructuring exercise at the Lands and Surveys Department. Among the measures approved by Cabinet is the re-creation of the post of Deputy Commissioner of Lands. Briceño hopes to strengthen the managerial capacity, improve public image and involve the staff in the planning process of all areas including the mapping and survey section, registration, physical planning and land information center.