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Well, the holiday spirit is certainly winding down fast, and the price change of two fuel products is not going to help consumers during the “maga season.” The Ministry of Finance announced that as of Friday January seventh, regular gasoline will increase by twenty-nine cents, from eleven dollars and forty cents to eleven dollars and […]
Written on January 6, 2022 | Posted in
Economy |
Comments Off on Prices for Regular Gas and Kerosene Going Up
Your next light bill will more than likely be higher than what it was last month, whether or not you dressed your house for the recent Christmas holidays. The Public Utilities Commission (P.U.C.), in a press release issued today, announced that effective this month and running until June, the Mean Electricity Rate (M.E.R. for short) […]
Written on January 5, 2022 | Posted in
Economy,
Featured |
Comments Off on Electricity Rates Going Up, But Was It Necessary? P.U.C. Faults B.E.L.
Following COP26 and other efforts to boost Belize’s sustainable development, the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment announced it has created a Climate Finance Unit. The C.F.U. comes on stream as of January third and is intended to streamline the process for those wishing to access climate financing and assist the government in carrying […]
Written on January 5, 2022 | Posted in
Economy,
Environment,
Featured |
Comments Off on Climate Finance Unit Takes Shape
Another issue causing challenges for Belize hoteliers is when guests test positive for COVID just as they are about to leave. This means they cannot depart the country as scheduled and will need to continue their stay. In some cases, this can have a domino effect since new arrivals were supposed to get those rooms. […]
Written on January 4, 2022 | Posted in
Economy,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Visitors Testing Positive Cannot Leave Belize: Hotel Rooms Become Unavailable to Others
The head of the Belize Tourism Industry Association, Steward Krohn, said that the Belizean hotels have proved very resilient during the pandemic and very few have had to close down. He says one of the positive aspects has also been the increase in local Belizean traffic to destinations within the country, a trend he hopes […]
Written on January 4, 2022 | Posted in
Economy,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Tourism Industry Showing Resilience
Christmas and New Years have come and gone, and now many are starting to feel the pinch after going overboard with their spending. Bills are mounting, loan payments are due, but we still must provide food for the family, and here is where people look for some ease from those businesses that offer post Christmas […]
Written on January 4, 2022 | Posted in
Economy,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Shopping Discounts Continue through Maaga Season
The latest figures from the Statistical Institute of Belize indicate that Belize’s imports and exports shot up significantly, when comparing November 2021 to November of 2020. The review also showed that there was an increase in the cost of living when compared the same period. News Five’s Marion Ali has the details on the performance […]
Written on December 30, 2021 | Posted in
Economy |
Comments Off on Imports, Exports and Cost of Living Up in November
Prime Minister John Briceño today released his New Year’s Message to the country. Among the issues highlighted in his address was the state of the economy. The PM reviewed his administration’s first full year in office and although the year was met with some challenges, he says that things are changing for the better. […]
Written on December 29, 2021 | Posted in
Economy |
Comments Off on PM’s New Year Address: Economic Review of 2021
Among the successes of 2021 is the retiring Belize’s international debt to bondholders. That, coupled with huge improvements in the agriculture and tourism sectors, gives a positive outlook on the country’s economy. Prime Minister John Briceño “2021 spectacularly brought the end of super bondage. The retirement of the super bond wiped away half a […]
Written on December 29, 2021 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy |
Comments Off on PM on Retiring the Super Bond and Boosting Agriculture
It’s that time of the year where revenue collection is a paramount concern for municipal governments. Property taxes are being collected and trade licenses are getting renewed as the country survives yet another COVID year. To help ensure that the revenue stream at the city hall continues without a hitch, even given the economic strains, […]
Written on December 29, 2021 | Posted in
Economy,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Property Taxes and Trade License Fees are Due
It is Christmas Eve and the traffic downtown in downtown Belize City is bumper-to-bumper. Many are still out and about grabbing gifts for their loved ones at the eleventh hour. Earlier today, we popped in at Cellular World and Dibary to get an idea of some of the items that are in high demand this […]
Written on December 24, 2021 | Posted in
Economy,
People & Places |
Comments Off on The Rush for Electronic Devices and Footwear
Many people returned to the workplace this year, but with their return there seems to be a degree of thriftier shopping, at least among those who were still making last-minute purchases today. News Five’s Marion Ali visited three businesses and found that while the demands were for the traditional stuff, they were also for cheaper […]
Written on December 24, 2021 | Posted in
Economy,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Grocery Shoppers Thriftier This Christmas
Motorists who use premium fuel will be pleased when they go to the pumps on Christmas day and discover that the price of that fuel will be somewhat cheaper. The Ministry of Finance announced today that on Christmas day, the pump price of premium gasoline will decrease by forty-eight cents from twelve dollars and forty-nine […]
Written on December 24, 2021 | Posted in
Economy |
Comments Off on Price of Premium Fuel Dips on Christmas Day
The Briceño administration announced this evening that the scheduled reopening of land borders and sea ports on January first has been postponed to February 2022. The decision came on the heels of a recommendation from the COVID-19 Advisory Committee. The postponement, says the release, will allow for the health system to prepare for the emergence […]
Written on December 22, 2021 | Posted in
Economy,
Featured |
Comments Off on Land Borders Reopening is Postponed
But it would appear that the P.M. did not get the memo, because earlier today, he told the media that the reopening date remains in place and that the protocol at the land borders across the country has still not been finalised. Now the proposed reopening has been met with mixed reviews, but P.M. Briceño […]
Written on December 22, 2021 | Posted in
Economy,
Featured |
Comments Off on Protocols Still Being Worked out for Land Borders Reopening
In 2022, an amnesty program will regularise the status of upwards of fifty thousand undocumented migrants in Belize. There have been rumors after the amnesty period there will be a crackdown by law enforcement on those staying in Belize without proper documentation. But who would carry this out? P.M. Briceño says that while his government […]
Written on December 22, 2021 | Posted in
Economy,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Amnesty 2022 Budget Not Finalized as Yet
As viewers probably know by now the start of sugar crop has been delayed in the North due to unresolved issues between the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association, B.S.C.F.A. and the millers in Tower Hill, A.S.R./B.S.I. Adding to the confusion, after B.S.I. said they would proceed with milling on Monday even if not every association […]
Written on December 22, 2021 | Posted in
Economy |
Comments Off on Can G.O.B. Resolve Sugar Impasse in the North?
P.M. says that among the issues right now is the profit sharing mechanism on the bagasse. But there’s another problem within the northern sugar belt. Two of the four associations have signed on to the agreement, but there are concerns over the standings of those associations. An amendment to the Sugar Industry Act that has […]
Written on December 22, 2021 | Posted in
Economy |
Comments Off on Amendment to the Sugar Industry Act & Non-Complaint Associations
As the sticky situation between B.S.C.F.A. and A.S.R./B.S.I. moves into day-two of the sugar crop opening delay, today we heard from the Chairman of the Sugar Industry Control Board. Marcos Osorio wrote to the mill last Friday informing them that the sugar crop cannot commence on December twentieth citing, “a need for a publication in […]
Written on December 21, 2021 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy,
Featured |
Comments Off on S.I.C.B. Says Gazette Notification is the Law
According to Osorio, a meeting of the board has been called to hear presentations from the B.S.C.F.A. and A.S.R./B.S.I. Osorio alluded to a division between association representatives on the board, accusing A.S.R./B.S.I. representatives of inciting division. As the Chairman, Osorio also has a position on the issue. He is of the view that both parties […]
Written on December 21, 2021 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy,
Featured |
Comments Off on S.I.C.B. Chairman: Both Sides Should Sign One-Year Extension of Agreement
We also sought to find out from Osorio if any of the politicians in the north had any influence on S.I.C.B.’s letter to A.S.R./B.S.I. last Friday. Here is how he responded. Marcos Osorio, Chairman, S.I.C.B. “I would say no influence. Actually, I made the proper consultations before drafting the press release, guided by the […]
Written on December 21, 2021 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy,
Featured |
Comments Off on Osorio Says There Was No Political Interference; Sugar Board Functioning Well
As you heard, one of the points of the contention between A.S.R./B.S.I. and farmers that has triggered a response from the Sugar Industry Control Board is the current milling capacity at B.S.I. When we spoke to VP of International Relations at A.S.R./B.S.I. on Monday, however, he noted the significant investments A.S.R. has made to increase […]
Written on December 21, 2021 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy |
Comments Off on A.S.R. Wants Investors to Feel Confident About Investment Climate
Perhaps the longest standing product of contention is the baggase, or the waste of the sugar cane, used to make energy. BELCOGEN, the plant that generates the bio-energy from bagasse, has reportedly generated revenues to the sum of one hundred and forty-five million dollars. Sugar cane farmers at B.S.C.F.A., having seen these figures, are demanding […]
Written on December 21, 2021 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy |
Comments Off on B.S.I. Says They Pay Fair Price for Bagasse
The delayed start of the 2021 sugar crop remains a hot-button issue for stakeholders across the industry. The miller is at odds with cane farmers over various matters, including prices, and the government now finds itself caught in the middle of a standoff between the Belize Sugar Industries Ltd. and the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers […]
Written on December 21, 2021 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy |
Comments Off on Area Rep Weighs in on Sugar Woes
Cabinet has decided to defer the planned one percent Social Security Board payment increase until the beginning of the fiscal year, 2022. The increase was scheduled to take effect in January of 2022. PM Briceño explained today that while the increase is necessary, Belizeans now have more time to prepare. Prime Minister John Briceño […]
Written on December 20, 2021 | Posted in
Economy,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Increase in Social Security Contributions Delayed Until April
