Belmopan City authorities have moved to address mounting confusion regarding recent trade license fee increases, with Mayor Pablo Cawich providing crucial clarifications on the implementation timeline and financial adjustments.
In an official statement released February 11, 2026, Mayor Cawich explained that the recently issued fee notices containing increased amounts were calculated based on municipal reassessments. However, following intervention from central government authorities and the Ministry of Local Government, the city council has recalibrated its approach to ensure compliance with the newly legislated ten percent cap on fee adjustments.
The discrepancy emerged from differing interpretations between municipal authorities and the Trade Board regarding the applicability of the new legal framework. While the Trade Board initially believed the ten percent limitation didn’t apply during the transition period, subsequent discussions have resulted in a revised understanding and approach.
Mayor Cawich confirmed that updated correspondence will be distributed to all business license holders, regardless of whether they were affected by the recalculations. For those businesses that already made payments exceeding the corrected amounts, the municipality will apply these as credits toward future licensing periods or other municipal fees, eliminating the need for refund processing.
This proactive communication strategy aims to restore confidence among the business community while demonstrating the city’s commitment to transparent governance and regulatory compliance during the implementation phase of new legislation.