Belmopan Market Vendors Face April 15 Deadline for Individual Trade Licences

Vendors at the Belmopan Market Plaza are facing mounting pressure from the Belmopan City Council to obtain individual trade licences or risk being forced to cease operations by April 15th.

At the centre of the dispute is a 30-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed in 2021 under the previous city administration, which granted the plaza a blanket trade licence fee of $30,000 annually. The Plaza’s owners argue that the MOU was lawfully signed and formed the basis for major investments into the market space, which has become a vital hub for small vendors, farmers, and micro-entrepreneurs.

David Zabaneh, one of the directors of Belmopan Market Plaza, explained the background. “We got granted a trade licence in 2021 by the Trade Licence Board. With that trade license, we entered into a five-year MOU with City Council to conduct market day activities, and it was something that was, you know, renewable,” he said. He recounted that in 2023, the situation shifted when the then-landowner expressed a desire to sell. “Being that we already had the commitment to our vendors, we decided, you know, we have to see how we proceed to purchase this property and not let it get in the hands of any other investor… we’re for vendors first.”

Zabaneh said a new agreement was negotiated with the City Council that hinged on purchasing the property and securing it for continued use as a market. “That MOU was a 30-year MOU that really hinged on the investment to purchase this property. It’s a three-acre property. It’s in the heart of Belmopan, and it’s one of the best locations for business… with the proximity to government offices, banks, and just about everything.”

Based on the strength of that MOU, Zabaneh said they secured a loan and made significant investments in the space. “So here we are now with the council sending a letter saying that MOU wasn’t valid… and charging each vendor individually when we already have a blanket trade license agreement.” He added that such an arrangement is not unprecedented. “Maybe it’s new to them, but it’s nothing that’s unheard of to have a blanket or umbrella trade licence. They do this kind of arrangement all over the world. If you want to go check in the Commonwealth, you could find that being done.”

Zabaneh also raised concerns about the impact of the council’s decision on small businesses. “The fee we pay annually—we would see a huge reduction in that. We’d probably see a 90% or 95% reduction in that if they come in and charge vendors the trade licence. But on our end, we can’t allow that to happen because a lot of times the small business owners… they get undone by different administrations. And we’re just in a position where we have to protect.”

Meanwhile, the City Council has dismissed the MOU, claiming it is “null and void” and that the previous mayor acted beyond her legal authority. The council plans to begin assessing trade licence fees for individual vendors this week. With legal action already in motion, the fate of the Belmopan Market Plaza now rests on a potential court battle that could have wide-reaching implications for small enterprises in the city.