The Belize Herald

Daily News from Belize

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PACT with $1.15 million investment in Marine Reserve Network

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The award makes the 10th targeted investment by the Trust Fund

Belize City- The Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) continues to be the premier donor to Belize’s National Protected Areas System. Today, PACT continued the roll out of its Conservation Investment Strategy with another investment, this time in multiple Marine Protected Areas under the management of the Belize Fisheries Department. A brief signing ceremony was held to award the $1.15 Million Dollar conservation investment.

This investment is expected to support the Fisheries Department in improving management effectiveness of five Marine Reserves across the Belize Barrier Reef System. Specifically, it will result in improved infrastructure and management presence at the Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve, Caye Caulker Marine Reserve, South Water Caye Marine Reserve, Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve and Glovers Reef Marine Reserve.

The award marks the tenth targeted investment award made by PACT towards improved management of the Belize National Protected Areas System (BNPAS) since December 2018. Cumulatively, these investments, made in accordance with PACT’s 2018-2021 Conservation Investment Strategy, will see PACT invest up to a staggering $9.5 Million Dollars in 19 protected areas across the BNPAS over the next three years. Additionally, these investments stand to attract at minimum an additional $12 Million Dollars in leveraged resources from other donors, ballooning the total investment in these sites to over $21 Million Dollars.

Special Event to Honor 28 Years of Cuban Medical Brigade

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Cuban medical staff belize
Minister Marin conveyed sincere gratitude to the Cuban Government and people for their continued and invaluable contribution to Belize. Photo: Government of Belize

Havana, Cuba- Minister of Health Hon. Pablo Marin hosted an event to honour Cuban medical personnel who have served in Belize. The event was hosted at Kcho Studio Romerillo Gallery and Community Centre in Havana, Cuba.

The studio is a community cultural project demonstrating the transformative power of art. It was founded by the world-renowned Cuban visual artist Alexis Leyva Machado, also known as Kcho, who believes that “art has a healing ability that can enrich and beautify other peoples’ lives”. He embodies the spirit of the collaboration that has brought Cubans and Belizeans together in keeping with the late Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro’s vision of service among developing nations.

The medical personnel reunited, recalling their experiences and years of service in every district. This was set against a backdrop of images Belize by Cuban-Belizean Orestes Aguiar.

Currently 87 Cubans serving in Belizean Health Care Sector
Cuba has been sending medical personnel to Belize since 1990. Currently, there are 87 Cubans serving in the Belizean health sector. Minister Marin recognized their contribution to the development of health services in Belize. He also acknowledged the sacrifices they made by leaving their families behind to serve on behalf of their country for the benefit of Belize.

Minister Marin conveyed sincere gratitude to the Cuban Government and people for their continued and invaluable contribution to Belize.

Belmopan City Council at Odds with Public Service Union over sale of Building

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PSU press conference
The PSU stated during their meeting today that they would fight the unexpected sale of “their” building were not planning to vacate the premises.

Belmopan- The Public Service Union and the Belmopan City Council (BCC) are at odds with one another over the sale as what has become know as the PSU Headquarters.

While the PSU claimed to be surprisde and said that they were having discussion ‘in good faith’ for the purchase of the Hilltop building, BCC claims the existence of ‘huge arrears’ in payments since the original agreement to purchase the building by the Union. On top of that, BCC claims that they could not reach an agreement with PSU about the selling price of the building involved.

“The building used for the PSU headquarters is situated on Parcel No. 6061 owned by the BCC and was first leased to the PSU in 2001 for a term of 20 years at the rate of $500 per month. Subsequent to the signing of that agreement, a new lease was signed in 2003 for a term of 20 years with a monthly rental in the amount of $500 with an option to purchase upon completion of the contract. All payments made over the course of the lease would then be applied to the purchase of the property if the Union chose to exercise their option to purchase”, according to a press release from BCC.

The Council also claims there were huge arrears in payments by the PSU and that the Council failed to reach an agreement on the purchase price for the building.

“The BCC offered the property for purchase at a heavily discounted price of $503,810.54. The PSU then made a counterproposal of $187,278.70 which was less than half of the already discounted valuation. While in negotiations with the PSU, an offer was made to the BCC and was accepted in the amount of $400,000 which is more than double the PSU’s best and final offer” according to the press release.

PSU calls the action by the BCC a ‘malicious act’ and is calling for action and solidarity from its members to counteract the decision made by the Capital’s City Council. The union is also adamant that it will not be moved and is not planning to vacate the building.

Inflation Highest in Twin Town of San Ignacio/Santa Elena

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Snapshot September 2018 inflation figures
A snapshot of inflation figures per region, provided by SIB, shows that inflation is San Ignacio/Santa Elena is considerably higher than is the case in the rest of the country. Photo: SIB

Belmopan- Figures from the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) shows that the overall Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the month of September 2018 stood at 105.4; a 1% increase compared to September 2017.

The variation in CPI per region is however considerable. According to SIB, the twin town of San Ignacio/Santa Elena shows the highest level of price inflation, namely 2.9%. The higher rate of inflation in this region, according to SIB, is mainly due to higher rents in the area.

Dangriga Town on the other hand registered the lowest rate of inflation, with prices actually decreasing 0.6% in the month of September 2018.

The single item which shows the biggest price increase in 2018 for now are pineapples which went up by over 21% compared to a year earlier, while sweet pepper went down by nearly 22% compared to a year ago.

Belize 125th of 190 countries Measured in World Bank Doing Business Report

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ease_of_doing_business
Belize dropped 4 places on the list compared to last year’s ranking, but there are positive developments.

Belmopan- 2018. On Wednesday, October 31, 2018, the World Bank released its annual Doing Business report, which ranks countries based on their regulations and other barriers to business activity. This year, Belize ranks 125th out of the 190 countries measured, which is a four-point decrease from the previous year’s ranking.

When compared to other CARICOM countries, Belize continues to rank in the middle, after the Bahamas and ahead of Barbados. Jamaica tops the region at 75 and Haiti is last at 182.

“While Belize’s rank has fluctuated over the past few years, this is not indicative of a lack of progress that is being made on the ground since policy reform and systemic improvements often require time to materialize,” said Mr. Ishmael Quiroz, Executive Director of the Economic Development Council (EDC).

The EDC is tasked with promoting dialogue, meaningful communication, and partnership between the government and the private-sector with the objective of addressing economic development challenges and opportunities affecting the ease of doing business in Belize.

Recent accomplishments in the areas covered by the Doing Business Report include advancing Belize’s eGoverment strategy for delivering public services via online platforms, amending the Belize Building Act to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the Central Building Authority (national regulator) and those of the Local Building Units (municipalities) thereby leading to greater efficiencies in applying for construction permits.

The Trade License regime has also been under revision with the objective of introducing standardized application and transparency thereby allowing predictability, better forecasting and planning as well as improvement in moving funds nationally due to the enactment of the National Payment System Act, for automatic cheque payment processing led by the Central Bank of Belize.

Reforms are critical
Reforms such as these are critical for a country to receive a higher rank in the Doing Business report, however, since many of Belize’s reforms are new or ongoing, it is not until subsequent cycles of the report that they will be reflected in improved country performance.

The report’s goal is to inspire regulation that is efficient, accessible, and implemented in simple ways to facilitate business activity.

The EDC commends the line ministries, departments and regulatory agencies that are serious about reform, and invites everyone to continue supporting the advancement of Belize’s business climate. Much work still needs to be done to increase Belize’s rankings in the Doing Business report and this can only be achieved through conscious and committed effort by all relevant institutions. Recent reforms, ongoing regulatory upgrades, and continued collaboration between the government and private-sector reveal a country that is eager to improve.

Sugar Mainly Responsible for Drop in Domestic Exports September

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sugar cane
Revenues from sugar fell
significantly by 27.2 percent in the month of September.

Belmopan- Diminished returns from sugar was the principal cause of the decline in export earnings for the month of September 2018.

Although exported volumes of this commodity saw only a slight 3.3 percent drop compared to September of last year, revenues from that commodity fell significantly by 27.2 percent, from $28.5 million to $20.7 million, as bulk sugar was sold for noticeably less on the European market compared to last September.

According to figures by the Statistical Institute of Belize ((SIB) Bananas saw a smaller reduction in earnings for the month of September, falling by less than a million, from $8 million in September 2017 to $7.1 million in the same month this year, while revenues for citrus products remained virtually unchanged at approximately $3.6 million.

Marine products show increase
Among the major commodities, marine products recorded the only increase in September, as export earnings for rose from $2.3 million to $3.1 million, due to boosted sales of whole lobsters, lobster meat and shrimp. Molasses and sawn wood, while not classified as major exports, fell sharply in the month, resulting in a combined revenue loss of $2.2 million when compared to September 2017.

Walk-trough Tour of Renovated Court Building

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Walk through of renovated court
The renovations to the Supreme Court are a part of a larger investment being conducted in the downtown area of Belize City. Photo; GOB

Belize City- In August of this year, the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation through the Belize City House of Culture and Downtown Rejuvenation Project commenced rehabilitation works at the Belize Supreme Court. On Tuesday, October 30th, government officials and invited guests viewed the completion of the much-needed rehabilitation works during a walk-through of the court.

The rehabilitation works included roof repairs, ceiling and associated electrical works, minor repairs to the air condition system, painting of the Cupula, and termite treatment. The works were made possible by a $60, 912.50 contribution by the Downtown Rejuvenation Project in addition to counterpart contribution by the Belize Supreme Court. Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin remarked that he was especially grateful for the repairs to the ceiling which had been caving-in.

Part of larger downtown are investment
The renovations to the Supreme Court are a part of a larger investment being conducted in the downtown area of Belize City. The project is funded by the Government of Belize and the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) and executed by the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation through the Belize City House of Culture and Downtown Rejuvenation Project. Partners of the project include the National Institute of Culture & History (NICH) and the Belize City Council.

Also present at the walk-through were Mr. Yashin Dujon, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation; Hon. Tracy Taegar-Panton, Minister with responsibility for the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Commerce; His Lordship Kenneth Benjamin, Chief Justice; Ms. Trinia Young, Registrar of Supreme Court; Mrs. Bi-Yin Chien, Deputy Council at the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan); and Mr. John Arana, Director of the Belize City House of Culture and Downtown Rejuvenation Project.

Social Security Board With Information Session on Nov. 8th

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Social Security Board
The venue for the information session is the Biltmore Plaza.

Belmopan- The Social Security Board (SSB) is hosting the organization`s first annual information sharing event, SSB Connect. This forum promises to be an interactive and engaging session highlighting how the Social Security Board served its valued stakeholders in 2017.

Interested parties are invited to join SSB at the Best Western Biltmore Plaza on November 8 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to receive important information and updates about SSB operations and the Fund.

The purpose of SSB Connect is to interact with stakeholders and to detail the current status of the fund by providing reports on collections and expenditures of your contributions and investments. The organization will also celebrate the service enhancements made in 2017 such as the Online Contribution Portal and the Direct Deposit services.

SSB asks interested parties to register via info@socialsecurity.org.bz

BAHA Food Safety Laboratory Receives Accreditation

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BAHA building
The recognition was conferred by the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC)

Belmopan- The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) is pleased to announce accreditation of its Food Safety Laboratory, the Central Investigation Laboratory (CIL), to ISO/IEC 17025:2005, international standard for Competence of Testing Laboratories. This recognition was conferred by the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC) effective August 17, 2018.

BAHA says they are proud to offer greater assurance to our customers in the quality of our testing services. According to BAHA their success in this endeavor is a measure of BAHA’s commitment to quality infrastructure and customer satisfaction.

BAHA also states that they will continue to strive for excellence with their ongoing efforts to improve the quality and scope of its laboratory testing services. BAHA also stresses that they remain faithfully committed to fulfilling their mandate to the people of Belize, local producers, exporters, importers, trading partners and collaborators.

BAHA management said to be thankful to the donors and collaborators who helped to make this achievement a reality: The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA), the Caribbean Regional Organization for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), Organizacion Internacional Regional de Salud Agropecauria (OIRSA), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the European Union and the Government of Belize.

CARICOM Energy Month Launches Friday in Montserrat

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Caricomo Energy Month
The CARICOM Energy Month (CEM), will be launched November 2nd, in Brades, Montserrat, this year. Photo: CARICOM Today

Georgetown, Guyana- CARICOM Energy Month (CEM), will be launched 2 November, in Brades, Montserrat, with a focus on empowering youths for a sustainable energy future. The launch includes a symposium featuring a panel discussion on geothermal energy, energy conservation measures and electric vehicles.

The Month is observed in November each year. It serves to increase awareness of energy matters in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and celebrate the strides the Community has made to transition to a clean energy pathway. The Month of activities evolved from CARICOM Energy Week (CEW) which was established in 2011. Since its inauguration in 2016, CEM has become the seminal event on the calendar of energy stakeholders including academia, policy-makers, the private sector, youth, and development partners.

The ultimate goal is to achieve long-term, lasting behavioral changes. A wide cross-section of society and stakeholders will be engaged to ensure that individuals and organizations understand the impacts of, and take action to respond to critical energy issues.