The United Democratic Party (UDP) commemorated its 51st anniversary with a celebration, marking over five decades of resilience, service, and growth. The event brought together party supporters to reflect on the UDP’s legacy and its contributions to Belize’s development.
The party’s leader, Moses Barrow, said, “The UDP has won the most General Elections in post Independence and we have done the most to develop Belize!…Belize has always been better served by UDP Governments.”
In a press release, the UDP paid tribute to the party’s founding leaders, including Philip Goldson of the National Independence Party (NIP), Dean Lindo of the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM), Sir Manuel Esquivel of the Liberal Party, and former Prime Minister Dean Barrow of the UDP.
“We have within us the power to form the next Government of Belize once we stay focused and engaged with the people we want to serve! We shall continue to work hand in hand to strengthen and protect the Institution of the UDP so that the Party can elect many more Governments to develop Belize.”
The Belize Police Department has responded to claims made by a Belize City man on News 5 earlier this week. As we reported, the Belize City man said he is fearful after allegedly being shot multiple times with rubber bullets during a police raid on his property late Monday night. He said that while using the bathroom, he encountered officers in dark clothing, who shot him despite his surrender. The traumatised man, who has a newborn, is seeking legal action and plans to file a report after receiving medical treatment.
In a press statement, the Belize Police Department said that police officers protected and elderly citizen from being attacked.
“On Monday, September 23, 2024, at approximately 10:40 pm, our monitoring system detected an alarming situation on Central American Boulevard (C.A. Blvd), near the Faber’s Road junction.”
The release says that an elderly man was walking southbound along the boulevard towards Trinity Street when three young males emerged from the Matura residence at the corner of Central American Boulevard and Matura Street. It says that the individuals ran toward the elderly man, and moments later, surveillance footage captured them forcibly searching him after he had fallen to the ground. Following the attack, the assailants returned to the Matura residence.
The Department says that upon recognizing the urgency of the situation, the monitoring team immediately relayed the information via radio transmission. This prompted a quick response from a nearby patrol unit. Officers arrived at the scene at 10:43 pm and proceeded to search the residence where the suspects had fled. During the search, one individual, matching the attackers’ description, was taken into custody. When the suspect made a sudden movement as if reaching for something, an officer, fearing for his safety, discharged one non-lethal rubber bullet, successfully subduing the individual.
The suspect was transported to the Racoon Street Police Station by 10:47 pm, where he was processed and issued a medico-legal form before being taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for evaluation at 11:11 pm.
The department has released a video excerpt showing the key moments leading up to the intervention.
The latest statistics from the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) show that both imports and exports declined in August of this year. At SIB’s third press conference for this year, Statistician II Ronald Orellana announced that total imports fell to $219.2 million, a drop of 20.2 percent or $55.6 million compared to August 2023.
Key contributors to this decline included a $21.5 million reduction in’mineral fuels and lubricants’ and a $9.3 million decrease in goods for ‘commercial free zones.’
Domestic exports were similarly impacted, totalling $43.5 million in August, down 39.2 percent or $28 million from the previous year. This steep decline was primarily driven by a $32.5 million drop in sugar exports, although some categories, such as citrus products and marine goods, showed modest growth.
For the first eight months of 2024, total merchandise exports reached $307.1 million, a decrease of 1.5 percent from the same period in 2023, largely due to the downturn in sugar exports, despite improvements in banana and citrus sales.
While imports increased by 8 percent overall in the first eight months of 2024, reaching $1.935 billion, the August figures signal significant challenges ahead.
Consumer prices in Belize increased by 3.1% in August 2024, according to the latest report from the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB). This showed a continuation of inflation trends that began in late 2020 after a period of stability from 2019 to 2020. The most significant driver was the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ category, which saw a 5.1% inflation rate, largely due to rising costs for fresh vegetables (up 12.6%) and fruits (up 11.5%).
Among the highlights was the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for August, delivered by Melvin Perez, Statistician II in the Economic Statistics Department.
Other contributing factors included a 2.2% rise in transport costs, driven by a $0.67 increase in diesel prices, and a 7.1% increase in passenger transport services, marking its first rise since April 2023. The ‘Restaurants and Accommodation Services’ category also experienced a 4.9% increase, primarily from higher dining costs, while housing-related expenses rose by 1.7% due to increased rental prices.
The ‘Clothing and Footwear’ category recorded a 5.1% increase, and personal care products rose by 4.4%. The only decline was seen in the ‘Information and Communication’ category, which fell by 2% due to lower electronics prices.
Municipality-wise, Belmopan reported the highest inflation rate at 6.1%, while Punta Gorda Town had the lowest at 1.36%. The year-to-date inflation rate for 2024 is currently at 3.8%, driven largely by increases in food and accommodation services. Month-over-month inflation for August was recorded at 0.6%, indicating ongoing pressure on consumer prices across various sectors.
Belize’s economy experienced a significant boost in the second quarter of 2024, with a preliminary Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimate of $1.432 billion. This is according to the Statistical Institute of Belize’s (SIB) latest figures shared today. This marks a 10.5% increase, or $136 million, compared to $1.296 billion during the same period in 2023.
Christopher Hulse, Statistician II in the Economic Statistics Department, said that growth was evident across all three economic sectors. The economic sectors mentioned in the report include three main categories. The primary sector encompasses industries involved in the extraction and production of raw materials, such as agriculture, fishing, and mining. The report highlights agricultural industries like citrus, bananas, sugarcane, and livestock, as well as fishing. The secondary sector involves manufacturing and construction activities, including food production, beverages, electricity, water, and construction. The tertiary sector focusses on service-based industries, which include wholesale and retail trade, accommodation and food services, transportation, financial services and insurance, and government services.
According to Hulse, the primary sector rebounded with activities valued at $107.8 million, up 5.6% from the previous year. Key agricultural gains included a surge in citrus production, which rose from 1.9 thousand metric tonnes to 4.8 thousand metric tonnes, along with increases in banana (22.9%) and sugarcane (14.1%) production.
The secondary sector expanded by 8.4%, or $210.8 million, driven primarily by a 35.5% increase in electricity generation and a 7.3% rise in construction. However, manufacturing faced challenges, with flour production declining by 7.5%.
The tertiary sector, the largest contributor at $911.8 million, saw a 10.5% increase. Notable growth was recorded in accommodation and food services (33%), and wholesale and retail trade (23.1%).
SIB’s Director General, Diana Castillo-Trejo, says that climate change continues to affect all sectors, particularly agriculture, where adverse weather has damaged crops. “It is fair enough to say that climate change is having an impact probably across all the sectors of the economy. The most obvious one is agriculture,” she said, adding, “It is important to note that electricity production refers to what we produce locally, excluding imported electricity.”
Belize’s economy is rebounding strongly, with a 10.5% growth in Q2 2024 driven by improvements across all sectors. However, the recognition of climate change impacts highlights ongoing vulnerabilities.
In its third press conference of 2024, the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) reported a drop in the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) for August, which fell to 43.6—down 3.8% from July’s 45.4. The decrease in the overall CCI for August follows several months of consistent upward growth that began in May 2024. According to Acting Manager, Economic Statistics Department, Statistician 1, Jaqueline Sabal, this decline is mainly attributed to significant reductions in the ‘Durable Goods’ and ‘Expectations’ components, which decreased by 6.2% and 5.4%, respectively.
The CCI serves as a vital indicator of consumer sentiment regarding the economy, personal financial situations, and willingness to make major purchases. Given that household spending is a key driver of economic activity, shifts in the CCI can provide early indicators of future economic growth.
According to Sabal, urban consumers saw a 1.6% decline in CCI, heavily influenced by a 6.5% drop in durable goods sentiment. Rural areas, on the other hand, experienced a sharper decline of 5.4%, particularly in the ‘Expectations’ sub-index, which fell from 59.6 to 55.1.
By gender, males reported a 4.2% drop in confidence, while females saw a 3.1% decrease. The most notable decline occurred among consumers aged 35-44, with a 13% drop, while those aged 25-34 reported an 11.5% increase.
Ethnic disparities also emerged, as the Garifuna and Maya groups faced the largest declines, with the Garifuna CCI dropping from 51.5 to 45.9.
Overall, the August figures indicate growing pessimism among residents about their finances and the economy. It reflects increasing consumer caution regarding financial outlook and major purchases, signalling a potential slowdown in spending that could impact economic growth.
As September celebrations wind down, Belize’s next highly anticipated event approaches.
Today, the National Garifuna Council announced the theme for this year’s November 19th Celebrations: “Afeduha waméi wagücha, afareinha waméi wanichigu! – Celebrating our roots; sharing our culture.”
This theme, submitted by Biviana McDougall, a teacher at Gulisi Community Primary School, was selected by the Garifuna Language Commission.
In its press release, the council highlighted the theme’s focus on honouring cultural origins and the importance of passing down knowledge to future generations. “It reminds us of the responsibility adults have as role models, and educators, ensuring that Garifuna culture and identity continue to thrive through the younger generation,” the Council stated.
The Department of the Environment (DOE) recently concluded a training session aimed at enhancing environmental compliance monitoring, a crucial step in safeguarding Belize’s natural resources.
Over three days, from September 17-19, 2024, experts from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) provided guidance to representatives from over ten government agencies, including Public Health, the Forest Department, NICH, and the Ministry of Natural Resources, Petroleum, and Mining.
The training involved practical exercises and discussions designed to enhance participants’ monitoring skills.
Anthony Mai, Chief Environmental Officer, highlighted the importance of compliance, stating, “Compliance is not just a checklist; it’s a critical aspect of maintaining trust and integrity in our operations.” He noted that the training offered a valuable opportunity for professionals to exchange knowledge and address common challenges.
Thirty-five-year-old David Gongora, a police constable and resident of Roaring Creek Village, appeared in court unrepresented this morning, where he was charged with two counts of harm and one count of aggravated assault with a firearm. The charges stem from an incident here in Belize City on September first, when P.C. Gongora allegedly injured two persons, including fellow police officer Kersha Pelayo, and Astry Burgos. He is also accused of one count of aggravated assault with a firearm upon Elroy Casimiro, a secondary school teacher. It is reported that the trio was standing in line waiting to purchase food from a vendor near the corner of King Street and Amara Avenue when Gongora arrived at the location. He allegedly entered the line in front of the Pelayo and the two other people when an altercation ensued. During the exchange, Gongora reportedly struck Pelayo twice in the face before threatening Casimiro with his firearm. In the magistrate’s court this morning, Gongora pleaded not guilty to the charges. Due to the nature of the offense, bail was not granted, and he was remanded to the Belize Central Prison until November fifteenth, 2024.
The Belize Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI) says that more than 10,000 visitors flocked to the Expo grounds over the two days. In a release, BCCI said, “This year’s Expo provided exhibitors the opportunity to network, build their consumer base, and showcase their talents and services on a grand scale – all of which aligns with our Triple C Philosophy – to Connect, Capacitate, and Champion.”
The event also featured the annual “Best Booth” competition, which evaluated exhibitors based on creativity, professionalism, innovation, and efficiency. The winners of the 2024 competition are:
Best Overall Booth: Smart Belize
Most Outstanding Up & Coming Entrepreneur: Little Ceramic Painters
Best Micro Booth: HEYABBZ
Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner delivered the welcome address. Dr. Henry Canton, Executive Director of Silk Grass Farms, gave the keynote speech, focussing on his company’s conservation and sustainability efforts and highlighting the potential for local businesses to collaborate in enhancing their products. Kim Vasquez, Director of the Institute of Creative Arts (ICA-NICH), followed with an insightful presentation on the “Culture is My Business” initiative, underscoring the dynamic relationship between commerce and culture.
BCCI President Katherine Meighan also took to the stage. She emphasised the significance of the Expo in fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and opportunity. Meighan also highlighted the BCCI’s role in supporting businesses through every step of the planning process.
