On November 12, 2026, Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño unveiled a targeted cost-of-living relief package designed to ease financial strain on working households across the nation, extending popular tax-free shopping incentives beyond the traditional December Christmas rush to support families through the notoriously cash-strapped post-holiday period. The administration confirmed that the previously announced pair of GST-free weekends scheduled for December 2026 will proceed as planned, with an additional two-day tax reprieve set for January 23 and 24, 2027, to offset the economic pressure of what local communities refer to as “maaga season” — the stretch of early January when most household savings are depleted after holiday celebrations. Briceño emphasized that the GST exemption applies to all in-store retail purchases, delivering universal, immediate savings to every consumer rather than targeting narrow demographic groups. Alongside the extended tax break, the government is launching a full, evidence-based review of the country’s 40-item regulated basic food basket, to be led by the Ministry of Human Development. Officials noted that the current list of exempt or subsidized food items includes a number of nutritionally poor products, and the revision process will prioritize adding healthier, more nutrient-dense staple foods to the basket to advance both cost relief and public health outcomes for Belizean families. The policy package is framed as a practical, people-first intervention to help households stretch their limited budgets further as they navigate persistent global cost-of-living pressures entering the 2027 calendar year.