MCC CEO Visits Belize After $250 Million Grant Approval

Ambassador Kwan welcomed Alice Albright, CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), to Belize today at the international airport. This visit follows the MCC’s recent approval of a significant $250 million investment grant aimed at advancing education and energy initiatives in Belize. The MCC, a U.S. government-funded organisation, is dedicated to reducing poverty through sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

During the next two days, MCC representatives will meet with various Belizean officials, including government leaders, educators, business community members, students, and other stakeholders. The discussions will centre on how this substantial grant can improve educational opportunities and facilitate more affordable energy solutions in Belize.

The Government of Belize (G.O.B.) is expected to sign the grant agreement in September. However, before this can take place, the G.O.B. must establish the Millennium Challenge Account Belize Authority, which will be responsible for implementing the education and energy projects. This requirement was the main reason for July’s Special Sitting of the House of Representatives.

Back then, Prime Minister John Briceño underscored the importance of this opportunity, saying, “I must commend the team within our government who were directly involved in this process. Special recognition goes to the Minister of Education for their role in the extensive analysis and discussions to identify our top priorities. We made it clear that our focus is on education, education, education—preparing our children for the economy of the future. At the same time, we recognise the need to grow the economy by addressing the country’s energy needs. The opposition could not criticise this initiative because it’s evident that we’ve been working on this since day one of our administration, tackling the challenges we face as a growing country. Following consultations and analysis, a proposed MCC compact program was drafted, and negotiations on the grant agreement were finalised in April this year. Two weeks ago, the MCC board approved $250 million Belize dollars—a grant investment, free money, which is more than 20 percent of our entire national budget—to be invested in education and energy. This could have never happened during the thirteen years of the U.D.P. administration. Why do you think they chose this government and not the previous one?”

This grant, representing over 20% of Belize’s national budget, is viewed as a vital step toward addressing the country’s educational and energy challenges.