分类： business

In a stunning display of strategic growth that closes out the company’s latest five-year business cycle, Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) has announced a jaw-dropping 581% surge in net profits between 2020 and 2026, a milestone unveiled at the telecom giant’s 20th Annual General Meeting.

Five years ago, at the start of the current leadership term, BTL posted a net profit of just $5.4 million. By the close of the 2025/2026 fiscal year, that figure had skyrocketed to a historic $36.9 million. This remarkable growth extends far beyond paper gains: company executives confirmed that operational expansion, customer base growth, and improved shareholder returns have all accompanied the bottom-line surge, marking what leaders call one of the strongest performance periods in BTL’s 20-year history.

BTL Chairman Markhelm Lizarraga broke down the full scope of the company’s gains for attendees at the meeting, noting that nearly every key financial metric has seen dramatic improvement over the half-decade. “Earnings per share increased tenfold, jumping from 7 cents to 70 cents,” Lizarraga explained. “Annual revenue grew at an average rate of 4% year-over-year, reaching $164.9 million by the end of the period. Return on equity climbed from just 1.9% to 15%, outpacing even our most ambitious internal targets. This shift reflects a vastly improved ability to turn shareholder investment into consistent, sustainable earnings and long-term institutional value.”

BTL CEO Ivan Tesucum echoed that optimism, highlighting the dramatic turnaround in the company’s balance sheet that accompanied the profit surge. “We have boosted the organization’s overall earnings power by 6.8 times, and grown return on equity eightfold,” Tesucum noted. “Most striking is the shift in our cash position: five years ago, BTL held a net debt position of $35.8 million. Today, we hold $45.9 million in net cash. That’s an $81.7 million swing in just five years – that is tremendous.”

Alongside its financial gains, BTL has invested heavily in expanding its network and service offerings across Belize over the past five years. The company built 41 new mobile cell sites, extended broadband access to 47,000 additional households, and repositioned itself as Belize’s only full-service “five-play” provider, offering customers integrated mobile, broadband, fixed-line, television, and fintech services.

With record profits now official, industry observers and customers alike are turning their attention to what this milestone means for stakeholders going forward. The key question remaining is how BTL will translate this unprecedented financial success into tangible improvements for customers, more competitive service offerings, and sustained long-term returns for shareholders.

As of September 17, 2026, Belize is grappling with a persistent cost-of-living crisis driven by skyrocketing fuel prices, with diesel holding steadily above $15 per gallon. The mounting financial strain on ordinary households has pushed Prime Minister John Briceño’s administration to reevaluate what additional support measures the government can roll out to ease the burden.

In a candid public address, Briceño acknowledged a long-standing fiscal reality that has shaped fuel policy across successive Belizean administrations: the government has long relied on excise taxes levied on imported fuel as a stable, easily administered source of public revenue. This dependence, he noted, creates a difficult balancing act when global price shocks push costs out of reach for local consumers.

To date, the government has already cut fuel taxes to offset rising prices, a move that has cost the public purse more than $40 million in foregone revenue. Briceño estimated the revenue loss at approximately $40 million or more, cautioning that deeper cuts carry severe consequences for core public services. A full elimination of fuel excise taxes might deliver immediate relief to consumers, he explained, but it would starve funding for critical sectors including education, public health, and national infrastructure development.

“If we could eliminate the tax entirely while still sustaining all the social programs we deliver to the public — from education and health to infrastructure projects — I would eliminate it without hesitation,” Briceño stated.

The administration has already implemented targeted relief for key stakeholders: the country’s Cabinet recently approved a $2-per-gallon fuel subsidy for private bus operators, which will remain in effect through March 31, 2027, to prevent fare hikes that would further burden commuters. Beyond this sector-specific support, the government has rolled out a broader package of measures to protect household finances, including general sales tax exemptions and wage adjustments for public sector workers.

In his recent State of the Nation address, Briceño emphasized that the current wave of rising living costs is largely an imported crisis. As a net fuel importer, Belize is inherently exposed to global commodity price volatility that is outside the control of domestic policymakers, he explained. The ongoing review of additional relief comes as the government continues to balance supporting household budgets with maintaining the long-term stability of core public services.

On September 18, 2026, Belize will make history when the Central Bank of Belize introduces its first entirely new coin series in more than four decades – a landmark shift that removes any reference to the British monarchy and centers the nation’s unique natural and cultural heritage. This is the first full overhaul of Belize’s coinage since the central bank was founded in 1982, and the new collection carries the fitting theme “Belize in Every Coin”.

Emmanuel Pech, an assistant manager at the Central Bank of Belize, explained that the launch marks a milestone for the institution and for Belize as a sovereign nation. Once the new coins enter circulation tomorrow, everyday transactions will give Belizeans a tangible piece of their national identity, connecting them directly to the country’s history and cultural heritage with every exchange.

The new series features six denominations, each emblazoned with a distinct Belizean national symbol: the one-cent coin showcases the country’s iconic black orchid, the five-cent coin bears the image of a native tapir, 10 cents highlights Belize’s national coat of arms, the 25-cent coin features the colorful native toucan, 50 cents spotlights the mahogany tree that has long been central to Belize’s economy, and the one-dollar coin displays a full map of the country. Beyond the visual update, the central bank has also switched to more cost-effective materials for the new coins: nickel-plated and bronze-plated steel, which match the durability of the older coinage while cutting production costs significantly.

Delroy Rhaburn, another assistant manager at the central bank, noted that the redesign was intended to complement the updated banknotes released last year, creating a cohesive national currency that feels distinctly Belizean. For holders of the old coinage, there is no cause for concern: Rhaburn confirmed that the older coins featuring Queen Elizabeth II will remain legal tender indefinitely, and there is no requirement to exchange them for the new series.

Alongside the general circulation coins, the central bank is also releasing a limited-edition painted 50-cent collector’s coin that features the mahogany tree design. Only 100,000 of these collector’s items have been produced, and they will be available for purchase exclusively through the Central Bank of Belize. The new circulating coins will be distributed to the public through commercial banks, credit unions, and local businesses starting tomorrow.