Earlier you heard about the economic downturn, and now up north there the start of the 2019 sugar crop has been postponed until mid-January 2020 and it is expected that the delay will result in millions of dollars in losses to the country. The impact of the drought continues to affect the agro-productive sector, including […]
Revised figures have been released by the Statistical Institute of Belize. They show that there has been a contraction in the economy by point four percent in the third quarter of this year between July and September. It follows a shrinking of the economy of point eight percent in the second quarter of this year. […]
After three years on the drawing board, Government is rolling out a national investment policy and strategy. The NIPS starts at the doorsteps of BELTRAIDE where investment proposals will be evaluated and then moved to relevant agencies before a final approval. Small and medium size investments will be handled differently than those that are valued […]
In early November, a protest broke out at the Benque Free Zone after the Board decided to institute an increase of fees. This was met with disagreement and a riot squad was deployed to quell things down. The additional fees were imposed on cigarettes but according to Minister of State for Investment, Trade and Commerce […]
Today at the Biltmore, the Belize Trade and Investment Development Services, BELTRAIDE, through its Small Business Development Center hosted the fifth annual Entrepreneurship Convention. It featured keynote remarks from the founder of the Caribbean Center of Excellence for Sustainable Livelihoods, as well as several panel discussions, as well as an expo of several local businesses. […]
Changes in pump prices for regular, premium and kerosene took effect today. Premium gasoline decreased by four cents, from ten dollars and seventy-eight cents, to ten dollars and seventy-four cents per gallon. Regular gasoline is now being sold at ten dollars and five cents per gallon, a decrease of two cents. Meanwhile, Kerosene saw the […]
A grant initiative valued at two hundred thousand dollars was launched on Wednesday. The Belize Seaweed Mariculture Project is a joint initiative between the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service, BELTRAIDE, The Nature Conservancy Belize, TNC, and Compete Caribbean. The project aims to develop the seaweed farming industry by tackling current challenges. News Five’s Hipolito Novelo reports. […]
The Statistical Institute of Belize says that the Gross Domestic Product for the last quarter grew by one point eight percent. Some of the factors that affected production levels for goods and services included climate conditions and world market prices, as well as consumer demand. If you felt that some vegetables were more expensive than […]
Belize’s population as of September of this year is four hundred and ten thousand, six hundred and ninety-five persons. Of that number, two hundred and seventy-one thousand, six hundred and fifty-one persons are of working age and the remaining persons are under fourteen years old. About seventy percent of the population represents persons of the […]
According to the S.I.B., while the labor force grew at a faster rate than which jobs were being created, there was an increase of women in the labour force. Benavides explains that this is a record growth in recent years. Wendy Benavides, Statistician II, S.I.B. “The number of females in the labour force has […]
The Belize Seaweed Mariculture Project was launched today in Placencia. The project is a joint venture between the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service, BELTRAIDE, and the Nature Conservancy Belize, TNC, with financial support from Compete Caribbean, through the Inter-American Development Bank. The project aims to support increased fisheries productivity for traditional fisher-folks in Belize, […]
Founded in 1968, the booming Jamaican Stock Exchange has been named the world’s best-performing stock market, twice. According to online articles, Jamaica’s success in its stock exchange is greatly due to its “dramatic economic turnaround that culminated in the country exiting its IMF programme with flying colours last month.” Chairman Ian McNaughton and Managing Director […]
High schools from across the country gathered in Belize City today where students participated in a competition for young innovators. The goal is to use a miniature computer platform to perform various innovative I.T. functions. The students were tasked to come up with an innovative project based on the theme, “Inspiring Solutions to Global Challenges […]
With recent news of Belize being removed from the European Union’s list of non-cooperative jurisdictions, is the country doing enough to turn around its status? And what about funds received through EU grants, were those affected by the blacklisting? On Thursday, Financial Secretary Joseph Waight responded to those questions, admitting that there is more work […]
The Statistical Institute of Belize continues to issue quarterly releases on the country’s economic performance. While G.D.P. estimates for the third quarter will be shared during S.I.B.’s final press conference for the year on November twenty-seventh, Financial Secretary Joseph Waight forewarned on Thursday that revenue will be adversely impacted as a result of the drought […]
Since the Belize Tax Service was launched back in August, as an amalgamation of the General Sales Tax and Income Tax departments, there have been various concerns among members of staff. Those issues have to do with placement of public officers within that department. On Wednesday afternoon, the executive of Public Service Union met with […]
Late on Friday, the Government announced it was instituting fixed prices for Liquefied Petroleum Gas known as L.P.G.; the prices took effect on Saturday. According to the government, the fix is temporary and is critical to keep local operators in the butane business. G.O.B. says that the new prices will prevent predatory pricing by major […]
The government has moved to establish fix prices for the sale of Liquefied Petroleum Gas known as L.P.G. beginning this Saturday. The fixed prices are to prevent predatory pricing by major importers who are said to have engaged in an act of driving prices down below the maximum ceiling for retail and wholesale of L.P.G. […]
At midnight, there will be another change in the price of fuels. Kerosene will increase by eleven cents and will sell at seven dollars and fifty-three cents per gallon. Diesel will go down by nineteen cents to retail at nine dollars and ninety cents per gallon. Prices for premium and regular gasoline will remain at […]
The economies of Belize and Barbados are dependent on tourism, but there are other opportunities that can open up for further trade between both countries. This is why a mission from Barbados is in the country. Representatives from ten companies are looking at new markets and similarly, Belizean counterparts, particularly in the agricultural sector, want […]
A job fair takes place this weekend so if you are looking for work the place to be is on Coney Drive, Belize City. Transparent BPO is looking for individuals who want to work for the upcoming holidays or a more long term placement. BPO is employing about a thousand persons but as it grows […]
Mayor Bernard Wagner also spoke on the council’s financial operations. The Mayor says that the council is gradually emerging from the slow season and has been able to meet every debt and bill. Bernard Wagner, Belize City Mayor “What we have been doing is nothing short of miraculous. You don’t see Waste Control going […]
Fourteen million dollars will be injected into the newly amalgamated Belize Tax Service for the strengthening of tax administration and collection as well as for the modernizing of the technological infrastructure. A loan motion for the upgrade was approved by the Senate in August, a week after it was passed by the House of Representatives. […]
The loan will be disbursed over a period of five years and is expected to have a positive impact on economic growth and development. Country Representative for the Inter-Development Bank Doctor Cassandra T. Rogers says the project helps to achieve the goals of the fiscal consolidation programme. Dr. Cassandra T. Rogers, Country Representative, I.D.B. “The […]
The annual report of the Public Accounts Committee for 2017/2018 has been released. While it brings out areas where government has lost millions of dollars due to a number of factors, the Auditor General makes the point that it is not a true and fair view of the government because critical information has been erased […]
