标签： Belize

Belize City witnessed a profound gathering of national reverence on January 15, 2026, as citizens across the spectrum united to commemorate George Price Day. The ceremony honored George Cadle Price, the architect of Belizean independence, with this year’s observance carrying dual significance: marking six years since the holiday’s establishment and coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the People’s United Party (PUP) which Price founded.

Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner inaugurated the proceedings by emphasizing the enduring nature of Price’s legacy. He reminded attendees that the nation inherited not just the freedoms Price secured but also the ongoing responsibility to ensure independence remains meaningful for successive generations.

Prime Minister John Briceño delivered a heartfelt tribute, characterizing Price as a leader profoundly guided by faith and service. He recounted Price’s pivotal role in steering the peaceful Belizean revolution that ultimately achieved sovereignty in 1981. Briceño concluded his address with both a national blessing and the celebratory cry that echoed throughout the event: “Que viva George Price!”

The program featured recitations from Price’s seminal 1950 Battlefield Park address, where he first challenged colonial authority and economic disparities, declaring that Belizeans had “awakened from the sleep of false hopes and empty promises.”

Parallel celebrations included the traveling PUP at 75 exhibition, which chronicles the party’s central role in Belize’s political evolution. Culture Minister Francis Fonseca reported thousands have visited the exhibition nationwide, describing it as crucial for preserving political history. The exhibition, launched in Orange Walk in September 2025, will conclude in San Pedro next month.

In personal reflections shared with media, Briceño revealed how Price’s guidance shaped his own path, recalling the founding leader’s belief that “public service is the highest call for any Belizean.”

The commemorations extended beyond formal ceremonies with nationwide social media tributes and physical installations, including a commemorative billboard unveiled by Immigration Minister Kareem Musa at a major intersection. The day’s events culminated with a student assembly at Nazarene High School and a spectacular fireworks display, symbolizing the nation’s enduring gratitude.

BELIZE CITY – Prime Minister John Briceño has offered measured commentary regarding Opposition Leader Tracy Panton’s controversial meeting with British billionaire Lord Michael Ashcroft, majority owner of telecommunications provider SpeedNet. While acknowledging the legitimate need for political leaders to engage with investors, Briceño specifically questioned the judgment behind selecting a yacht as the venue for such discussions.

In statements to the press, the Prime Minister articulated that while dialogue with business leaders remains an essential component of political leadership, the optics of such engagements carry significant weight. “Every leader has a responsibility to meet with anybody, especially within the business community,” Briceño stated. “However, convening on a yacht inevitably raises questions about judgment. Alternative venues would have been more appropriate.”

Despite his reservations about the setting, Briceño clarified that the substance of the meeting itself did not constitute improper conduct. He explicitly noted that opposition figures engaging with major investors like Ashcroft—whose Waterloo Group Charitable Trust controls 77% of SpeedNet—falls within正常的 political parameters.

In response to growing criticism, Panton issued a comprehensive defense through social media channels, characterizing the scrutiny as “selective and absurd.” She emphasized that historical engagement with Ashcroft has been standard practice across both major political parties for decades. “Dialogue does not equate to endorsement,” Panton asserted. “A meeting should not be misconstrued as surrender, and conversation certainly does not imply compliance.” The opposition leader maintained that fostering relationships with key economic stakeholders remains crucial for national development.

In a significant diplomatic development, U.S. President Donald Trump and Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodríguez held an extensive telephone conversation on Wednesday, marking a potential turning point in previously strained bilateral relations. The Venezuelan Embassy characterized the dialogue as “extended, productive, and courteous,” emphasizing that the exchange occurred within “a framework of mutual respect.”

The discussion established a comprehensive bilateral work agenda addressing mutual benefits and longstanding issues between the two governments. President Trump subsequently confirmed the diplomatic breakthrough through his Truth Social platform, describing the conversation as “very good” and noting substantial progress toward stabilizing and revitalizing Venezuela’s economy and infrastructure.

Key negotiation points included energy resources, particularly oil production, mineral assets, trade relations, and national security considerations. Trump enthusiastically endorsed the emerging partnership as “spectacular FOR ALL,” concluding with an optimistic projection that “Venezuela will soon be great and prosperous again, perhaps more so than ever before!”

This diplomatic engagement follows recent heightened tensions after U.S. forces captured former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, currently facing narcotics charges in American courts. Trump previously asserted that the United States would “run” Venezuela during a transitional period to stabilize the nation and rebuild critical sectors including its oil industry.

Rodríguez’s assumption of acting presidential duties and demonstrated cooperation with Washington prompted Trump to cancel a second wave of planned U.S. operations against Venezuela. This goodwill gesture followed Caracas’ release of numerous prisoners, indicating mutual confidence-building measures between the historically adversarial nations.

The United States has officially designated Belize among 75 countries facing an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing, effective January 21. This decisive action represents a significant expansion of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies, directly impacting pathways for employment-based immigration and family reunification.

According to the U.S. State Department, the suspension exclusively targets immigrant visas—those permitting permanent residency—while non-immigrant categories such as tourist, business, and student visas remain unaffected. The policy shift stems from an ongoing reassessment of procedures related to the ‘public charge’ provision of U.S. immigration law. This provision allows authorities to deny status to individuals deemed likely to depend primarily on government assistance programs.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed the administration will exercise its statutory authority to pause processing during this evaluation period. The affected nations span multiple continents, including Caribbean neighbors like Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba; Latin American countries such as Colombia; African states including Egypt and Somalia; and even European nations like Russia. The global scope underscores the widespread implications of this immigration policy recalibration, which prioritizes economic self-sufficiency among prospective immigrants.