Carib Scope

作者： admin

  • “I’ve Always Opposed New Taxes on the Tourism Industry,” But Here’s Why It’s Needed:

    “I’ve Always Opposed New Taxes on the Tourism Industry,” But Here’s Why It’s Needed:

    In a surprising public address amid mounting industry pushback, Belize’s Tourism Minister Anthony Mahler has broken with his long-held stance against new tourism taxes, backing a planned 3.5 percentage point increase to the country’s hotel accommodation tax that would raise the rate from 9% to 12.5%. The policy, which has been under negotiation for nearly two years, has split government officials and tourism stakeholders, with Mahler acknowledging he has always opposed new levies on the sector even as he argues the hike has become an unavoidable necessity.

    Mahler made his position clear to both the Belize Tourism Industry Association and the Belize Hotel Association, pushing back against speculation that he had championed the tax increase from the start. “I don’t know where that surprise comes from or make it look like that I pushed for this,” Mahler said in his address. “I’ve always opposed new taxes on the tourism industry.”

    For Mahler, the turning point comes not from a push to pad general government coffers, but from an urgent need to protect the tourism sector that drives Belize’s national economy. The country’s coastal tourism hub is facing an escalating, multifaceted crisis driven by massive sargassum blooms that have ravaged shorelines in recent months. The invasive seaweed has created overlapping environmental, public health, and economic threats for coastal communities, dealing a major blow to Belize’s attractiveness as a beach and marine tourism destination.

    Mahler added that the sargassum crisis is not the sector’s only challenge: rising global travel costs and ongoing geopolitical instability have piled extra pressure on Belize’s tourism industry, which relies on healthy coastal ecosystems to draw visitors. Roughly 70% of tourists travel to Belize to participate in marine activities, meaning the state of coastal environments directly determines the country’s competitiveness as a tourism destination.

    To combat the sargassum bloom, Mahler estimates the country needs roughly $20 million in new specialized equipment to manage and remove the seaweed. Until now, most response funding has been drawn from the existing budget of the Belize Tourism Board, stretching the agency’s resources thin.

    Under the government’s current plan, Mahler has secured Cabinet approval to earmark 1.5 percentage points of the 3.5 percentage point tax increase specifically for climate mitigation and environmental response efforts, rather than directing all new revenue to the government’s general budget. Aside from sargassum removal and management, the allocated funds would also address other pressing environmental issues threatening tourism, including river contamination.

    “If we have to get the 3.5 percentage points increase in the hotel tax, then at least put 1.5 percentage points back into the Sargassum fight,” Mahler explained. “So instead of it going into general revenues, at least 1.5 out of that 3.5 could go to climate change mitigation.”

    Despite the government’s plan to direct new funding to industry protection, the proposed tax hike remains deeply contentious among Belize’s tourism stakeholders. Industry leaders warn that raising hotel costs will make Belize less competitive with neighboring top tourist destinations including Cancun, Jamaica, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic, potentially driving away price-sensitive visitors and threatening the long-term success of the country’s tourism sector.

  • Two deadly stabbings push 2026 homicide toll to 36

    Two deadly stabbings push 2026 homicide toll to 36

    Two brutal fatal stabbings separated by less than a full day have sent shockwaves through the Caribbean nation of Barbados, driving the country’s total homicide count for 2026 to 36. Law enforcement agencies are currently working to untangle the details of the two unrelated attacks, both of which unfolded in the parish of St Michael.

    The most recent victim, a street vendor at the busy Fairchild Street Vendors Market widely known to the local community by the nickname ‘Tallman’, lost his life on Wednesday morning following a violent confrontation that erupted in the heart of the city market. Authorities have yet to formally release the victim’s legal name to the public as they continue to notify next of kin.

    This killing came just 18 hours after a separate fatal incident that claimed the life of 26-year-old Jamario Omar Holder, a resident of Block 7, Farm Road in Deacons, St Michael. Holder was stabbed in the Fernihurst area of the parish around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. According to official police statements, early investigative work suggests Holder got into a verbal dispute that escalated into physical violence with another man before the stabbing occurred. Emergency responders were not called to the scene; instead, Holder was rushed to the island’s primary care facility, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in a privately owned vehicle, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival from his wounds. Investigators confirm that a person of interest is currently cooperating with authorities in their probe into Holder’s killing.

    On Wednesday morning, police were dispatched to the Fairchild Street Market just after 9 a.m. following reports of a violent fight breaking out between two men. Like Holder, the injured vendor was transported to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in a private vehicle, but medical teams were unable to save him.

    Eyewitnesses who were present at the market during the attack described the confrontation as erupting completely without warning. One witness, who spoke to local outlet Barbados TODAY on condition of anonymity, recalled that after the initial argument, the victim attempted to walk away from the conflict, only to be followed by his attacker.

    “The man left from here and walked off, and the other man left from here and followed the man, pulled a knife, and stabbed him in his back. Told the man that he ‘Got this here for you’,” the witness recounted. The attack did not end after the first stab, the witness added. When the victim fell to the ground after the initial blow, the assailant continued the assault while bystanders begged for him to stop.

    “When the man got the first stab he jumped forward, fell down,” the witness said. “He flipped the man, got him on his back while the victim was struggling trying to get away, and the assailant sat down on his chest and stabbed the man more times.”

    After the sustained attack, the attacker fled the scene on foot before getting into a vehicle and driving away from the market. “After he moved off, we helped the guy, and two more guys put him in the van and took him to the hospital because he was bleeding really bad,” the witness added.

    Members of the local community who knew Tallman described the vendor as a warm, friendly person who was well-liked by everyone he interacted with. “Tallman was a very nice person. Everybody will tell you that. When you ask around, you will see other people will repeat the same thing. Cool guy, got along with people… everybody goes through their own problems, but nothing that would cause this,” one acquaintance said.

    With Tallman’s death, the total number of homicides recorded in Barbados for 2026 now stands at 36. Police investigations into both stabbings remain ongoing as authorities work to identify and apprehend the suspect in the Fairchild Street Market attack. (With reporting credit to Shamar Blunt of Barbados TODAY)

  • WISH: We Cannot Discuss Suicide Prevention Without Confronting Child Sexual Abuse

    WISH: We Cannot Discuss Suicide Prevention Without Confronting Child Sexual Abuse

    As Antigua and Barbuda marks National Suicide Prevention Month, a grassroots mental health and advocacy organization is pushing the nation to center the long-overlooked link between unaddressed childhood trauma, broken child protection systems, and preventable suicide deaths. The Wadadli Initiative for Self-care and Healing (WISH) made its call during the inaugural National Child Protection Town Hall, an event that brought stark new data on child abuse to light and gave survivors a platform to share their decades-long struggles.

    During the town hall, officials confirmed that 287 reported cases of child abuse have been logged across the country in 2024 alone, with roughly 30 of those reports involving sexual assault. Multiple survivors took the stage to recount experiences of abuse, institutional indifference, widespread victim-blaming, and systemic failures that have continued to shape their mental health and well-being decades after the abuse occurred in childhood.

    WISH founder Chaneil Imhoff emphasized that these conversations cannot be separated from the national focus on suicide prevention this September. Research consistently identifies childhood sexual abuse as one of the most damaging adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), linked to long-term outcomes including chronic depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and a significantly elevated risk of suicidal ideation and attempts. Imhoff was careful to note that suicide is a complex public health issue rarely driven by a single traumatic event, and no two survivors experience the same long-term impacts: trauma does not define a survivor’s identity or future.

    “When survivors come forward to share that they were abused, silenced, blamed, or left without protection, these are not just stories of a distant past,” Imhoff told attendees. “Without access to safety, justice, and meaningful, lifelong support, these wounds follow people into adulthood, fueling the emotional distress and hopelessness that contribute to suicide risk. We cannot claim to prioritize suicide prevention while ignoring the root trauma that drives so many mental health crises.”

    WISH publicly praised the Ministry of Social and Urban Transformation and participating child protection professionals for launching the national series of town halls, which aim to spark public conversation about child abuse, neglect, exploitation, and gaps in the nation’s child protection infrastructure. The organization is now encouraging all Antigua and Barbudan residents to take part in upcoming community-focused sessions as the conversation moves beyond the capital to reach towns and neighborhoods across the two islands.

    But WISH stressed that public dialogue alone is not enough to create change: meaningful progress requires concrete, measurable policy and systemic action. The organization has outlined a clear 9-point agenda for reform, starting with expanded access to affordable, confidential, trauma-informed mental health care for both child victims and adult survivors of abuse. Additional priorities include stronger legal and social protections for children who choose to disclose abuse, standardized reporting and referral protocols across all youth-serving institutions including schools, faith groups, healthcare facilities, and sports organizations, and consistent psychological support for survivors throughout criminal investigations and court proceedings.

    WISH also called for greater accountability for both individuals and institutions that fail to report suspected abuse or respond appropriately to disclosures, expanded public education on grooming, abuse warning signs, consent, and the long-term impacts of trauma, a review of the National Sex Offender Register to improve its ability to block convicted offenders from accessing vulnerable children, and sustained, long-term public funding for child protection professionals and agencies.

    A core priority for WISH is addressing the pervasive culture of victim-blaming that often follows disclosures of child sexual abuse. The organization stressed that children can never consent to sexual activity with an adult, and full responsibility for abuse lies solely with the perpetrator and the adults and institutions that failed to intervene. Common questions directed at survivors — including inquiries about what the child was wearing, why they waited to disclose, whether they appeared physically mature, or why they maintained contact with the abuser — are not just misplaced, but actively harmful. Children often remain silent or delay coming forward due to fear, threats from perpetrators, manipulation, dependency on their abuser, deep shame, or a well-founded belief that they will not be believed by adults.

    “Survivors should not have to package their pain in a ‘perfect’ narrative to be taken seriously or believed,” Imhoff added. “Our first response should never be suspicion or interrogation. It should be safety, compassion, and immediate connection to appropriate support. When we blame a survivor for what happened to them, we unfairly transfer the shame that belongs to the perpetrator onto the person who was harmed.”

    WISH also pushed back against superficial approaches to suicide prevention that focus solely on encouraging at-risk people to “reach out” for help. For people to feel comfortable coming forward, communities and institutions must first create environments where survivors and struggling people will not be shamed, exposed, blamed, or ignored. True prevention means paying attention when a child’s behavior changes, believing children when they disclose harm, reporting concerns promptly, and supporting survivors long after the initial wave of public outrage fades. It also means guaranteeing access to high-quality professional mental health care for all people, regardless of their age, income, or social status.

    The ongoing series of child protection town halls presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Antigua and Barbuda to confront harmful cultural norms around abuse and victimhood, identify gaps in current child protection systems, and codify clear, binding national commitments to protecting children and supporting survivors. WISH is urging the national government, civil society groups, faith-based organizations, schools, families, and all members of the public to treat child protection and mental health as interconnected, urgent national priorities.

    To close its call during Suicide Prevention Month, WISH challenged the nation to move beyond empty public health slogans and confront a harder, more urgent question: Are we building a society where all people — especially children and survivors of trauma — feel safe enough to tell the truth about their experiences, and supported enough to build healthy, hopeful lives?

    The organization reminded the public that anyone who suspects a child is experiencing abuse should contact the appropriate national authorities immediately. Anyone who believes they or a loved one is in immediate danger of suicide should reach out to emergency services, go to the nearest hospital, and stay with the at-risk individual until urgent professional care can be provided.

    In a final statement, WISH summarized its core message: Silence protects perpetrators, not children. Compassion supports survivors. Action saves lives.

  • Taiwan donates new computers to Saint Lucia police

    Taiwan donates new computers to Saint Lucia police

    On Wednesday, a small but meaningful diplomatic handover took place at the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) headquarters located in Chesterfield, Castries. At the ceremony, Nicole Y.C. Su, the Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan), formally presented two desktop computers as a gift from the Taiwanese government and people to the RSLPF.

    Verne Garde, the Commissioner of the RSLPF, accepted the donation on behalf of the police force and extended his sincere gratitude to Taiwan. He emphasized that this donation is a tangible reflection of the productive partnership that has existed between the two sides for ten years.

    Garde noted that over the past decade, the bilateral relationship has remained solid and stable, with both sides extending mutual support on multiple fronts. He expressed his expectation that this friendly cooperative dynamic will continue to develop in the years ahead, bringing more practical benefits to both sides.

  • 11-Year-Old Turns Her Imagination Into a Book

    11-Year-Old Turns Her Imagination Into a Book

    In a heartwarming story of youthful creativity and self-expression, an 11-year-old autistic girl from Missouri, Ava McDonald, has transformed a spontaneous idea sparked during a casual neighborhood walk into a professionally published science fiction adventure novel.

    The young author’s debut work, *The Moon Crystal*, traces its origins back to an ordinary day when Ava stumbled across an unexpected find while strolling along a local sidewalk. She picked up a small crystal she spotted on the path, and on a whim held it up to the bright light of a full moon — when the stone began to shimmer and glow with an otherworldly radiance. The magical moment stuck with her, and she immediately knew she wanted to build a story around that experience.

    “That was really cool, and it made me want to write a story about a moon crystal,” Ava explained in an interview with local outlet News 5. For Ava, that opening scene of discovery remains the most meaningful part of the finished novel: “That is where everything starts,” she said.

    Ava’s father, Greg McDonald, shared that storytelling has been a core part of his daughter’s life from early childhood. Long before she worked on *The Moon Crystal*, Ava would fold loose sheets of paper in half, tape the edges together to create homemade booklets, and fill every page with the creative stories bouncing around her imagination. What started as a quiet childhood hobby has now evolved into a full-length, professionally published work that bears Ava’s name as its author.

    When Ava got to hold the finished copy of her book for the first time, she experienced a swirl of different emotions. “I was very happy, a little scared, and excited,” she recalled. “It was really cool seeing something that started as an idea in my head become a real book with my name on it.”

    Far from resting on her first achievement, Ava is already mapping out her next writing project. She plans to continue building her body of work, with her second novel tentatively titled *The Movie Star Job* already in the early stages of planning.

    Greg McDonald says he hopes his daughter’s milestone will inspire other young people around the world to honor their own creative ideas, regardless of their age. “A child does not have to wait until adulthood before creating something meaningful,” he said. “Sometimes they just need somebody to take it seriously.”

  • Rastafarian leader slams St John cannabis seizure

    Rastafarian leader slams St John cannabis seizure

    The president of the African Heritage Foundation, Paul Ras Simba Rock, has launched sharp criticism against Barbadian law enforcement following a large-scale anti-cannabis operation in the St. John district, arguing that the raid systematically stripped marginalized local small-scale growers of their livelihoods.

    In the recent operation, police targeted growing areas in St. John, destroying more than 6,000 cannabis plants that authorities valued at an estimated $1.4 million on the street. As a longstanding advocate for full cannabis legalization, Ras Simba contends that the deliberate public disclosure of this high estimated value is a strategic tactic designed to turn public sentiment against small-scale, community-based cultivators.

    “This pattern is nothing new,” Ras Simba explained in an interview. “Police have carried out these types of raids for as long as cannabis prohibition has been in place. What stands out in every recent operation is the repeated focus on publishing inflated street value estimates – this is a deliberate move to incite public opposition. Cannabis already carries an unfair stigma as a high-profit illicit trade, so attaching a huge price tag to seized plants shapes public perception in a deliberately negative way.”

    He went on to emphasize that these raids drain critical income from low-income, marginalized communities, while well-funded wealthy corporations already reap the benefits of the island nation’s existing medicinal cannabis regulations. “For generations, ganja has been a core economic lifeline not just for the Rastafari community, but for disenfranchised poor people across Barbados,” Ras Simba noted. “To me, that $1.4 million figure represents revenue that has been directly taken out of the pockets of working poor people. If the same cultivation happened under current legal frameworks, it would be completely acceptable – because already wealthy, well-connected entities are already earning that much and more legally through licensed therapeutic dispensaries and regulated growing operations.”

    When questioned about whether traditional small-scale growers face systemic barriers to entering the newly regulated legal cannabis market, Ras Simba confirmed that the current framework actively excludes ordinary smallholder farmers through embedded economic bias, unnecessarily strict licensing rules, and disproportionately harsh penalties for non-compliance. “The regulated industry was never built to accommodate the average grower,” he argued. “Current laws cap the number of licensed operators, locking out most small producers. Many of us only want access to the plant for traditional uses – we can process the roots and leaves to make traditional butters and remedies, and every Barbadian should have the right to grow at least seven to nine female plants for personal or community use.”

    Ras Simba also drew attention to how excessive court fines push traditional small-scale growers into a repeating cycle of poverty that forces many further into informal activity. He highlighted a recent case from his own community to illustrate this harm: “Just a month ago, a young man from our community was arrested and fined $50,000 for cultivation. He spent a month in remand before his trial, and now he has to pay this massive fine within 18 months. The only way he can come up with that kind of money is to go back to growing more cannabis. This is how the system has always worked for poor people: they hand down fines they know working people can never afford, trapping them in a cycle of criminalization.”

    Beyond the inequalities of enforcement and regulation, Ras Simba also criticized the current legal market for prioritizing mass-produced imported cannabis from North America over supporting traditional, locally grown organic cannabis that small Barbadian producers have cultivated for decades. “Right now, we’re seeing a flood of North American-grown herb entering the legal market,” he said. “The Rastafari community has real health concerns about these imports, because we know organically grown local product is far healthier than cannabis grown with heavy amounts of industrial pesticides and fertilizers.”

    Despite ongoing aggressive police raids, ongoing criminalization, and a regulatory system that favors large corporate interests over small community producers, Ras Simba reaffirmed that Rastafarian and traditional small-scale cannabis farmers across Barbados will continue organizing and advocating for full legal access to the plant and the universal right for personal cultivation.

  • Apology Enough? PM Briceño Weighs In on Gilroy Usher Land Dispute

    Apology Enough? PM Briceño Weighs In on Gilroy Usher Land Dispute

    A simmering political controversy over a sitting minister’s direct intervention in a private residential land dispute has taken center stage in Belize this week, with Prime Minister John Briceño publicly weighing in on the escalating incident that has drawn widespread public criticism.

    The controversy centers on Gilroy Usher, the Area Representative for Port Loyola, who was captured on cellphone video physically removing a boundary fence built by a local resident caught up in a long-running ownership conflict. The incident, which unfolded over the weekend, has reignited debates over the proper boundaries of elected official conduct when navigating community conflicts, and has forced Briceño to field questions from local media – a scenario that has become all too familiar amid scrutiny of ministerial actions in the country.

    In his first public comments on the incident, Briceño acknowledged that Usher made a misstep in taking matters into his own hands, but offered context for the minister’s impulsive decision. Briceño emphasized that deadly violence linked to unresolved land conflicts remains a persistent, devastating crisis across Belize, noting that even his own close associate in San Lazaro, Orange Walk, was recently killed in a land-related attack. He explained that Usher acted out of over-anxiety and frustration, driven by a fear that inaction would lead to further bloodshed in the dispute.

    Despite this contextual understanding, the prime minister made clear that he would have approached the situation through formal, legal channels. Briceño told reporters that he personally called Usher after the incident to advise him that such conflicts should be handled through established institutional processes: law enforcement should lead on public order, while the Ministry of Natural Resources holds the authority to formally demarcate property boundaries and resolve ownership claims. Briceño confirmed that Usher has acknowledged the error in his approach.

    In the wake of the incident, Usher has issued a public apology for his actions, but has stood by his core motivation for intervening. He claims he was acting to protect a family that held legal title to the property but had been blocked from accessing the land since 2024. That claim is fiercely disputed by Cozet Maximo, the resident whose fence was torn down, who says she has continuously occupied the plot for 17 years and rejects the opposing family’s ownership claim entirely.

    Today, the dispute has been formally transferred to the Ministry of Natural Resources for official boundary verification and ownership adjudication. In a notable show of continued confidence amid the controversy, Usher was invited to appear front and center alongside Briceño and other cabinet ministers at a public event on Wednesday, and was seen dancing alongside the prime minister just days after the weekend incident sparked public outcry.

  • Three new categories added to Saint Lucia Business Awards

    Three new categories added to Saint Lucia Business Awards

    Saint Lucia’s vibrant private sector is set to get expanded opportunities to celebrate outstanding entrepreneurial achievement, as organizers formally launched plans for the 12th iteration of the Saint Lucia Business Awards, scheduled to take place on January 30, 2027.

    Hosted collaboratively by the St Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture and the Office of the Prime Minister, the annual gala gathering brings together the island nation’s most promising and accomplished business leaders to honor standout successes from the preceding 12 months. During an official pre-event launch held this Tuesday at Gros Islet’s Harbor Club, organizers revealed the event’s central theme and expanded award lineup, marking a major milestone in preparations for the 2027 ceremony.

    This year’s theme, “The Chrysalis Effect: Metamorphosis into Greatness,” frames business growth as a natural, adaptive process. Organizers explain the concept reflects how intentional evolution and structural transformation help local enterprises build long-term strategic resilience and achieve operational excellence, mirroring the transformative journey of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly.

    In a key expansion of the awards program, three entirely new recognition categories have been added for 2027: the Corporate Social Responsibility Award for Small Businesses, the Environmental Stewardship Award for Small Businesses, and the MSME (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) of the Year. The addition expands opportunities for smaller, emerging businesses that have historically had less visibility in the awards program.

    As part of the launch event, organizers also resolved a lingering delay from the previous awards cycle, presenting the belated People’s Choice Award to local enterprise Optimum Cooling. The delay stemmed from an unexpected technical glitch in the public voting platform, prompting the Chamber to rerun the voting process under a commitment to full transparency, ensuring all ballots were fully verified and results were accurate before presenting the honor.

    Speaking to attendees at the launch, Chamber of Commerce President Nicholas Bernard emphasized that the awards fill a critical role in Saint Lucia’s challenging business landscape. He noted that the ceremony goes far beyond handing out trophies: it serves to highlight high-performing businesses and inspirational leaders, while demonstrating to the broader local business community what can be accomplished even amid adversity.

    “Running a business in Saint Lucia is not always easy. We face rising operational costs, increasing competition from both local and international players, persistent challenges in recruiting and retaining skilled talent, rapid technological shifts, and a constantly evolving regulatory and economic environment,” Bernard explained. “Yet despite these headwinds, our local enterprises keep investing, creating jobs, serving local communities, innovating, and finding sustainable paths to growth. That grit and achievement absolutely deserves national recognition.”

    Bernard pointed to the previous year’s awards as a powerful example of the breadth of talent across Saint Lucia’s business ecosystem, with participants representing every sector and every stage of business growth, from long-standing industry leaders to newly launched startups. Past honorees have been recognized across a wide range of criteria, including innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, export growth, customer service, leadership, and community impact.

    For the 2027 cycle, nominations are now open across 15 categories, covering businesses of all sizes and sectors: Corporate Social Responsibility Award – Large Business, Corporate Social Responsibility Award – Small Business, Environmental Stewardship Award – Large Business, Environmental Stewardship Award – Small Business, Award for Service Excellence, Employer of the Year Award, Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Export Achievement of the Year Award, New Business of the Year Award, Not-for-Profit Organisation of the Year Award, Young Professional of the Year Award, Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise (MSME) of the Year, Business of the Year Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, People’s Choice Award, The Prime Minister’s Award for Innovation, and Judges’ Choice Award.

  • Can Your Political Leaders Really Relate to Your Struggle to Make Ends Meet?

    Can Your Political Leaders Really Relate to Your Struggle to Make Ends Meet?

    On September 2, 2026, a public debate over whether Belize’s top political officials understand the daily financial strain facing ordinary citizens has erupted into a direct confrontation between Prime Minister John Briceño and Union Senator Glenfield Dennison.

    The controversy began when Dennison publicly argued that government officials who receive generous fuel allowances are disconnected from the affordability crisis that forces most Belizeans to live paycheck to paycheck, stretching their incomes just to cover basic needs. The question of whether political leaders can truly relate to this widespread struggle was put directly to Briceño during a public appearance this morning.

    The Prime Minister did not hold back in rejecting Dennison’s claims, pushing back firmly against any suggestion that he and his government are out of touch with Belizeans’ hardships. “How can I not relate to that? Listen, you guys don’t understand,” Briceño stated in his response. “I believe that all of us in government, we can relate, because we are in our communities. We walk and meet people. I walk all this country, more than anyone of you here.”

    Briceño emphasized that elected officials have a clear incentive to stay connected to voter concerns: if leaders fail to understand public struggles, they will be removed from office at the ballot box. “If you don’t relate to people, they vote you out. And so we understand the challenges. We know that it is tough. That’s why we’re doing everything possible to help,” he added.

    Going a step further, the Prime Minister issued a direct rebuke to Dennison, challenging the senator’s credibility to make the accusation in the first place. “Don’t he dare come and tell us we don’t understand. We have a better understanding than him, because he does not walk this country the way we walk and when he can walk on our shoes then he could talk,” Briceño said.

    Local outlet News 5 has confirmed that it extended an invitation for comment to Senator Dennison following the Prime Minister’s remarks. His full response is scheduled to air during the outlet’s 6 PM primetime broadcast tonight.

  • “Government Resources Were Not Used”, Says PM Briceño on PUP Convention

    “Government Resources Were Not Used”, Says PM Briceño on PUP Convention

    In the wake of mounting public scrutiny over campaign spending at the recent People’s United Party (PUP) mayoral nominating convention held Sunday, Belize Prime Minister John Briceño has issued a formal defense of the event’s financing, pushing back against calls to rush through new campaign finance regulation for the sake of checking a policy box.

    The convention, organized to select PUP’s official candidate for Belize City’s top municipal post, has sparked growing public and political debate over the sources and scale of funding backing the two competing campaigns. Addressing reporters this week, Briceño clarified that while the two camps – led by candidates Miller and Pollard – spent heavily on their intra-party bids, no public government funds were diverted to support either effort.

    Briceño confirmed that both campaigns successfully secured all necessary financial backing from private sector donors, enabling them to run robust, competitive intra-party races. “Maybe you could look back and say, ‘You didn’t have to spend all that money.’ Probably they did,” the prime minister acknowledged. “But the important point is that government resources were not used. Both sides had enough financing to be able to run a very good, vigorous, fair campaign.”

    Questions over unregulated private sector funding in Belizean politics first gained widespread attention earlier this year, following the July release of a landmark report from the Belize Policy and Research Institute (BELPRI) titled “Money in Belizean Politics: Breaking the Regulation Gap.” Authored by BELPRI Executive Director Dr. Dylan Vernon, the report flagged the outsized influence of unregulated private money as a pressing systemic risk for Belize’s democratic processes.

    Union Senator Glenfield Dennison echoed these concerns in recent weeks, publicly calling on the Briceño administration to move forward with binding campaign finance legislation to address the gap identified in the report. But Briceño argues that rushing to pass a flawed law would do more harm than good, emphasizing that any new regulatory framework must be tailored to Belize’s unique political and economic context to be effective.

    “We will not legislate simply for the sake of having a law on the books,” Briceño said. “I’ve been saying it over and over, we have to come up with legislation that can work. You don’t want to pass legislation just to say you passed legislation.” The prime Minister confirmed he recently held a one-on-one meeting with Vernon to discuss the BELPRI report’s findings in depth, acknowledging that designing a functional regulatory system for political financing is the most significant long-term challenge facing the government on this issue. “If we want to pass legislation just to have legislation say we have campaign finance legislation, then we can do so,” he added. “But it’s important that we have one that is applicable and can work within the Belizean context.”