分类: business

  • FDI Surge Signals Investor Confidence in Belize

    FDI Surge Signals Investor Confidence in Belize

    Belize has demonstrated robust economic momentum with foreign direct investment net inflows reaching $505 million over the past two years, according to Prime Minister John Briceño’s address to the House. This financial endorsement comes amid external scrutiny from the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, which recently called for an assessment of Belize’s investment climate and institutional frameworks.

    The government’s response emphasized Belize’s commitment to fiscal prudence and strategic economic management. Prime Minister Briceño articulated the administration’s philosophy: “Our policy is for this generation to fund its own welfare, not to borrow from our children. Future generations should benefit from our foresight and sacrifice.”

    Detailing the investment figures, Briceño revealed that Belize attracted $736 million in capital inflows during 2024-2025, while outflows—excluding hydro facility acquisitions—totaled $231 million. This net positive flow of over half a billion dollars represents what the Prime Minister characterized as “brimming confidence” in the nation’s economic trajectory.

    The administration attributes this investment surge to its mixed economy model, where government leadership collaborates with private sector and non-profit entities. Briceño emphasized that prudent fiscal management creates a virtuous cycle: “When Government leads by example and manages the public purse prudently, its conduct inspires confidence, which multiplies development through private investments.”

    This economic validation through capital movement, the government contends, serves as the most credible indicator of Belize’s investment climate quality, effectively countering external concerns about institutional checks and balances.

  • CDB reports doubling of Climate Finance investments in 2025

    CDB reports doubling of Climate Finance investments in 2025

    The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) marked a transformative year in 2025 by authorizing an unprecedented $226.7 million for climate-focused initiatives, constituting its largest annual environmental commitment in history. This monumental allocation represented approximately 50% of the Bank’s total project approvals for the year and more than doubled the $101.5 million deployed in 2024.

    A significant portion of this climate financing was driven by a $125 million environmental Policy-Based Loan (PBL) to Guyana, supplemented by identical $30 million packages to Dominica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. These strategic financial instruments are engineered to facilitate crucial reforms in biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and sustainable water management. Furthermore, they aim to enhance the technical and fiscal capabilities of member nations to withstand and recover from climate-induced disruptions.

    Valerie Isaac, Chief of the Environmental Sustainability Division at CDB, characterized the climate emergency as an existential threat to regional development and welfare, particularly impacting vulnerable populations. Speaking at the Bank’s Annual News Conference in Bridgetown, Barbados, she asserted that resilience has transitioned from being optional to an absolute necessity for regional stability and economic expansion.

    Beyond direct project funding, CDB secured an additional $27 million in grants and loans from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to support the Integrated Utility Services Programme. With total investments surpassing $68 million, this initiative will promote energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption—including rooftop solar installations—across Barbados, Belize, and Jamaica.

    Another $27 million in GCF grants will finance the Caribbean Hydrometeorological and Multi-Hazard Early Warning Services Project, modernizing forecasting infrastructure in Belize and Trinidad and Tobago to safeguard approximately 1.8 million residents.

    A key strategic advancement was the activation of the Climate Change Project Preparation Fund, designed to accelerate project pipelines by eliminating bottlenecks that hinder climate finance deployment.

    Looking toward 2026, CDB plans to intensify its climate agenda by finalizing a $200 million regional blue economy initiative to protect marine resources while generating employment in ocean-based industries. The Bank will also establish a regional platform to develop investment portfolios aligned with national energy and transportation objectives, while concurrently strengthening water sector resilience and promoting community-led adaptation strategies.

    Ms. Isaac emphasized that current decisions will shape the Caribbean’s developmental path for the next fifty years, pledging continued innovation, capacity-building, and large-scale mobilization of climate finance.

    The Annual News Conference was held on March 3, 2026, at the Frank Collymore Hall in Bridgetown, featuring addresses from President Daniel M. Best, Projects Director O’Reilly Lewis, and Acting Deputy Director of Economics Jason Cotton.

  • Vacancy: Marketing and Client Services Manager

    Vacancy: Marketing and Client Services Manager

    EME Marketing Agency, a comprehensive marketing solutions provider specializing in strategic marketing, brand development, campaign execution, and public relations representation, has announced a senior-level recruitment opportunity for a Marketing and Client Services Manager. This position represents a significant career advancement for marketing professionals seeking elevated responsibilities in client management and team leadership.

    The successful candidate will assume a pivotal role directing client-facing marketing operations for EME Marketing and Communications. This senior position entails supervisory authority over client accounts, marketing implementation, and delivery systems, requiring close collaboration with client teams to maintain transparency, responsibility, and consistently exceptional client results. The role demands strategic oversight to ensure all client deliverables meet rigorous professional standards.

    Core responsibilities encompass multiple critical domains:

    Marketing and Client Leadership: Serving as primary senior contact for designated client accounts, leading engagement meetings and strategic consultations, providing comprehensive marketing guidance across campaigns and content initiatives, ensuring alignment with objectives and timelines, and identifying relationship enhancement opportunities.

    Account Oversight and Team Management: Supervising Marketing Executives across client portfolios, ensuring precise brief definition and execution, monitoring workload distribution and prioritization, addressing performance deficiencies, and supporting staff development.

    Operational and Delivery Systems: Maintaining comprehensive visibility over active accounts and deadlines, ensuring consistent utilization of delivery protocols, coordinating resource allocation, and identifying operational improvements.

    Commercial and Strategic Support: Facilitating new client onboarding, contributing to client retention and account expansion, and supporting operational scalability.

    Minimum qualifications require a bachelor’s degree or professional certifications in marketing, communications, project management, or related disciplines. Essential competencies include demonstrated leadership capabilities, customer relationship management expertise, analytical proficiency, organizational excellence, sound judgment, and exceptional communication skills. The position demands ability to mentor team members and perform effectively under pressure.

    Experience requirements include five+ years in marketing, communications, project management, or agency client services, with minimum two years in management roles encompassing project delivery, business objective translation, and personnel/workflow supervision. Candidates must possess experience managing marketing projects in dynamic, deadline-oriented environments and demonstrated capacity to enforce standards while leading client discussions with authority.

    An additional prerequisite includes valid driver’s license and reliable transportation. Qualified applicants should submit cover letters and CVs in Word or PDF format, accompanied by three business references, to [email protected] with specified subject line. The application deadline is set for March 31, 2026, though this may be subject to modification. J’S HR Consultancy is managing recruitment procedures.

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  • Vacancy: Accountant at ASB Ltd.

    Vacancy: Accountant at ASB Ltd.

    ASB Ltd., an authorized agent operating within Grenada’s Citizenship by Investment Programme, has announced a strategic recruitment initiative for a qualified accounting professional. This specialized position underscores the growing financial sophistication required within the investment migration industry.

    The successful candidate will assume comprehensive responsibility for the organization’s financial integrity, occupying a role critical to regulatory compliance and operational excellence. Key duties encompass the full spectrum of accounting functions, including meticulous management of accounts payable/receivable, payroll administration, and general ledger maintenance.

    A central requirement involves the preparation of detailed monthly financial statements—comprising balance sheets and profit/loss accounts—alongside maintaining a rigorous fixed asset register. The position demands stringent adherence to Grenadian accounting standards and tax legislation, with the accountant playing a pivotal role in annual budgeting, financial forecasting, and cash flow management.

    The role extends beyond traditional bookkeeping to include active collaboration in process optimization and audit preparedness. The professional will also handle client invoicing and payment tracking, ensuring all operations align with strict data protection protocols. This integration into business operations is designed to bolster the firm’s commitment to exceptional client service.

    Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance complemented by a minimum of five years’ demonstrated experience. Professional accreditation such as ACCA or CPA is highly desirable. The ideal profile requires proficiency in accounting software like QuickBooks, coupled with exceptional analytical, organizational, and communication abilities. Familiarity with the legal framework of Grenada’s Citizenship by Investment Programme represents a significant advantage.

    Compensation will be competitively structured relative to qualifications and experience. Interested professionals are directed to submit their application dossier—including a cover letter, CV, and three business references—to J’S HR Consultancy at the specified email address using the subject line ‘ASB – Accountant’. The application window remains open until March 30, 2026, though this deadline is subject to change.

  • PUC Freezes BTL Prices Until 2028 As It Reviews Smart Buyout

    PUC Freezes BTL Prices Until 2028 As It Reviews Smart Buyout

    In a significant regulatory intervention, Belize’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has instituted a sweeping tariff freeze on Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL), designating the company as a dominant market operator. The mandate, effective March 11, 2026, will maintain all current pricing structures through December 31, 2028, creating an unprecedented three-year price stability period for telecommunications services.

    The regulatory action, formalized under the Belize Telecommunications (Transitional Tariff Freezing) Regulations 2026, prohibits BTL from altering any service rates without explicit PUC authorization. The freeze encompasses bundled service offerings, subscriber migration fees, and the introduction of new tariffs or service packages. According to the Commission, this measure aims to ensure market stability while developing comprehensive regulatory frameworks following BTL’s dominance designation.

    Concurrently, the PUC is conducting a rigorous examination of BTL’s proposed acquisition of Speednet Communications Limited (SCL). The consolidated acquisition proposal, submitted February 10, 2026, remains subject to final approval from BTL’s Board of Directors. The Commission has identified multiple areas requiring clarification, including consumer protection mechanisms, service continuity assurances, corporate strategic alignment, financial viability, and market competition implications.

    The regulatory body has formally requested detailed responses from both telecommunications entities by April 13, 2026, to facilitate informed decision-making regarding the proposed consolidation. Additionally, the PUC has opened a public consultation process, inviting written commentary from consumers and stakeholders through the same April deadline, demonstrating unprecedented transparency in the regulatory review process.

  • ‘Fuel Hike No Surprise,’ Says PM Briceño Amid Iran Conflict

    ‘Fuel Hike No Surprise,’ Says PM Briceño Amid Iran Conflict

    Prime Minister John Briceño has addressed the nation regarding substantial increases in fuel prices, characterizing the development as an inevitable consequence of global market turbulence triggered by Middle Eastern conflicts. The government confirmed premium gasoline in Belize City has risen by $1.23 to $13.76 per gallon, while regular gasoline increased by $1.25 to $13.02 per gallon. Diesel prices remain temporarily unchanged at $12.05 per gallon.

    Briceño specifically cited the ongoing US/Israel military engagement in Iran and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz—a critical maritime passage handling approximately twenty percent of global oil shipments—as primary drivers behind the price adjustments. The Prime Minister noted that administration officials had been tracking international price escalations for weeks following supply route disruptions.

    In his statements to News 5, Briceño emphasized that the government is currently transferring the full impact of global market increases to consumers while continuously evaluating the situation. He indicated authorities would consider reducing fuel taxes if prices continue their upward trajectory, though he cautioned such measures would inevitably affect government revenue streams and potentially impact public service funding.

    The Prime Minister concluded that Belizean citizens had demonstrated awareness of the impending increases, showing understanding of the external factors influencing domestic fuel pricing structures.

  • Olivier Janssens’ Nevis Project Offers Residents $100 a Month

    Olivier Janssens’ Nevis Project Offers Residents $100 a Month

    A controversial proposal by Belgian cryptocurrency millionaire Olivier Janssens has ignited fierce debate on the Caribbean island of Nevis. Through his ambitious Destiny project, Janssens has offered to pay every Nevis resident $100 monthly conditional upon government approval of his extensive development plans for a 2,400-acre tech-libertarian community.

    The Financial Times reported that this monthly stipend represents a significant increase from the initial offer of US$11 announced in November 2025. The enhanced financial incentive has drawn sharp criticism from political opponents who characterize it as attempted influence peddling rather than genuine community benefit.

    Kelvin Daly, a member of the Nevis Reformation Party, publicly condemned the offer on social media, labeling it a transparent attempt to ‘interfere in the domestic socioeconomic and political affairs of our country.’ Daly has called for authorities to investigate potential violations under the Anti-Corruption Act, alleging the payments constitute bribery to pressure government officials into approving the development.

    The Destiny project seeks authorization under St. Kitts and Nevis’ Special Sustainability Zones framework, legislation enacted in 2025 specifically designed to enable such innovative developments. Beyond the monthly payments, the initiative promises substantial infrastructure investment totaling $50 million for hospitals, health centers, and villas, alongside job creation and profit-sharing arrangements that would allocate 10% to citizens and another 10% to Nevis’ sovereign wealth fund.

    This development reflects a broader trend of cryptocurrency entrepreneurs pursuing autonomous communities. Former Coinbase CTO Balaji Srinivasan recently promoted similar concepts at the Network State Conference in Singapore, advocating for tech enthusiasts to collectively acquire land and establish innovation-friendly jurisdictions—what he termed Silicon Valley’s ‘ultimate exit’ from traditional governance structures. Documentation presented indicated approximately 120 such ‘start-up societies’ currently in development worldwide.

  • Export Barbados plans new mechanics bays across island

    Export Barbados plans new mechanics bays across island

    Export Barbados (BIDC) has announced a significant expansion of its shared-use automotive service facilities program, nearly two years after launching its pioneering pilot location. Chief Executive Mark Hill revealed to Parliament members that the economic development agency is actively acquiring land parcels across multiple parishes to establish new commercial hubs specifically designed for roadside mechanics and autobody repair specialists.

    The initiative builds upon the successful Grazettes Industrial Estate model inaugurated in 2024, which demonstrated the viability of providing professional workspaces for automotive professionals. According to Hill’s parliamentary address, the expansion strategy includes three major developments: a three-acre facility at Six Roads, a substantial five-acre complex in Kendal (Christ Church), and an additional northern corridor location currently in the site identification phase.

    These facilities will incorporate innovative vertical storage solutions to address the critical challenge of vehicle storage during parts procurement periods. The design approach combines in-house architectural planning with collaborative feedback from mechanics themselves, ensuring practical functionality alongside modern infrastructure.

    Hill emphasized the particularly high utilization during rally seasons and acknowledged the substantial unmet demand for professional workspace solutions among automotive tradespeople. The Kendal facility specifically is planned as a regional hub serving multiple parishes, reflecting the strategic scale of this infrastructure investment. While initial St Michael parish plans encountered land availability issues, the agency continues pursuing alternative options to serve this high-demand area.

    The comprehensive program represents a structured response to informal sector challenges, providing legitimate commercial spaces that enhance service quality, operational efficiency, and professional working conditions for Barbados’ automotive repair industry.

  • Gasoline and Diesel Prices rise RD$5 in the Dominican Republic for March 14–20

    Gasoline and Diesel Prices rise RD$5 in the Dominican Republic for March 14–20

    The Dominican government has announced a significant increase in fuel prices effective March 14-20, 2026, implementing a five-peso-per-gallon hike for both gasoline and diesel products while maintaining current pricing for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

    According to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs (MICM), premium gasoline will now retail at RD$295.10 per gallon, with regular gasoline priced at RD$277.50. Diesel products have similarly increased, with regular diesel reaching RD$229.80 per gallon and premium diesel climbing to RD$247.10.

    The most substantial increases affect specialized fuels, with avtur fuel jumping by RD$67.37 to RD$302.40 per gallon and kerosene rising by RD$73.20 to reach RD$343.80 per gallon.

    This pricing adjustment reflects ongoing volatility in global energy markets, primarily driven by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Recent conflicts involving Iran have raised concerns about potential disruptions to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime passage handling approximately 20% of global oil exports.

    To mitigate the impact on consumers, the government has allocated a substantial subsidy of RD$1,189.8 million for the coming week. This intervention aims to cushion domestic markets from even steeper price increases that would otherwise result from international market pressures.

  • Liberty Caribbean celebrates newly SCTE-certified technicians

    Liberty Caribbean celebrates newly SCTE-certified technicians

    MIAMI, FL – March 13, 2026 – Liberty Caribbean, operating under the Flow, Liberty Business, and BTC brands, has achieved a significant milestone with three technicians earning prestigious certifications from the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE). This accomplishment represents the first concrete success of the company’s Technician Pathways initiative launched in 2025.

    The newly certified professionals include Amraz Hosein from Trinidad & Tobago and Lamar Uffer from Jamaica, both achieving Broadband Premises Installer (BPI) certifications, and Antwon Walter from the Cayman Islands, who earned the Broadband Wireless Specialist (BWS) credential.

    Dominic Boon, Vice President of People at Liberty Caribbean, emphasized the program’s significance: ‘Technicians form the backbone of our operations—they scale poles, restore services after severe weather events, and maintain critical connectivity for our communities. Their success establishes a new benchmark for technical excellence and professional pride across our organization.’

    The Technician Pathways program represents a substantial organizational investment in regional workforce development, combining structured training, mentorship, and examination preparation with practical on-the-job coaching. The initiative aims to professionalize field roles, elevate service standards, and create clear career progression opportunities for technical staff.

    To date, 583 technicians have enrolled in the program and are actively pursuing SCTE credentials. Beyond immediate service improvements, certified technicians will be positioned for advanced roles, mentoring responsibilities, and participation in cross-market technical projects, creating sustainable career advancement opportunities within the telecommunications sector.

    The achievement underscores Liberty Caribbean’s commitment to aligning Caribbean technical standards with global benchmarks while reinforcing a culture of continuous skills development that benefits employees, customers, and the broader regional community.