Tag: 2025-04-25

Belize Turns Up the Volume for World IP Day 2025

Belize is turning up the volume this week in celebration of World Intellectual Property Day 2025, with the theme “IP & Music: Feel the Beat of IP.” Led by the Belize Intellectual Property Office (BELIPO) under the Attorney General’s Ministry, this year’s events are all about showing how intellectual property (IP) protects musicians and helps Belize’s creative industries grow.

Throughout the week of April 22 to 25, BELIPO lined up a series of engaging activities to raise awareness and support local creators. It kicked off with a free webinar on April 22 titled “Copyright for the Music Industry,” which gave artists and music professionals useful tips on how to safeguard their work. On Wednesday, invited guests from the music industry gathered for a private roundtable to share personal experiences and advice about dealing with IP in the real world.

The celebration wraps up with a lively music showcase today in Belmopan, featuring talented Belizean artists. The goal is not only to enjoy the music, but also to shine a light on the importance of protecting the work behind the beats.

All week long, BELIPO is offering 25% discounts on IP application fees, free consultations, fun social media trivia, and daily IP tips to keep the public informed and involved.

World Intellectual Property Day is officially observed on April 26 and is celebrated worldwide to recognize the role of IP in encouraging innovation and creativity.

Unions Demand 8.5% Salary Adjustment

In a strongly worded letter addressed to Prime Minister John Briceño, the Joint Union Negotiating Team (JUNT) — representing the Public Service Union of Belize (PSU), the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU), and the Association of Public Service Senior Managers (APSSM) — has called for an 8.5% salary adjustment for public officers and teachers, citing rising economic hardship and growing disparities in compensation across the public sector.

The unions expressed deep frustration over what they described as a lack of equity in government spending. The letter highlighted recent increases in executive-level salaries and benefits, including for Chief Executive Officers, while frontline workers continue to shoulder the burden of past austerity measures.

The JUNT says this, “represents a grave injustice and a blatant disregard for the principles of equity and shared sacrifice.”

“These actions are perceived by our members as a betrayal of the trust and commitment they have shown to the Government and people of Belize.”

The unions argue that since the imposition of salary cuts and an increment freeze five years ago, inflation has significantly eroded the real income of public servants. They are proposing a phased implementation of the 8.5% salary increase to reflect this economic loss and are also advocating for a similar adjustment for pensioners.

In addition, the unions are calling for an increase in the minimum wage from $5.00 to $6.00 per hour, citing the rising cost of housing, utilities, and daily essentials.

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