Carib Scope

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  • ‘Now She Needs Us’: Fundraisers for Milagro Garel

    ‘Now She Needs Us’: Fundraisers for Milagro Garel

    For more than 20 years, Milagro Garel has dedicated her life to opening doors to critical medical care for thousands of children across Belize. As country director for the World Pediatric Project and a passionate community organizer with Friends of Pediatrics and other local groups, her work has touched nearly every corner of the small Central American nation. Now, as Garel faces a life-threatening medical emergency of her own, the community she spent decades serving is coming together to give back.

    Garel suffered a ruptured cerebral aneurysm last Tuesday, and has remained in critical condition since the incident. After being stabilized at a local medical facility in Belize, she was transferred via air ambulance to a specialized hospital in Guatemala for advanced care. According to family friend Carla Ayres Musa, Garel held stable vital signs through the weekend, and clinical teams scheduled her high-risk, long-duration surgery for the afternoon of August 3, 2026. Musa confirmed the procedure is expected to take between six and 10 hours to complete, given the complexity of Garel’s condition.

    “Everyone knows someone who knows Milagro,” Musa shared in an interview with local morning program *Open Your Eyes*. “Thousands of people across Belize have been impacted by her work in one way or another. Everything she does comes from pure passion and compassion for people who need help. Now she needs us.”

    The total cost of Garel’s emergency care, including international air transport, surgery, extended hospitalization, and post-operative follow-up treatment, is estimated at $95,000 — a sum far beyond what her family can cover on their own. In response, community members have launched a multi-pronged series of fundraising initiatives to close the gap, organized by lead coordinator Jodi Pott.

    Supporters can contribute through a dedicated GoFundMe campaign, or send direct donations directly to the Garel family. For those who wish to participate in in-person community events, a pop-up fundraising gathering will be held at Brew this coming Saturday. Later in August, a larger community event titled “Movements for Milagro” will take place at 3 p.m. on August 16 at the Bliss Centre. The dance-focused fundraiser will feature performances from multiple dance troupes from across Belize, with tickets priced at $25 per person. Those interested in purchasing tickets can reach organizers at 615-0935.

    Across Belize, messages of support have poured in for Garel, as residents who benefited from her decades of work join together to help the woman who gave so much to their children get the care she needs.

  • Lula kondigt campagne voor vierde termijn aan en benadrukt nationale soevereiniteit

    Lula kondigt campagne voor vierde termijn aan en benadrukt nationale soevereiniteit

    Brazil’s sitting President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has officially kicked off his campaign for a fourth presidential term, launching his bid at a raucous Workers’ Party rally packed with thousands of supporters in São Paulo. Venue floors were filled with the party’s signature red flags, and attendees chanted Lula’s name throughout the opening event, underscoring the intense energy of his campaign ahead of the national vote.

    At 80 years old, Lula is no stranger to national presidential races: this marks his seventh bid for the nation’s highest office, after previously holding two terms from 2003 to 2010 and returning to power in the 2022 election. Instead of centering his opening campaign speech on domestic policy achievements, Lula focused heavily on Brazil’s standing in an increasingly unstable global order, leaning into a narrative of protecting national sovereignty amid shifting great power dynamics.

    In his address, Lula called for increased defense spending, and pledged to protect Brazil’s vast reserves of rare earth elements and other critical strategic minerals from foreign control. “I want this country to be prepared, so that no one can ever invade it,” Lula told the crowd, adding that major global powers including China, the United States, and France will not be granted access to Brazil’s mineral resources unless they fully respect the nation’s sovereign rights.

    Lula’s rhetoric comes amid growing diplomatic and trade tensions between Brazil and the United States. In July, Washington imposed two separate rounds of tariffs on Brazilian imports, citing claims of unfair trade practices that the Brazilian government has flatly rejected.

    Another key flashpoint in the 2026 race is the political ties between the Bolsonaro family and former U.S. President Donald Trump. Lula’s leading challenger is Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who maintains close political and personal links to Trump. Lula has labeled Flavio Bolsonaro a “traitor to the nation,” a claim the senator has denied outright.

    Political analyst Leonardo Paz notes that framing the campaign around national sovereignty is a strategically shrewd move for Lula. “This narrative allows him to position an external enemy as a scapegoat for many of Brazil’s ongoing domestic problems,” Paz explained.

    Recent polling puts Lula in a narrow lead ahead of a projected second-round runoff, with 48% of planned votes against Flavio Bolsonaro’s 43%. Still, the nation remains deeply politically polarized between the two rival camps, with little middle ground between their supporters.

    While Lula can point to solid domestic gains during his current term, including steady economic growth, high employment rates, and expanded social programs that have lifted millions of low-income Brazilians out of poverty, the incumbent still faces significant domestic headwinds. Persistently high cost of living and growing concerns over the country’s fiscal deficit remain top voter priorities, while public safety has also emerged as a key campaign issue, particularly in regions heavily impacted by organized criminal activity.

    Corruption investigations also hang over both leading campaigns: Flavio Bolsonaro is currently under investigation over allegations of financial misconduct, and one of Lula’s own sons is also facing separate corruption suspicions. Addressing widespread speculation about his health and fitness for office at 80, Lula pushed back against concerns, telling supporters he is in “excellent condition” thanks to a regular routine of walking and strength training, claiming he is even fitter now than he was during his first presidential run in 2002.

  • Bio-fertiliser producer seeks to reassure public on safety of locally grown food

    Bio-fertiliser producer seeks to reassure public on safety of locally grown food

    Recent public anxiety over food safety has swept through Saint Lucia after local media outlet St. Lucia Times published Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) data ranking the Caribbean island among the world’s top 10 nations for pesticide application intensity. The statistics show Saint Lucia uses an average of 27.6 kilograms of pesticides per hectare of cropland, joining several other Caribbean territories in the high-intensity group. Now, the head of a leading local agricultural biotechnology firm is stepping forward to ease public fears and clarify what the data actually means.

    Johanan Dujon, founder and chief executive officer of Algas Organics — a company that produces sustainable bio-fertilizer from invasive sargassum seaweed — has 12 years of direct on-the-ground experience working with smallholder and commercial farmers across Saint Lucia. In his public statement addressing the recent concern, Dujon emphasized that higher pesticide use intensity does not automatically translate to unsafe produce for consumers.

    He explained that the higher pesticide volumes recorded in tropical climates like Saint Lucia’s are a predictable response to greater year-round pest pressure, a challenge that colder regions do not face. “In tropical climates you’re always going to have more pest pressure than in colder climates, as you can imagine, and of course you’re going to have higher usage of pesticides in some of these regions,” Dujon noted. Crucially, he added, high usage does not equal improper usage, and the public should not conflate these two separate factors.

    Dujon also pointed out a key misinterpretation of the FAO data: the metric measures total pesticide applied to cropland, not residual pesticide remaining on harvested food ready for consumption. All regulated pesticides include a scientifically established “re-entry period” — a waiting period ranging from three to seven days depending on the product type — during which the chemical breaks down to safe levels before harvest. When used in line with manufacturer and regulatory guidelines, no harmful residues remain on crops once this waiting period elapses. “If you spray a pesticide on a crop to kill off a particular pest, that chemical stays in the plant system for 3, 7, however many days that’s on the label, and once that time passes the produce is fully safe to consume,” he explained.

    While Dujon confirmed that Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Agriculture already offers pesticide handling and safety training to local producers, he argued that the country could strengthen its food safety framework with a more structured, systematic approach. He noted that the vast majority of local farmers already follow established safety protocols, including mandatory waiting periods, but added that more transparent testing and traceability would go a long way to reinforcing public confidence.

    One of Dujon’s key proposals is the urgent opening of the long-planned Pesticide Residue testing unit at Union, which would allow authorities to conduct regular random spot tests of produce sold at retail outlets across the country. Publishing transparent, public test results would directly demonstrate that local produce meets safety standards, he argued. “If we could do some spot testing of the produce at different places that sell and just be able to come out with a report and say, ‘Hey guys, look, we tested produce around these supermarkets, and we’re okay,’ that would help to allay public perception,” Dujon said.

    A second core recommendation is the widespread adoption of branded, traceable produce labeling. Currently, most local fresh produce sold in Saint Lucia does not include clear information about its grower, making it impossible for consumers to verify safety practices or hold producers accountable. Dujon explained that branded packaging with unique batch numbers would enable full traceability from farm to shelf, giving consumers the ability to confirm they are purchasing food from producers that follow safety standards. “When you pick up a batch of lettuce, sometimes you have no idea which farmer grew it… which is where the brand comes into play because that brand will then have a batch number and you can sort of trace it back. I think that’s where we’re going as a society, and I think it’s going to redound to the benefit of everybody, frankly,” he said.

    Throughout his statement, Dujon stressed that these proposed improvements are not meant to cast doubt on local farmers. On the contrary, he argued, local producers have every incentive to prioritize safe growing practices: “Farmers eat their own produce and don’t want to poison themselves or others,” he said. His core message remains clear: Saint Lucia’s local food can be safe even with higher regional pesticide use, and targeted systemic improvements will only strengthen that safety and public trust.

  • House Debates Tougher Tobacco Controls

    House Debates Tougher Tobacco Controls

    On August 3, 2026, lawmakers in Belize gathered to debate a sweeping new Tobacco Control Bill that would mark one of the most significant updates to the nation’s public health regulations in recent years. Introduced by the ruling government, the draft legislation is designed to cut national smoking rates and shield the general public from the harmful health impacts of secondhand tobacco smoke.

    Addressing the House of Representatives during Friday’s sitting, Minister of Health and Wellness Kevin Bernard outlined the three core pillars that anchor the proposed reforms. First, the bill mandates the creation of 100% smoke-free public spaces, extending smoking prohibitions beyond indoor public areas to a range of popular outdoor gathering spots: public parks, children’s playgrounds, sports stadiums, public transit waiting areas, and zones within a set proximity of building entrances, ventilation windows, and outdoor dining patios. Second, it enacts a full ban on all forms of tobacco advertising, promotional activities, and corporate sponsorships from tobacco companies. Third, the legislation requires all tobacco product packaging to carry prominent, clear warnings that detail the life-threatening health risks linked to tobacco use. It also adds a mandatory age verification requirement for all tobacco purchases, as part of the government’s push to stop underage access to tobacco products.

    While the proposal has advanced with cross-party backing for its core public health goals, it has not been without scrutiny. Opposition Leader Tracy Panton confirmed that her caucus supports provisions banning tobacco sales to anyone under the age of 18, a key youth protection measure aligned with the bill’s broader mission. However, Panton raised two critical concerns that have been flagged during pre-legislative review: she questioned whether small and medium-sized businesses that sell tobacco products were given adequate opportunity to provide input on the new regulations, and whether the government would allocate a sufficient transition period for vendors to adjust their operations to meet the new requirements before the law takes effect.

    The debate marks a key step forward for Belize’s public health agenda, with the bill reflecting global best practices for tobacco control endorsed by the World Health Organization. If passed, the legislation is projected to reduce smoking prevalence across the country, lower rates of tobacco-related chronic illness, and reduce public healthcare burdens linked to smoking over the long term.

  • Pompey Foundation celebrates Strides of Freedom

    Pompey Foundation celebrates Strides of Freedom

    On the morning of August 1, 42 runners ranging in age from 4 to 75 years old lined up along the Marisule-Bois d’Orange Highway for the annual Pompey Golden Mile, a community race that blends athletic competition with Emancipation Day commemoration. Organized by the John Pompey Foundation with on-the-ground support from the Morne Stars Athletics Club and official backing from the Saint Lucia Athletics Association, the event stretched from a starting line at Northern Electrical to a finish line outside Glace Supermarine, uniting runners of all ages and backgrounds from across Saint Lucia and beyond in a celebration of freedom and sport.

    The 2026 iteration of the run featured a remarkably diverse field of participants: 16 runners under the age of 15, 21 competitors under 20, and five seasoned athletes over the age of 50. Competitors traveled from across the island, with groups joining from the southern districts of Dennery and Vieux Fort, a large contingent of club runners from the island’s north, and one international participant who traveled to Saint Lucia from Kenya via Trinidad and Tobago.

    When the final runner crossed the finish line, Kenyan-born competitor Alex Ekesa claimed the men’s open title with a blistering time of 4:46.23. Asa Francis, a Vieux Fort native competing while home from studies at Coppin State University, took second place with a time of 4:51.38, while Kenrick James rounded out the men’s podium in 5:22.34. In the women’s division, Maiya Landers, a high school runner based in the United States, secured both the open women’s title and the junior women’s crown, crossing the line in 6:27.03 to place 14th overall. McKayla Olivier finished just 0.45 seconds behind Landers to take second place in the women’s open division, with Jayla Sayers claiming third in 6:37.03.

    Additional age-group titles went to Traie Constantine, who finished first in the junior men’s division with a time of 5:43.59; Sheba Jn Pierre, who topped the Under-15 girls’ standings in 8:14.41; and Kaylee O’Reilly, who claimed the Under-15 boys’ title with a time of 9:06.84. The event also recognized its most experienced and youngest participants: Charles Sayers and Rose Marie Casimir were honored as the oldest male and female competitors, while Samiel Williams and Melania Etienne took pride of place as the youngest finishing runners.

    For the John Pompey Foundation, an organization that has invested more than a decade into supporting youth development and grassroots sports across Saint Lucia, the Golden Mile is far more than a running race—it is a deliberate effort to tie athletic achievement to historical remembrance of Emancipation. John Pompey, founder of the foundation, framed the 2026 event as a fitting tribute to the meaning of the holiday. “This year’s run was a monument to freedom,” Pompey said in comments following the race. “Every stride taken on this historic day honours the path paved by past generations, proving that the pursuit of excellence is one of the truest expressions of liberty.”

    Pompey extended gratitude to all participants who joined the celebration of freedom through sport, singling out event partners for their critical support. “We are indebted to Alex and all the other runners for coming out and celebrating strides of freedom with us,” he said. “I want to say a special note of thanks to Morne Stars Athletics Club, who did most of the organisation on the ground, and the Saint Lucia Athletics Association, especially Patrick Mathurin, who supported starting and timing.”

    Beyond the annual Golden Mile, the John Pompey Foundation maintains a long-standing record of supporting community sports across the island. The organization has regularly donated barrels of sporting equipment, groceries, and food to grassroots athletic clubs throughout Saint Lucia, and has hosted community sports events including the Golden Mile for more than 10 years. Following the 2026 edition, foundation leadership declared the event a total success, highlighting the cross-generational turnout as a sign of the race’s growing resonance with local communities.

  • Residents Paint Mural to Promote Placencia Lagoon Conservation

    Residents Paint Mural to Promote Placencia Lagoon Conservation

    On August 3, 2026, residents of Belize’s Independence Village came together to unveil a new community-created mural that stands as both a tribute to the ecologically rich Placencia Lagoon and a public call for urgent local conservation action. The unveiling marks the official launch of a targeted conservation awareness campaign spearheaded by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), designed to build widespread grassroots support for protecting the critical coastal waterbody.

    This mural project is just the first phase of a larger outreach effort: additional community murals are already scheduled for installation in nearby Placencia and Stann Creek districts, each designed to highlight the unique regional histories, cultural traditions and daily livelihoods that are inextricably tied to the lagoon’s health.

    Abigail Parham Garbutt, a marine conservation officer working on the initiative, explained that the collaborative artwork does more than decorate a public space: it weaves together decades of personal memories and lived experiences of local residents, while making explicit the lagoon’s non-negotiable role in sustaining the local way of life. The entire project falls under the umbrella of WWF’s larger Reef Guard Project: Sustaining Life and Livelihoods, a program that works to improve management practices across four key marine protected areas in the region, with a specific focus on centering local community leadership in Placencia Lagoon conservation efforts.

    More than 20 local residents, ranging from young schoolchildren to long-time environmental advocates, contributed hours of work to paint the mural, turning the project into a truly community-owned effort. Lead artist Anton Leslie shared that the mural’s design intentionally incorporates the lagoon’s iconic mangrove habitats, vulnerable native manatee populations, traditional local transportation and depictions of childhood moments spent along the water, all to visualize the deep, intergenerational connection local people have to the lagoon.

    Organizers behind the campaign emphasize that the mural is intended to act as a permanent, public reminder: long-term protection of the Placencia Lagoon can only succeed when the community members who rely on its resources every day take a leading role in conservation. A full, in-depth report on the project and the community’s response will air on News 5 Live at 6 p.m. local time the same day.

  • 35 Young Women Complete Girls in Governance Leadership Camp

    35 Young Women Complete Girls in Governance Leadership Camp

    Thirty-five ambitious young women from every region of Belize have crossed the finish line of a transformative six-day residential leadership initiative, the Girls in Governance Leadership Camp, capping off a week of skills-building and collaborative planning for community change. The event, which concluded on August 3, 2026, was jointly organized by Belize’s Department of Youth Services (DYS) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), bringing together emerging female leaders from diverse backgrounds to build capacity for public and community leadership.

    Unlike conventional youth workshops, the camp was intentionally crafted to address a persistent gap in representation: the underparticipation of young women in governance and decision-making spaces across Belize. Program designers centered the curriculum on closing this gap, combining theoretical learning with practical, hands-on activities that build both hard and soft skills critical for leadership. Participants walked away from the camp with training in core areas including women’s equitable participation in leadership, the foundations of Belize’s democratic processes, confident public speaking, digital literacy for civic engagement, strategic media outreach, and small-scale entrepreneurship.

    A key highlight of the program was its focus on actionable impact rather than just learning. By the end of the six days, every participant had developed a personalized leadership roadmap, outlining concrete steps they will take to drive positive social change in their home communities. The entrepreneurship segment of the camp added an extra layer of economic empowerment, with participants working in groups to design original, Belize-themed cultural products, create one-of-a-kind eco-art from upcycled waste materials, and learn the fundamentals of brand development and digital marketing to turn their creative ideas into income-generating ventures.

    In a joint statement following the camp’s conclusion, leaders from DYS and UNDP emphasized that the initiative is far more than a one-off training event. It is part of a broader, long-term strategy to break down systemic barriers that prevent young women from stepping into leadership roles across all sectors of Belizean society. By expanding access to skills development and networking opportunities for young female leaders, the program aims to foster more inclusive governance that reflects the needs and perspectives of all Belizeans, while advancing the country’s goals for equitable, sustainable national development.

  • Sir Errol steps down; Finisterre named Acting Governor General

    Sir Errol steps down; Finisterre named Acting Governor General

    A key leadership transition is underway in Saint Lucia, following the formal announcement from the Office of the Prime Minister that Sir Cyril Errol Melchiades Charles has officially vacated the post of Governor General, with his tenure concluding on July 31, 2026. Starting the next day on August 1, seasoned public servant Felix Finisterre has stepped into the role as Acting Governor General to carry out the constitutional duties of the position.

    Sir Errol’s journey in the vice-regal office began in November 2021, when he was first sworn in to serve as acting Governor General amid a transitional period for the island nation. Nearly three years later, in November 2024, he was formally appointed to the full position of Governor General, where he served until his recent departure.

    In an official statement released after the announcement of the leadership change, Saint Lucia Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre paid an official tribute to Sir Errol’s years of dedicated service to the country. Speaking on behalf of both the Government of Saint Lucia and the Caribbean nation’s people, Pierre extended profound gratitude for Sir Errol’s contributions throughout his tenure. He singled out Sir Errol for praise, highlighting the consistent dignity he brought to the vice-regal role and his unwavering respect for the constitutional authority of the office. In closing his tribute, the Prime Minister extended warm wishes for good health and ongoing blessing to Sir Errol and his entire family as they enter this next chapter.

    The new acting Governor General, Finisterre, brings a diverse and extensive professional background to the position, spanning decades of work across multiple sectors critical to Saint Lucia’s development. His career has included deep engagement in education advancement, grassroots community development, sustainable tourism growth, public sector administration, and regional integration initiatives across the Caribbean. Just recently, Finisterre received formal recognition for his work, earning a prestigious Gimies award to honor his outstanding contributions to community-centered tourism, cultural heritage conservation, and sustainable destination management on the island.

    Prime Minister Pierre also offered his formal congratulations to Finisterre on his appointment to the acting role, extending his best wishes for every success as Finisterre takes on the new responsibilities of the vice-regal office.

  • From Emancipation to Reparations: Caribbean push for justice continues

    From Emancipation to Reparations: Caribbean push for justice continues

    As Caribbean nations mark annual Emancipation Day celebrations between August 1 and 3 each year, the region’s decades-long campaign for reparatory justice for the harms of the transatlantic slave trade and Indigenous genocide has taken center stage in 2026, fueled by a cascade of landmark political and international developments that have strengthened its global standing.

    For communities across the Caribbean, Emancipation Day is far more than a cultural holiday: it honors the 1834 abolition of chattel slavery across British colonial holdings in the region, and centers the legacy of resistance forged by iconic freedom fighters. In Dominica, for example, the holiday is celebrated as August Monday, the first Monday of August, with tributes to legendary resistance leaders including “Neg Mawon” Chief Jacko and Balla, who fought against enslavement on the island.

    This year’s commemorations arrive at a pivotal turning point for the reparations movement, following a string of major advances across the spring and summer of 2026. The first critical milestone came in early July, when the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government convened in Saint Lucia from July 5 to 8. During the gathering, regional leaders formally approved an updated policy framework: the Revised CARICOM Ten Point Plan for Reparatory Justice: A Manifesto for the Coming Enlightenment.

    Drafted by the CARICOM Reparations Commission (CRC), the revised plan formalizes the region’s demand that European nations provide reparatory justice for two interconnected historical atrocities: the centuries-long transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans, and the systematic genocide of Indigenous Caribbean peoples that accompanied colonial occupation. Speaking after the conference in Gros Islet, CARICOM Chairman and Saint Lucia Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre emphasized that all discussions of reparations were rooted in a core commitment to lifting Caribbean communities. “The discussions were guided by a central idea: to improve the lives of the people of the Caribbean Community,” Pierre noted.

    The timing of the CARICOM summit held extra historical significance: its closing day of July 8 marked the 225th anniversary of the 1801 Constitution of Saint-Domingue, signed by legendary anti-slavery leader Toussaint Louverture. That historic document formally abolished enslavement in the colony and enshrined legal racial equality, a move that prompted Napoleon Bonaparte to deploy French military forces to crush the movement and reimpose chattel slavery. That invasion ultimately sparked the Haitian War of Independence, which led to the founding of the world’s first Black republic in 1804.

    Momentum for the movement continued to build through the rest of July. From July 13 to 16, a CRC delegation led by commission chair Professor Sir Hilary Beckles traveled to the United Kingdom to advance the region’s advocacy directly, raising the profile of the reparations demand among British political and civic leaders.

    Beyond the Caribbean, the movement has secured unprecedented global backing in 2026. In March, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a landmark resolution spearheaded by Ghana that formally designated the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans and the system of chattel slavery as “the gravest crime against humanity” in modern history. That global recognition was followed by a high-level consultative conference on reparations held in Accra, Ghana in June, which brought together heads of government, leading scholars, and grassroots advocates to coordinate strategies for advancing the global reparations movement.

    In the wake of the Accra conference, the Ghanaian government extended an invitation to Dr. Ralph E. Gonsalves, former Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Senior Advisor of the global reparations campaign, to join its new Global Advisory Council on Reparatory Justice, cementing collaboration between Caribbean and African leaders on the issue.

    Looking ahead, the reparations movement is set to remain a central global话题 over the coming months. Jamaica has already announced plans to submit a formal official petition for reparations to King Charles III on September 6. The petition will reference the 1781 Zong massacre, one of the most infamous atrocities of the transatlantic slave trade, in which roughly 140 enslaved African people were thrown overboard from the British slave ship Zong on its voyage to Jamaica, so the ship’s owners could collect insurance money for the “lost cargo.” The vessel eventually arrived at Black River in Jamaica’s St. Elizabeth parish on December 21, 1781, after the massacre.

    On the same day as Emancipation Day observances across the region, the University of the West Indies (UWI) is partnering with Jamaica’s Office of the Prime Minister to host a high-level dialogue on reparatory justice, featuring headlined remarks from Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama and Professor Sir Hilary Beckles. The discussion will focus on mapping the future of the global reparations movement, and exploring the critical roles that national governments and academic institutions must play in advancing meaningful justice for the descendants of enslaved Africans.

  • ‘Investment or Bailout?’ Panton Questions $73M BEL Share Purchase

    ‘Investment or Bailout?’ Panton Questions $73M BEL Share Purchase

    In a fiery House of Representatives session held Friday, Belize’s Opposition Leader Tracy Panton has thrown sharp scrutiny over the Briceño administration’s controversial plan to inject $73 million in taxpayer funds into Belize Electricity Limited (BEL), demanding clarity on whether the move is a legitimate public investment or an undisclosed bailout for the struggling state-controlled utility.

    Under the proposal, the government would acquire 8,138,020 convertible, redeemable preference shares at a price of $9 per share. Panton opened her critique by highlighting the government’s already overwhelming stake in BEL: the Government of Belize (GOB) holds a 66% direct shareholding, while the country’s Social Security Board (SSB) controls just over 30%, bringing total public ownership to nearly 97%. This overwhelming state control, she argued, makes the additional share purchase logically incoherent.

    “How does one increase control on something they already control?” Panton questioned, pointing out that taxpayers are being asked to pour more public capital into an enterprise that already belongs almost entirely to the Belizean public.

    Beyond the structural illogic of the deal, Panton challenged the $9 per share valuation, drawing direct comparisons to past pricing of the utility’s shares. She noted that BEL’s own 2005 annual report valued the company’s preference shares at just $2 apiece, and as recently as last October, the government purchased identical shares for only $1.57 each. Panton emphasized that there has been no independent third-party assessment, valuation, or public report to justify the sudden five-fold jump in share price from the 2025 purchase.

    Panton further argued that the $73 million allocation aligns far more closely with covering BEL’s existing short-term debt than funding planned expansion or long-term value-creating investment. She pointed out that BEL’s publicly reported immediate outstanding obligations total approximately $69.7 million, a figure nearly identical to the proposed allocation. This debt, she explained, covers ordinary operating costs including payments owed to the Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE), fuel expenses, and other regular day-to-day expenditures — not capital projects that would grow the company’s value.

    “It makes me think that what BEL needs is 73 million. My last check that BEL owed immediately was 69.7 million dollars; that’s for ordinary debt, and that is no investment capital. That is for monies we owe to CFE, operating costs, fuel, and essentially operating expenditure,” Panton told the House.

    Closing her critique, Panton drew a clear line between the two possible justifications for the spending, emphasizing that Belizean citizens have a right to full transparency about how their tax money is being used. “An investment creates value. A bailout prevents collapse. Belizeans need to know which one this is,” she said.