# Belize - United States Department of State

- Belize HomeReportsBureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices&#8230;Belize				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Belize																																					Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																																																																																							Download Report																																																							Translations																																																																 In this section										/																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																																													EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																															Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																																									a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																																											b. Disappearance																																																																											c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																																			Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																																																		d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																																			Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																																																		e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																																			Trial Procedures																																																								Political Prisoners and Detainees																																																																																																																		f. Transnational Repression																																																																											g. Property Seizure and Restitution																																																																											h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																																																	Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																																									a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																																			Internet Freedom																																																																																																																		b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																																			Freedom of Peaceful Assembly																																																																																																																		c. Freedom of Religion																																																																											d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																																											e. Protection of Refugees																																																																																	Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																																									Elections and Political Participation																																																																																	Section 4. Corruption in Government																															Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																															Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																																									Women																																																																											Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																																											Indigenous Peoples																																																																											Children																																																																											Antisemitism																																																																											Trafficking in Persons																																																																											Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																																											Persons with Disabilities																																																																											Other Societal Violence or Discrimination																																																																																	Section 7. Worker Rights																																																									a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																																											b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																																											c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																																											d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																																																											e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																																																																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY				There were no significant changes in the human rights situation in Belize during the year.Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: arbitrary or unlawful killings; inhuman and degrading treatment by security officers; arbitrary arrest or detention; refoulement of refugees to a country where they would face serious harms, such as a threat to life or freedom or other mistreatment that would constitute a separate human rights abuse; serious government corruption; and extensive gender-based violence, including domestic and intimate partner violence.The government took credible steps to identify and punish officials who may have committed human rights abuses.																														Section 1.													 Respect for the Integrity of the Person												    																																																a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings										There were reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings.In March police officers shot and killed Dyandre Chi when he fled from arrest on a motorcycle in Orange Walk Town. Police officers claimed they shot at Chi and a companion after hearing gunshots from the motorcycle. The man accompanying Chi told police the sound officers heard was from the motorcycle engine. He also claimed officers used threats and intimidation to pressure him to recant his testimony. After an internal investigation, police corporal Esmin Flores and police constable Salomen Cowo were arrested for killing Chi. They both remained in custody awaiting trial at year’s end.In June the director of public prosecutions withdrew manslaughter charges against two police officers involved in the death of Derrick Uh, who died of heat stroke from a 13-hour confinement in a police van in August 2022. Cases brought against two other officers for the same crime continued, and both were suspended from duty awaiting trial. In August Uh’s family reached a settlement with the government and received compensation.The Belize Police Department (BPD) opened a case regarding the death of Andrew McDougal of Stann Creek District, who was beaten by two police officers in December 2022. Cell phone video showed officers beating and slamming McDougal against a police vehicle. An autopsy report indicated McDougal died of internal bleeding due to the beatings. Two police officers were arrested for his death, John Lucas and Jameel Lewis. Another officer, Tessa Stuart, was charged with perverting the course of justice because she lied in her statement. All three officers were suspended. The matter was referred to prosecutors and was pending before the court.In April police officer Kareem Martinez was found guilty and sentenced to 18 years in prison for the death of Laddie Gillett, age 14. Police officers fatally shot Gillett in the back in 2021 while chasing him and another young person when responding to a call regarding a burglary in progress.																																				b. Disappearance										There were no reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities.																																				c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses										The constitution prohibited torture and other inhuman punishment, but there were credible reports that law enforcement agents employed them.Through the end of August, the Professional Standards Branch registered 99 formal complaints against members of the BPD, representing a 43 percent increase of reports compared with all of 2022. The BPD’s Professional Standards Branch resolved 46 of the complaints, 38 were under investigation, and 15 cases awaited trial. Complaints included assault, wounding and harm, unlawful arrest and detention, extortion, theft, and preventing the course of justice. The BPD dismissed 10 officers as a result of complaints, and several other officers were fined or reduced in rank after being found guilty of offenses committed.In April police officers Romelio Logan, Reydel Teck, and Jashmir Cobb were sentenced to nine years in prison for the 2016 death of Edwin Ixpatec, who had been detained for disorderly conduct. The judgment found the officers failed in their duty to care for detainees in police custody.During the year, prison authorities dismissed at least one security officer found guilty of unnecessary use of force on prison inmates.																Prison and Detention Center Conditions						There were reports of extended isolation of prisoners in cells that lacked adequate ventilation and sanitation.Abusive Physical Conditions: Officials arbitrarily used isolation in a small, dark, poorly ventilated punishment cell to discipline inmates. Inmates and their legal representatives said the isolation room was fetid and infested with snakes, scorpions, and roaches. Prison regulations required a medical evaluation of inmates prior to isolation and included a maximum confinement of 14 days. The regulations were not consistently followed by prison authorities, and at times inmates were kept in isolation for more than three months.Administration: Authorities investigated credible allegations of mistreatment.Independent Monitoring: The ombudsman and visiting justices visited the prison. Prison administrators did not readily permit access to all areas for other independent human rights observers.																										d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention										The law prohibited arbitrary arrest and detention and provided for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of their arrest or detention in court. Media reported allegations that the government sometimes failed to observe these requirements.																Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees						The law required police to obtain search or arrest warrants issued by a magistrate except in cases of hot pursuit, probable cause, or in the presence of a firearm. Police were required to inform detainees of their rights at the time of arrest and of the cause of their detention within 24 hours of arrest. Police were required to also bring a detainee before a magistrate to be charged officially within 48 hours. The BPD faced allegations that at times police arbitrarily detained persons for more than 48 hours without pressing charges, did not take detainees directly to a police station, and used detention as a means of intimidation.Police usually granted detainees timely access to family members and lawyers, although there were reports of persons held in police detention without the opportunity to contact family or seek legal advice.There was a functioning bail system for release pending trial. By law, the police officer in charge of a station or a magistrate’s court could grant bail to persons charged with summary offenses. The High Court could grant bail to those charged with indictable offenses, including murder, gang activity, human trafficking, possession of an unlicensed firearm, and specific drug-trafficking or sexual offenses. The High Court generally reviewed the bail application within 10 working days. According to some defense attorneys, officers-in-charge at certain police stations denied bail in some cases of summary offenses even when legal provisions allowed for this right.On July 28, the government instituted a 30-day state of emergency for a section of Belize City to address escalating gang violence. The measure allowed the BPD to target criminal gangs through house raids, arrests, and detention. Timely habeas corpus and other due process rights were suspended under the state of emergency. The 45 allegedly gang-affiliated men detained in the process were freed at the expiration of the state of emergency. Upon their release, several claimed prison and law enforcement authorities illegally denied them access to legal counsel.Pretrial Detention: There were lengthy trial backlogs, particularly for serious crimes such as murder. Problems included delays in police completion of investigations, lack of evidence collection, court delays in preparing depositions, and adjournments in the courts. Judges were typically slow to issue rulings, in some cases taking a year or longer. The time between arrest, trial, and conviction ranged from six months to three years. Pretrial detention for persons accused of murder averaged three to four years.																										e. Denial of Fair Public Trial										The constitution provided for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected judicial independence and impartiality.																Trial Procedures						The law provided for the right to a fair and public trial, and the judiciary generally enforced this right, although long delays in holding trials occurred.There was no requirement for defendants to have legal representation except in cases involving murder. The Supreme Court’s registrar was responsible for appointing an attorney to act on behalf of indigent defendants charged with murder. The Legal Advice and Services Center provided legal services and representation for a range of civil and criminal cases. These legal aid services were overstretched, however, and were not available in rural areas.In May senior attorneys criticized the government for appointing a special prosecutor to a murder case after the director of public prosecutions recused herself and her office staff from handling the matter. The director of public prosecutions was related by marriage to the accused. Some members of the Belize Bar Association and opposition legislators pointed out the appointment contravened the constitution because the minister of home affairs named a prosecutor, which should be the sole prerogative of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.Due to substantial delays and a backlog of cases in the justice system, at times the courts did not bring some minor defendants to trial until after they reached age 18. In such cases, the defendants were tried as minors.The Human Rights Commission of Belize continued to raise concerns that several immigration offenders remained imprisoned despite paying the necessary fines and completing their prison sentences. The commission expressed particular concern for the separation of children from migrant parents who served prison sentences for immigration offenses. During imprisonment, parents were unable to communicate with their children until repatriation proceedings were completed, which in most cases took more than six months.						Political Prisoners and Detainees						There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees.																										f. Transnational Repression										Not applicable.																																				g. Property Seizure and Restitution										Not applicable.																																				h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence										The constitution prohibited such actions, and there were no reports that the government failed to respect these prohibitions.																																					Section 2.													 Respect for Civil Liberties												    																																																a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media										The constitution provided for freedom of expression, including for members of the press and other media, and the government generally respected this right. An independent press, an effective judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system combined to promote freedom of expression, including for media members.The press was largely independent of government influence, although most radio stations, television stations, and newspapers had strong editorial ties to either the United Democratic Party (UDP) or the governing People’s United Party. The independent press was often critical of government officials, with few signs of repercussions.Censorship or Content Restrictions for Members of the Press and Other Media, Including Online Media: The government did not directly censor media outlets or penalize those who published items counter to government guidelines. Nevertheless, anecdotal accounts indicated some media outlets practiced self-censorship to appease certain politicians and powerful businesspersons who patronized the publications. According to journalists, some government-focused investigations were ordered to stop after certain politicians contacted station news directors.In July the Elections and Boundaries Commission warned media not to publish or broadcast content of the electoral districts redivision exercise report, stating it should first be presented to legislators. The opposition party, UDP, criticized the commission, saying the action muffled the media’s ability to freely express, publicly scrutinize, and openly criticize government decisions. By November the government had not published the report.Libel/Slander Laws: Libel and slander were criminalized. In June Commissioner of Police Chester Williams sued Channel 7 and Channel 5 news stations after they presented a social media statement from opposition leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow claiming Williams issued a gun license to an individual without proper due diligence. Through his attorney, Williams called the statement “entirely inaccurate...and highly defamatory” and demanded a public apology. Both stations complied. The commissioner also sued Barrow; as of November, no court date had been set for hearing the case.																Internet Freedom						The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content.																										b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association										The law provided for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights.																Freedom of Peaceful Assembly						In August the government denied the opposition UDP a demonstration permit in San Pedro Town. Despite the denial, UDP members held the demonstration but were interrupted by police officers. UDP Senator Michael Peyrefitte called the government’s action a breach of the constitutional right to peaceful assembly.																										c. Freedom of Religion										See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report at  https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/.																																				d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country										The law provided for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights.In September immigration attorney Orson Elrington contended the government denied the rights of his client James Kojo Erimea, a citizen of Sierra Leone. Elrington explained that his client entered Belize illegally and was detained, charged with an immigration offense, and imprisoned. The court issued a deportation order. During his detention, Erimea accused an immigration officer of extorting him. Elrington argued his client was illegally detained since he had served his prison sentence and his family had provided funds for him to return to his home country. As of September, Erimea remained detained at the Belize Central Prison.																																				e. Protection of Refugees										The government cooperated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other international organizations to provide protection and humanitarian assistance to refugees, returning refugees, or asylum seekers, as well as other persons of concern. The Ministry of Human Development, Families, and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and the Ministry of Immigration shared responsibility in handling the refugee process and in providing for refugee protection and needs.Access to Asylum: The law provided for the granting of refugee status, and the government had established a system for providing protection to refugees. The government did not recognize a legal status of “asylum” and treated all applicants as potential refugees. The courts and executive offices used procedures for refugees to cover both refugees and asylum seekers.Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) indicated there was an increased number of Brazilian and Haitian citizens entering the country. The Human Rights Commission reported that many individuals registered complaints of not being allowed to file for refugee applications.The government extended the deadline for its amnesty program for qualifying “irregular” immigrants to March 30. The program sought to benefit immigrants who entered the country before March 2020, those who were previously recommended asylum, and those who were under special protection by the state. At the close of the program, approximately 13,000 persons had registered for amnesty, including at least four victims of human trafficking, and the government was in the process of performing background investigations on candidates.Refoulement: During the year, the government repatriated Cuban nationals who claimed their lives or freedom would be threatened due to their opposition to the Cuban government. Belize and Cuba had an agreement that required Belize to return to Cuba all irregular immigrants with Cuban citizenship.Abuse of Refugees and Asylum Seekers: In March the attorney for a Haitian citizen seeking refuge claimed his client was wrongfully imprisoned, denied access to justice, and unlawfully deported to Guatemala. According to attorney Arthur Saldivar, Abi Aladdin left his country to seek refuge in Belize after his father was persecuted because of civil unrest in Haiti. He illegally entered Belize through the border with Guatemala and was detained by authorities. He could not pay a fine for illegal entry and was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. According to Saldivar, days before Aladdin completed his custodial sentence, immigration authorities removed him from the prison and deported him to Guatemala without allowing him an appearance in court. Media reports indicated Director of Immigration Debra Baptist Estrada stated there was an order for Aladdin’s removal.Also in March, the attorney for a Haitian couple wrote to the Ministry of Immigration demanding better treatment of his clients after they were detained in Orange Walk District. Attorney Rene Montero Jr. indicated the Haitian couple, one of whom was pregnant, had not been provided food or water, placing severe stress on the pregnant woman that led to her hospitalization. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Immigration Eamon Courtenay denied the accusation, stating the two Haitians were treated appropriately by immigration officers.A Brazilian citizen who served time in prison for immigration offenses accused prison authorities of mistreatment and denial of certain services while in detention. Prison authorities denied the accusation.Employment: In general, persons awaiting adjudication of their refugee applications were unable to work legally in the country. A 2021 government policy, however, allowed persons whose refugee status was pending finalization to work in the sugar, citrus, and banana industries.Access to Basic Services: Refugees and asylum seekers were able to use the education system and the socialized medical system, but the government offered no assistance with housing or food except in extreme cases that involved children and pregnant women. UNHCR reported that several refugees claimed health providers discriminated against them when they accessed public clinics and hospitals.Temporary Protection: The Immigration Department issued renewable special residency permits for periods of 60 to 90 days to those who applied for refugee status. A government policy allowed for the renewal of protection status every three months for persons approved by the Refugee Eligibility Committee and awaiting the minister’s final approval.																																					Section 3.													 Freedom to Participate in the Political Process												    																						The law provided citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage.																										Elections and Political Participation										Abuses or Irregularities in Recent Elections: National elections were widely reported to be fair and free of abuses and irregularities.Political Parties and Political Participation: The opposition party alleged that being a member of the ruling Peoples United Party conferred certain advantages in gaining employment, permits, or government contracts at the local and national levels. This belief was widely shared by the public.Participation of Women and Members of Marginalized or Vulnerable Groups: Observers noted that cultural and societal constraints, including strong discouragement from family members and a general voter bias for electing men, limited the number of women running for elected office.																																					Section 4.													 Corruption in Government												    																						The law provided criminal penalties for corruption by officials, but the government did not implement the law effectively, and officials often engaged in corrupt practices with impunity. Allegations of corruption in government among public officials, including ministers, deputy ministers, and chief executive officers, were numerous, although in most cases no substantial proof was presented.Corruption: In July the senate created a special select committee to investigate an agreement the government had previously signed with Portico Enterprises Ltd., a developer bidding to construct a cruise ship port in Belize City. According to the government, the agreement was signed by Former Minister of Economic Development Erwin Contreras without approval and awarded major concessions to the company, including exemptions from several duties and taxes.For additional information about corruption in the country, please see the Department of State’s Investment Climate Statement for the country, and the Department of State’s International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, which includes information on financial crimes.																											Section 5.													 Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights												    																						A variety of domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction to monitor and investigate human rights conditions or cases and publish their findings. Government officials often were cooperative and responsive to the views of these groups.Government Human Rights Bodies: The ombudsman, appointed by the prime minister and ratified by parliament, acted as an independent check on governmental abuses. On February 10, Herman Gilbert Swazo became the ombudsman. The office was previously vacant for 22 months after the government refused to renew the contract of the former ombudsman. While the Office of the Ombudsman had wide investigative powers, it lacked effective enforcement authority. The office operated under significant staffing and other constraints. Observers did not consider the Office of the Ombudsman independent and effective.																											Section 6.													 Discrimination and Societal Abuses												    																																																Women										Rape and Domestic Violence: The law criminalized rape of men or women, including spousal and domestic or intimate partner rape and other forms of domestic and sexual violence. So-called corrective rape of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex (LGBTQI+) persons was not specified in the law. The government did not enforce the law effectively. The law stipulated a sentence of imprisonment for eight years to life for rape, although on occasion sentences were much lighter. Problems facing the wider justice system generally resulted in low conviction rates for rape. Survivors of spousal rape frequently requested the charges be dropped, often citing economic support from the perpetrator as key to providing for their children’s well-being.Gender-based violence remained an endemic problem. The Belize Crime Observatory, a BPD unit, indicated women were the victims in 86 percent of the gender-based violence cases registered by the BPD through the end of August, with 54 percent of violence being perpetrated by intimate partners. Eighty-nine percent of reports led to arrests and court actions, compared with 65 percent in the same time period in 2022. Public perception was that insufficient numbers of police officers and inadequate funding hampered investigations.Some NGOs working with the defense force indicated that sexual assault was a problem in the organization. In August officials initiated investigations into two cases of sexual assault. As of the end of October, the investigations continued.Domestic violence was prohibited by law, and the law was generally enforced. Survivors noted the procedure was lengthy but that nevertheless, when charges were not dropped by victims, generally perpetrators were convicted. Domestic violence was considered a civil matter; however, perpetrators were often prosecuted for criminal charges such as harm, wounding, grievous harm, rape, and marital rape. Police, prosecutors, and judges recognized both physical violence and mental injury as evidence of domestic violence. Penalties included fines and imprisonment. The law empowered the Family Court to issue protection orders against accused offenders.The government conducted awareness campaigns against gender-based violence, including domestic violence. It had a domestic violence hotline and shelters for survivors. Major police stations designated domestic violence officers. Due to understaffed police stations, these measures were not always operational.In 2022 the government elevated the status of the National Women’s Commission from an advisory body to a statutory body under the Ministry of Human Development, Families, and Indigenous People’s Affairs. The change allowed the commission to legally address gender matters and coordinate among government institutions and private sector all national efforts relating to gender equality, equity, and women’s empowerment.Other Forms of Gender-based Violence or Harassment: The law provided protection from sexual harassment in the workplace, including provisions against unfair dismissal of a victim of sexual harassment. The government enforced the law, but officials noted no criminal cases had ever been brought under the law’s sexual harassment provisions. The Women’s Department, under the Ministry of Human Development, Families, and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, recognized sexual harassment as a subset of sexual violence. Local NGOs continued to be concerned that some victims did not report sexual harassment due to fear of further victimization or losing their job.Discrimination: The law provided the same legal status and rights for women as for men, but the government did not always protect those rights.Despite legal provisions for gender equality and government programs aimed at empowering women, NGOs and other observers reported women faced social and economic discrimination. Although women participated in all spheres of national life, outnumbered men in university classrooms, and had higher graduation rates from high school, they held relatively few top managerial or government positions.The law mandated equal pay for equal work, but the labor commissioner verified that men on average earned more per month than women did, often because men held higher positions, and some reports indicated women earned 55 percent of what men earned. Although there were no restrictions on women working in industries such as mining, construction, factories, energy, water, and transportation, the percentage of women employed in these sectors was low. The law provided for the continuity of employment and protection against unfair dismissal and prohibited sexual harassment in the workplace, pregnancy, or HIV status, but the law was not enforced.Reproductive Rights: There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities.According to some NGOs, women from socially conservative Mennonite communities seeking tubal ligation sought the permission of the husband for cultural and religious reasons. Emergency contraception was not always available as a method for family planning because of insufficient supply across public facilities.Access to emergency health care, including services for the management of complications arising from abortions, while afforded at public facilities, was not always readily obtainable due to stigma and cultural prejudices. These services were available at private facilities, but much of the population could not afford the cost.The government provided access to sexual and reproductive health services including counseling to survivors of sexual violence, but the government often lacked sufficient rape response kits, including insufficient supplies of emergency contraception and postexposure prophylaxis. Sexual and reproductive health services were not always made available to persons under the age of 18 at public clinics without the consent of a parent or guardian.In April the government removed the general sales tax on sanitary feminine products to improve access to these items; however, CARICOM tariffs on the products remained as part of an external tariff framework. Despite the changes, certain retail stores and import companies continued to include the general sales tax on the items.Reports noted some religiously affiliated educational institutions did not allow pregnant girls to attend school. Because of the stigma against underage pregnancy and discrimination targeting pregnant girls, some families opted not to report the matter to authorities, and instead girls withdrew from school for a portion of their pregnancy and then were enrolled at another institution following the birth. Male adolescents involved in the case normally did not face expulsion. Because school attendance was by law compulsory only to age 14, educational institutions were not obligated to enroll pregnant girls older than 14.																																				Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination										The constitution provided for the right to freedom from discrimination and violence based on race and skin color, but there were no specific laws or regulations prohibiting violence or discrimination on the grounds of ethnicity. There were anecdotal reports of racial discrimination in the workplace and in wider society against ethnic minority groups and against members of the migrant community.																																				Indigenous Peoples										There were no separate legal system or laws concerning Indigenous persons, since the government maintained that it treated all citizens equally. Both public and private employers generally treated Indigenous persons equally with members of other ethnic groups for employment and other purposes.The Maya Leaders’ Alliance (MLA) continued a dialogue with the government and monitored development in the Toledo District with the goal of implementing the 2015 Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) consent order on Maya customary land tenure. In August the MLA and Toledo Alcalde Association (TAA) expressed dissatisfaction in the way the government was carrying out consultations for the establishment of a “customary land-tenure” policy to enforce the court orders. Cristina Coc, spokesperson for the MLA and TAA, said the government consultations were not inclusive of all impacted communities.In January Minister of State Michael Espat made controversial remarks regarding the Maya people in Toledo District. He stated the 2015 CCJ consent order would sow racial division, separation, and a dilution of the government’s power in the district and added the “Maya culture movement” was bad for the country because it was influenced by external interests. He called for a “sledgehammer” to break down the Indigenous rights movement. Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs Dolores Balderamos Garcia called Espat’s remarks “unfortunate” and stated they did not “reflect the position of the government.” The government reaffirmed its commitment to full compliance with the terms of the CCJ consent order and condemned the use of any racist language and fearmongering in relation to Maya land rights.In March tensions rose between the communities of Yemeri Grove and the Maya village of Laguna, both in the Toledo District, after Yemeri Grove residents accused residents of the neighboring Maya village of encroaching on their territory. Residents of Yemeri Grove expressed concern for their safety because they had been threatened with sticks and machetes by residents of Laguna regarding the differences in the village boundary demarcations. Minister Balderamos Garcia issued a cautionary letter to the TAA and MLA against “expansionist positions being adopted by the Maya villages.” Spokesperson Cristina Coc called this “blatant discrimination and mischief making.” In May the matter escalated when residents of Yemeri Grove destroyed concrete survey markers erected by the Laguna community leaders. The minister declared Laguna leaders had illegally placed the survey markers. Coc responded that in Laguna community, “We know our extent of use, we are not trying to take away or grab what we don’t already use and occupy.”																																				Children										Birth Registration: Failure to register hindered the process for receiving a social security card to access services such as health care and education. Children without birth certificates had trouble registering for school and often had to move from school to school.The Human Rights Commission estimated a substantial number of persons living in remote communities who were born in Belize, and therefore entitled to Belizean citizenship, were not registered in the national birth registry, barring them from benefits such as formal employment, education beyond primary level, and full public health services. In October and December 2022, the commission held clinics in the northern region of the country to register hundreds of children and adults who were not registered at birth.Child Abuse: There were laws against child abuse, and the government generally enforced these laws effectively. The law allowed authorities to remove a child from an abusive home environment and required parents to maintain and support children until age 18. There were publicized cases of underage girls being victims of sexual abuse and mistreatment, in most cases in their own or a relative’s home.In January the Ministry of Education initiated an investigation of a male teacher at Canaan Seventh Day Adventist High School for inappropriate behavior toward a female student. Through social media, the teacher told the student he wanted a romantic and physical relationship and asked the student to keep it a secret. The student told her father, who complained to the school administration. School officials, however, did not provide a timely response. The Ministry of Education declared it had started an investigation, and the teacher involved was suspended.In April special police constable Jeremy Bermudez was found guilty of raping a girl age 13. According to police investigations, his behavior continued for one year. He remained on remand at the central prison awaiting sentencing at year’s end. In May a father was sentenced to 15 years in prison for raping his teenage daughter for more than five years.Child, Early, and Forced Marriage: The legal minimum age to marry was 18, but persons ages 16 to 17 could legally marry with the consent of parents, legal guardians, or judicial authorities. The government did not effectively enforce the law. According to UNICEF, 29 percent of women ages 20 to 49 were married or cohabiting before reaching 18. Early marriage was more prevalent in certain areas – Toledo, Corozal, and Orange Walk – and among the Maya and Mestizo ethnic groups. During the year, the National Commission for Families and Children held sensitization sessions with a faith-based organization that encouraged and condoned early marriage. The sessions included information on statutes regarding early marriage.Sexual Exploitation of Children: The law prohibited the sale, grooming, or use of children for commercial sexual exploitation, including sex trafficking. It defined a “child” as anyone younger than 18. The law allowed children ages 16 and 17 to engage in consensual, noncommercial sexual activity. NGOs and experts noted this provision made children vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation.The legal age for consensual sex was 16, but commercial sex was not legal with persons younger than age 18. Sexual intercourse with a child younger than 14 was punishable with 12 years’ to life imprisonment. Sexual intercourse with children ages 14 to 15 was punishable by five to 10 years’ imprisonment. Civil society organizations asserted that many cases of child sexual exploitation were unreported. The law was enforced effectively.There were anecdotal reports that boys and girls were victims of trafficking, including through “sugar daddy” arrangements whereby older men provided money to minors, the families of minors, or both, in exchange for sexual relations with the minors. Similarly, there were reports of increased child trafficking in tourist areas or where there were transient and seasonal workers, often to meet the demand of foreign sex tourists. The law criminalized the procurement or attempted procurement of persons younger than 18 to engage in commercial sex and stipulated a sentence of up to eight years’ imprisonment. The government did not consistently enforce laws prohibiting child sex trafficking.The law established a penalty of two years’ imprisonment for publishing or offering for sale obscene books, writings, or representation.																																				Antisemitism										The Jewish population was small, and there were no reports of antisemitic incidents.																																				Trafficking in Persons										See the Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report at  https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/.																																				Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics										Criminalization: There were no laws criminalizing consensual same-sex sexual conduct between adults. The law prohibited “homosexual” individuals from entering the country, but immigration authorities did not enforce the law. Neutral laws were not disproportionately applied to LGBTQI+ persons.Violence and Harassment: The NGO Promoting Empowerment Through Awareness for Lesbians and Bisexual Women (PETAL) registered 117 and the LGBTQI+ advocacy NGO UniBAM registered 15 complaints of human rights abuses against LGBTQI+ persons as of August. According to PETAL, the abuses included employment dismissal, employment denial, refusal of authorities to register and investigate abuses, unlawful home eviction, grievous harm on LGBTQI+ persons, and cyberbullying because of the individuals’ gender identity or sexual orientation.UniBAM stated that legislation was inconsistent with the constitution, which provided for equal protection and equal treatment. The NGO stated the government failed to enact any of the 17 LGBTQI+ related recommendations it accepted as part of the 2018 Universal Periodic Review, such as equality and hate crime legislation to provide protection against discrimination and violence. Both PETAL and UniBAM noted that assault and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity continued to be substantially underreported due to victims’ fear of further victimization by authorities. UniBAM’s director, Caleb Orozco, said that in police stations, officers refused to take reports from LGBTQI+ victims who experienced discrimination or gender-based violence. Other LGBTQI+ organizations stated that in communities with very conservative religious affiliations, persons were at times denied medical services and education and encountered family-based violence.In April a lesbian woman from Belize City reported she was harassed and threatened by neighbors because of her gender identity. The woman tried several times to make a report to police, but officers declined to take her complaint. Hecklers damaged the victim’s property.Discrimination: The constitution prohibited discrimination based on sex, which was interpreted to include sexual orientation by the judiciary. The law did not prohibit discrimination specifically against LGBTQI+ persons in housing, employment, nationality laws, or access to government services, such as health care, but the constitution generally provided for the protection of all citizens from any type of discrimination. State institutions lacked official reporting data on the extent of discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics, but NGO representatives noted cases were considerable in number.The law did not recognize LGBTQI+ couples and their families. In February a transgender man faced a civil suit from his partner, who intended to have the man’s parental rights removed based on his gender identity. The partner argued that family and children’s legislation did not acknowledge same-sex couples and as such the transgender man should not be allowed parental rights. The court ruled in favor of the transgender man on the basis of his biological parentage.Availability of Legal Gender Recognition: Legal gender recognition was not available.Involuntary or Coercive Medical or Psychological Practices: There were no reported involuntary or coercive medical or psychological practices specifically targeting LGBTQI+ individuals. There were no reports of medically unnecessary and irreversible “normalization” surgeries performed on children or on nonconsenting adult intersex persons.Restrictions of Freedom of Expression, Association, or Peaceful Assembly: There were no restrictions on freedom of expression, association, or peaceful assembly regarding LGBTQI+ issues.																																				Persons with Disabilities										The law did not expressly prohibit discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities, but the constitution provided for the protection of all citizens from any type of discrimination. The law did not mandate accessibility accommodations for persons with disabilities, and most public and private buildings and transportation were not accessible. Certain businesses and government departments had designated clerks to attend to the elderly and persons with disabilities. There were no policies to encourage hiring persons with disabilities in the public or private sectors. The government did not provide all information in accessible formats. There were isolated reports of violence against persons with disabilities.Mental health provisions and protections were generally poor. Informal government-organized committees advocating for persons with disabilities were tasked with public education and advocating for protections against discrimination. The country did not have a reliable system for identifying persons with disabilities who needed services. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology maintained the National Resource Center for Inclusive Education, which offered screening, diagnostic assessments, teacher training, parent and school support, specific therapies for students with special needs, and segregated education programs within the mainstream school system.Children with disabilities attended specific classrooms with no more than 15 pupils for every two teachers, all of whom were trained to work with students with disabilities. Postprimary and postsecondary educational services, vocational training, and life skills development opportunities were limited. One private school, one public school, and five education centers in the country specialized in working with children with disabilities. These education centers were attached to public schools under the same management. Children with disabilities attended mainstream schools through the secondary level at a significantly lower rate than other children and were placed with nondisabled peers.The Association of Defense Attorneys noted that approximately 90 inmates with mental health conditions were imprisoned at the Belize Central Prison, where they received limited medical attention and were kept with the general prison population.																																				Other Societal Violence or Discrimination										There was some discrimination against persons with HIV and AIDS. The government worked to combat it through public education efforts of the National AIDS Commission and the Ministry of Human Development.																																					Section 7.													 Worker Rights												    																																																a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining										The law generally provided for the right to establish and join independent trade unions, bargain collectively, and conduct legal strikes. The Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labor, and Local Government (Ministry of Labor) recognized unions and employers associations after they were registered. The law established procedures for the registration and status of trade unions and employer organizations and for collective bargaining. The law prohibited antiunion discrimination and dissolution or suspension of unions by administrative authority, and it required reinstatement of workers fired for union activity.The unions, under their umbrella organizations the National Trade Union Congress of Belize and the Civil Society Steering Group, were represented in the legislature by a senator whom the two entities designated. This senator provided direct input into the political and legislative process for labor organizations.In disputes involving public- and private-sector employees who provided “essential services,” the law allowed authorities to refer the dispute to compulsory arbitration, prohibit strikes, and terminate labor actions. The postal service, monetary and financial services, civil aviation, petroleum sector, port authority personnel (stevedores and ship pilots), and security services were deemed essential services by local laws. This list was more extensive than the International Labor Organization’s definition of essential services.Workers could file complaints with the Ministry of Labor or seek redress from the courts for wrongful termination due to union activity, although it was difficult to prove terminations were in retaliation for such activity. The ministry’s Labor Department generally handled labor cases without lengthy delays and dealt with appeals through arbitration outside the court system. The court did not apply the law requiring reinstatement of workers fired for union activity but provided monetary compensation instead.The government generally enforced laws protecting freedom of association, collective bargaining, and the right to strike in the formal sector, although it did not apply the law for reinstatement of workers dismissed for union activity. The government did not effectively enforce it in the large informal sector due to a lack of registration from employers. There were complaints of administrative and judicial delays relating to labor complaints and disputes. Penalties were less than for other similar civil rights violations. Penalties were rarely applied against violators.Antiunion discrimination and other forms of employer interference in union functions sometimes occurred and, as a result, on several occasions unions threatened or carried out strikes. There were reports workers were intimidated into either not joining a union or dropping union membership if they had joined. This occurred predominantly in the agricultural sector, where a significant number of the workers were from Central America and working on temporary work permits.In August the High Court declared unconstitutional the clause in the Sugar Cane Industry Act that required a cane farmer to be a member of an association to sell sugarcane. The case was brought to court by farmer Russell Navarro and the Belize Sugar Industry Limited. The court declared Navarro’s constitutional rights to work and to free association had been violated by the de facto requirement contained in the act, which stated he had to be a member of a cane farmer association to be placed on the cane register for deliveries of cane to the miller.																																				b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor										See the Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report at  https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/.																																				c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment										See the Department of Labor’s Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor at  https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings/ .																																				d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																														e. Acceptable Conditions of Work										Wage and Hour Laws: The law provided for a national minimum wage. It was above the poverty income level. The law set the workweek at no more than six days or 45 hours and required premium payment for overtime work. Workers were entitled to two workweeks of paid annual holiday. Additionally, there were 13 days designated as public and bank holidays. Employees who worked on public and bank holidays were entitled to pay at time-and-a-half, except for Good Friday and Christmas, which were paid at twice the normal rate.Occupational Safety and Health: The country did not have a specific occupational safety and health (OSH) law, but the Factories Act and the Labour Act contained provisions related to occupational safety and health in the workplace. OSH regulations for all industries stipulated the employer had to take “reasonable care” for the safety of employees. The regulations further provided that every employer who provided or arranged accommodation for workers to reside at or near a place of employment should provide and maintain sufficient and hygienic housing accommodations, a sufficient supply of clean water, and sufficient and proper sanitary arrangements. OSH experts identified unsafe conditions and developed and implemented safety regulations. Workers could remove themselves from situations that endangered health or safety without jeopardy to their employment.Wage, Hour, and OSH Enforcement: The Ministry of Labor did not consistently enforce minimum wage, hour, and OSH regulations. Inspectors could make unannounced visits and initiate penalties, but the number of inspectors was insufficient to secure compliance, especially in the more remote areas. Fines varied according to the infraction but generally were less than those for similar crimes. Penalties were rarely applied to violators. Most labor violations pertaining to acceptable conditions of work occurred in the informal sector, but authorities were not able to properly monitor and carry out inspections.NGOs working in migrant communities in the informal sector asserted that in certain industries, particularly the banana, citrus, and construction sectors, employers often did not respect due process, did not pay minimum wages, and classified workers as contract and nonpermanent employees to avoid providing certain benefits. Anecdotal evidence from NGOs and employers suggested that undocumented Central American workers, particularly young service workers and agricultural laborers, were regularly paid below the minimum wage. An NGO noted that both national and migrant informal workers continued to be denied labor rights.The International Monetary Fund estimated the informal labor sector at 47 percent of the labor force. The government did not enforce labor laws in this sector.																																				    							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Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																							a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																						b. Disappearance																																																						c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																				Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																				d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																				Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																				e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																				Trial Procedures																																												Political Prisoners and Detainees																																																																																				f. Transnational Repression																																																						g. Property Seizure and Restitution																																																						h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																			Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																							a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																				Internet Freedom																																																																																				b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																				Freedom of Peaceful Assembly																																																																																				c. Freedom of Religion																																																						d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																						e. Protection of Refugees																																																			Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																							Elections and Political Participation																																																			Section 4. Corruption in Government																Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																							Women																																																						Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																						Indigenous Peoples																																																						Children																																																						Antisemitism																																																						Trafficking in Persons																																																						Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																						Persons with Disabilities																																																						Other Societal Violence or Discrimination																																																			Section 7. Worker Rights																																							a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																						b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																						c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																						d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																																						e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																									Tags																					Belize																								Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																								Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
- Under Secretary Zeya’s Remarks at a Joint Press Availability with Belize Foreign Minister Fonseca Uzra Zeya, Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human RightsAs prepared.Thank you, Foreign Minister Fonseca, for the invigorating discussion on U.S.-Belize priorities and shared commitments.Over the last few days, I had excellent, wide-ranging meetings with Prime Minister Briceño, Minister of Home Affairs Musa, Minister of Defense Marin, National Security Director Del Cid, along with other senior officials and the Special Envoy for the Development of Families and Children. We also engaged dynamic leaders from civil society and the National Women’s Commission and the National AIDS Commission.I want to extend sincere appreciation to Prime Minister Briceño and Foreign Minister Fonseca for their close collaboration and our growing partnership in Belize and throughout the region. The United States is grateful for our flourishing relationship, anchored in shared commitments to democratic values and respect for human rights. We are also proud to be the leading trading partner and source of investment funds for Belize.The United States views Belize as a vital partner in shared priorities, including humane migration management, human-centered civilian security, democracy, and human rights – all topics of critical importance throughout my engagements here.Managing irregular migration and supporting solutions to forced displacement from neighboring countries is a critical area of our bilateral and regional cooperation. I commend Belize for its leadership advancing humane migration throughout the hemisphere and its groundbreaking efforts to support displaced persons within the country, including through the Amnesty Program. And I particularly want to thank our dedicated UN partners who are supporting these efforts.Human-centered civilian security was also a central theme in all our discussions. The United States invested $3 million this past year to helpmake a difference in areas Belizeans care about: improving citizen security, strengthening the justice sector, and securing Belize&#8217;s borders. In fact, since 2025, we’ve provided more than $57 million in security, economic, health, and humanitarian assistance to this great nation and I’ve seen the dividends of this progress.We also welcome Belize’s principled stand as one of 12 countries recognizing Taiwan. This cooperation with Taiwan is benefiting the Belizean people, as seen in the recent Global Cooperation and Training Framework event focused on gender-based violence that brought together advocates from Taiwan, Belize, and the United States, highlighting how we can work together on global issues and bolster international support.In conversations with courageous human rights and civil society leaders over the last few days, I heard directly about both progress made and challenges faced by marginalized groups in Belize. Their efforts to combat gender-based violence and attain gender equality and equal opportunity for all is an inspiration for the Western Hemisphere, including the United States. To this end, we are resolute in sustaining support for the Belizean LGBTQIA+ community and other marginalized groups. Civil society is vital in these efforts, and we are grateful for their voices and perspectives.Now, I will turn it back over to the Foreign Minister for any final comments before we open the floor for questions. Thank you.
- Under Secretary Zeya’s Travel to Jamaica and Belize HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases&#8230;Under Secretary Zeya’s Travel to Jamaica and Belize				hide		if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}																										Under Secretary Zeya’s Travel to Jamaica and Belize																																		Media Note																														February 16, 2024																																							Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya will travel to Kingston, Jamaica, and Belmopan, Belize from February 19-23, 2024, to advance bilateral and regional cooperation on civilian security, migration, and human rights.In Kingston, Under Secretary Zeya will underscore the strength of the U.S.-Jamaica partnership and meet with senior government officials to enhance our cooperation in civilian security and law enforcement, human rights, and rule of law. &nbsp;She will meet with close partners to engage on the Haiti Multinational Security Support mission. &nbsp;Additionally, the Under Secretary will commemorate the opening of a Child Friendly Space developed through the U.S.-Jamaica Child Protection Compact Partnership, which provides safety and support to children who are victims or witnesses of crime. &nbsp;She will explore with educators and youth opportunities to strengthen the capacity of families and communities to prevent youth violence.&nbsp;In Belmopan, Under Secretary Zeya will engage senior government officials, civil society, and human rights advocates on bilateral and regional security, as well as our efforts to strengthen safe, orderly, and humane migration management, address human trafficking, counter discrimination, and protect fundamental freedoms of vulnerable groups. &nbsp;For further information, please follow @UnderSecStateJ.						Tags																					Belize																								Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																								Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs																																Child Protection																																																					Human Rights and Democracy																															Jamaica																								Office of the Spokesperson																																Official International Travel																															Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights
- Senior Coordinator for Atlantic Cooperation Lapenn’s Travel to Belize Office of the SpokespersonAmbassador Jessye Lapenn, Senior Coordinator for Atlantic Cooperation, will travel February 13-14 to Belmopan, Belize for discussions on the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation. She will meet with government officials and non-governmental organizations to discuss how the Partnership can advance shared goals on sustainable economic development, scientific collaboration, and environmental conservation.The Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation connects 37 coastal Atlantic countries in the Americas, Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean to collaborate on collective problem-solving and uphold a set of shared principles for Atlantic cooperation. For more information, visit the Partnership website.
- Special Presidential Advisor for the Americas Dodd’s Travel to Belize and Costa Rica Office of the SpokespersonSpecial Presidential Advisor (SPA) for the Americas Christopher J. Dodd will travel to Belize and Costa Rica January 17-20. In Belize, SPA Dodd will meet with Prime Minister Briceño, Foreign Minister Fonseca, and members of the business community. In Costa Rica, SPA Dodd will meet with President Chaves and members of his cabinet, members of the National Assembly, and private sector leaders. SPA Dodd will follow up on commitments President Biden made at the inaugural Leaders’ Summit of the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity and look ahead to the 2025 Summit in Costa Rica. These visits underscore the United States pledge to foster inclusive and sustainable economic growth, defend democratic governance and the rule of law, and strengthen security cooperation in the Western Hemisphere.
- Belize National Day Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of StateOn behalf of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of Belize on the 42nd anniversary of your Independence Day.On this day, the United States recognizes our strong partnership with Belize, anchored in our shared commitments to democratic values and respect for human rights. We are grateful for Belize’s leadership in supporting humane migration management through the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection and its efforts to foster citizen security, address climate change, and prevent transnational crime. The United States will continue to support Belize as it creates the conditions for a more secure and prosperous future for its citizens.In the spirit of this partnership, the people of the United States wish a very happy 42nd Independence Day to Belizeans everywhere.
- Evaluation of the CARSI Small Grants Program [PDF] 
- Belize HomeReportsBureau of Economic and Business Affairs2023 Investment Climate Statements&#8230;Belize				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Investment Climate Statements: Belize																																																																																												 In this section										/																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																																													EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																															1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment																																																									Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment																																																																											Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment																																																																											Other Investment Policy Reviews																																																																											Business Facilitation																																																																											Outward Investment																																																																																	2. Bilateral Investment and Taxation Treaties																															3. Legal Regime																																																									Transparency of the Regulatory System																																																																											International Regulatory Considerations																																																																											Legal System and Judicial Independence																																																																											Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment																																																																											Competition and Antitrust Laws																																																																											Expropriation and Compensation																																																																											Dispute Settlement																																																																			ICSID Convention and New York Convention																																																								Investor-State Dispute Settlement																																																								International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts																																																																																																																		Bankruptcy Regulations																																																																																	4. Industrial Policies																																																									Investment Incentives																																																																											Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation																																																																											Performance and Data Localization Requirements																																																																																	5. Protection of Property Rights																																																									Real Property																																																																											Intellectual Property Rights																																																																																	6. Financial Sector																																																									Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment																																																																											Money and Banking System																																																																											Foreign Exchange and Remittances																																																																			Foreign Exchange																																																								Remittance Policies																																																																																																																		Sovereign Wealth Funds																																																																																	7. State-Owned Enterprises																																																									Privatization Program																																																																																	8. Responsible Business Conduct																																																									Additional Resources																																																																											Climate Issues																																																																																	9. Corruption																																																									Resources to Report Corruption																																																																																	10. Political and Security Environment																															11. Labor Policies and Practices																															12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Other Investment Insurance or Development Finance Programs																															13. Foreign Direct Investment Statistics																															14. Contact for More Information																																																					EXECUTIVE SUMMARY				Belize has the smallest economy in Central America, with a gross domestic product (GDP) of US $2.57 billion in 2022, a 12.1 percent expansion over the previous year. Belize’s government encourages FDI as a tool for economic growth.The government continued to advance its debt management program. Public debt declined to 64.1 percent of GDP in 2022 from 108 percent in 2021. This greater fiscal space supports implementing the government’s economic growth agenda and social programs.In 2022, tourism and agriculture continued to rebound from the massive economic contraction that was driven by COVID. The Central Bank of Belize (CBB) recorded total inflows of FDI at US $207.25 million (a 38.4 percent annual increase) in 2022 concentrated primarily in real estate, construction, hotels, and restaurants. The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is developing a five-year compact with Belize that will focus on providing development assistance funding for education and to lower the cost of electricity.In 2022, the government launched a National Investment Policy and Strategy (NIPS) as well as the Micro, Small, Medium Enterprise (MSME) Strategy to improve the framework for domestic and foreign investment. The government also passed a credit reporting act and are working on the establishment of a credit bureau and collateral registry to increase the availability of financing for MSMEs. As part of the government’s e-governance agenda, several digitalization projects are underway, including the land and business registries, and the digitalization of firms and government services.Generally, Belize has no restrictions on foreign ownership and control of companies; however, foreign investments must be registered with the CBB and adhere to the Exchange Control Act and related regulations. The Companies Act was overhauled in 2022 to require all companies, local and overseas, to re-register with Belize Companies and Corporate Affairs Registry. Under the new act, companies with foreign interests (including shareholders) must be registered through an agent. Additionally, overseas companies were converted to “foreign companies,” with other provisions pertaining only to foreign companies, such as a requirement to maintain a registered office and having a registered agent, as well as certain documents and records in Belize.While the banking system remains fragile, there are efforts to maintain stability and initiate reforms. This assessment is corroborated by the IMF’s Concluding Statement in February 2023. Nonperforming loans increased to 7 percent of gross loans in 2022, higher than the 2021’s 5 percent and the regulatory ceiling. Efforts were also underway to secure new correspondent banking relationships. The government is also taking steps to improve its anti-money laundering/combatting the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) framework as it prepares for the Mutual Evaluation by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force in November 2023.Throughout much of 2022, key transparency and oversight bodies including the Integrity Commission, the Ombudsman’s Office, the Auditor General’s Office, and the Labor Commissioner remained vacant. In practice, these offices are understaffed and under resourced to effectively undertake their respective mandates. In 2022, Belize fell from the third highest murder rate in the region to the sixth. Freedom House finds that citizen security is still a concern with the high level of crime countrywide.Global inflationary trends have severely affected Belize.  After two decades of relative price stability, inflation ballooned from 0.1 percent in 2020 to 6.3 percent in 2022.  Higher prices on imported goods such as food, fuel, inputs into the productive sector like fertilizer, as well as supply chains costs primarily due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could continue to exacerbate inflation, widen the current account deficit, and reduce international reserve buffers.Table 1: Key Metrics and RankingsMeasureYearIndex/RankWebsite AddressTI Corruption Perceptions Index2022N/Ahttp://www.transparency.org/research/cpi/overviewGlobal Innovation Index2022N/Ahttps://www.globalinnovationindex.org/analysis-indicatorU.S. FDI in partner country ($M USD, historical stock positions)2021USD 64 millionhttps://apps.bea.gov/international/factsheetWorld Bank GNI per capita2021USD 6,070http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP.PCAP.CD																																					1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment						    																																																Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment										Belize’s government encourages FDI as a tool for economic growth. While the government is interested in attracting FDI, certain bureaucratic and regulatory requirements impede investment and growth. In July 2022, the government launched a new National Investment Policy and Strategy (NIPS) that established a framework to steer domestic and foreign investments. The government also conducted diplomatic and trade missions in target destinations to promote the country as an investment destination and credible export market.There are no laws that explicitly discriminate against foreign investors.  In practice, however, investors complain that lack of transparency, land insecurity, bureaucracy, delays, and corruption are factors that make it difficult to do business in Belize. U.S. firms have found challenges in participating and competing in areas related to the bidding, procurement, and dispute settlement processes, in particular relating to State Owned Enterprises (SOEs).The Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE;  https://www.beltraide.bz ) is the investment and export promotion agency.  It promotes FDI through various incentive packages and named priority sectors. BELTRAIDE has an after-care unit that supports investment retention and keeping an ongoing dialogue with investors.The Economic Development Council,  https://edc.gov.bz , is a public-private sector advisory body set up to advance public sector reforms, to promote private sector development and to inform policies for growth and development.																																				Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment										Belize acknowledges the right for foreign and domestic private entities to establish, own business enterprises and engage in remunerative activities.  Foreign and domestic entities must first register their companies before engaging in business. They must also register for the appropriate taxes, including business tax and general sales tax, as well as obtain a social security number and trade license. The Companies Act was overhauled in 2022 to repeal and replace the previous International Business Companies Act and the previous Companies Act. All companies under the new act, both local and overseas, are required to re-register with Belize Companies and Corporate Affairs Registry. Businesses owned completely by Belizean citizens can be registered by the business owner through a recently launched online system. On the other hand, if a company has foreign interests, the business must be registered through an agent. Additionally, overseas companies were converted to “foreign companies,” with other provisions pertaining only to foreign companies, such as a requirement to maintain a registered office, having a registered agent as well as certain documents and records in Belize.Generally, Belize has no restrictions on foreign ownership and control of companies; however, foreign investments must be registered with the Central Bank of Belize (CBB) and adhere to the Exchange Control Act and related regulations.  Additionally, Central Bank regulations differ based on the applicant’s residency status and whether the individual is seeking to establish a local or foreign currency account.Foreign investments must be registered and obtain an “Approved Status” from the Central Bank to ease inflows and outflows of foreign currency and repatriate funds.  Effective June 2022, the CBB accepts via email all foreign exchange requests requiring approval in an effort to expedite the application process and to centralize applicants’ data.Generally, there are no sector-specific restrictions, limitations, or requirements for foreign owned entities. Some investment incentives are tailored for Belizean-owned companies.  For example, to qualify for a tour operator license, a business must be majority-owned by Belizeans or permanent residents of Belize ( http://www.belizetourismboard.org ).Foreign investors looking to avail themselves of various incentives programs are required to adhere to screening guidelines outlined in the specific program. These may include updating their shareholders registry, obtaining requisite CBB approvals, and fulfilling performance requirements. Foreign investors undertaking large capital investments must adhere to environmental laws and regulations.  The government requires developers to prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for certain projects. When buying land or planning to develop in or near an ecologically sensitive zone, the government recommends the EIA fully address any measures by the investor to mitigate environmental risks.  The Department of Environment website,  http://www.doe.gov.bz  has more information on the Environmental Protection Act and other regulations, applications, and guidelines.																																				Other Investment Policy Reviews										In the past three years, there has been no investment policy review of Belize by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) or the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).  Belize concluded its third Trade Policy Review in the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2017.In the past five years, civil society organizations concerned with investment policy have lobbied the government directly. As an example, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry regularly issues policy and advocacy positions on behalf of its members, most recently supporting campaign financing reform in Belize.																																				Business Facilitation										The new Companies Act, passed in 2022, seeks to modernize and digitalize the process of establishing a business. The Belize Companies and Corporate Affairs Registry (BCCAR) (tel: +501 822 0421; email:  inquries@bccar.bz ; website:  https://bccar.bz ) provides incorporation, registration, and post registration services to local and foreign businesses and companies.  The BCCAR is still troubleshooting some administrative difficulties and modifying the platform, as the business community highlights challenges with the new system. Additionally, Belizean owned businesses can be registered by their owners. However, business with any foreign interests must be registered through an agent.Businesses must also register with the tax department to pay business and general sales tax.  They must also register with their local city council or town board to obtain a trade license to operate a business.  An employer should also register employees for social security. Specific permission from the Central Bank is required for all overseas (outward) investments between residents and non-residents.																																				Outward Investment										Belize does not promote or incentivize outward investments.  The government does not restrict domestic investors from investing abroad.  However, the Central Bank places currency controls on investment abroad, with Central Bank approval required prior to foreign currency outflows.																																												2. Bilateral Investment and Taxation Treaties						    																						Information relating to Belize’s formal trade agreements and Bilateral Investment Treaties is available at  http://www.sice.oas.org/ctyindex/BLZ/BLZNatlDocs_e.asp . More recently, the Economic Cooperation Agreement with Taiwan came into effect in January 2022.There are no bilateral investment treaty, free trade nor bilateral taxation treaties with the United States. Belize is, however, a qualifying country under the U.S. Generalized System of Preference (GSP) as well as the U.S-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA).Belize has signed Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEA) with twenty countries: Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Greenland, Iceland, India, Ireland, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.  The country is a member of the OECD Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting.																																		3. Legal Regime						    																																																Transparency of the Regulatory System										There are no reports of government policies, processes, or laws significantly distorting or discriminating against foreign investors.  Nonetheless, some investors have complained of systematic shortfalls which hinder doing business in Belize, such as unreliable land titles and bureaucratic delays or corruption. U.S. firms have also identified challenges in participating and competing in areas related to the bidding, procurement, and dispute settlement processes, particular to State Owned Enterprises (SOEs). There are no nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) or private sector associations that manage regulatory processes.  NGOs and private sector associations do lobby on behalf of their members but have no statutory authority.Regulatory authority exists both at the local and national levels with national laws and regulations being most relevant to foreign businesses.  The cabinet develops government policies that are enacted by the legislature and implemented by the various government authorities.  Some quasi-governmental organizations, including the Belize Tourism Board, BELTRAIDE, and the Belize Agricultural Health Authority, are also mandated by law to manage specific regulatory processes.  Regulations at the local level primarily relate to property taxes and registering for trade licenses to operate businesses in the municipality.Some supra-national organizations and regulatory structures exist.  For example, some elements of international trade affecting U.S. businesses are impacted by CARICOM treaties.Accounting, legal, and regulatory systems are consistent with international norms.  Publicly owned companies generally receive audits annually, and the reports are in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and International Standards on Auditing.The government does not promote or require companies’ environmental, social and governance disclosures to facilitate transparency or help investors and consumers distinguish between high- and low-quality investments.Draft bills or regulations are generally made available for public comment through a public consultation process.  Once introduced in the House of Representatives, draft bills are sent to the relevant committee, which then meet and invite the public and stakeholders to review, recommend changes, or object to draft laws prior to further debate.  The mechanism for drafting bills and enacting regulations or legislation generally applies and includes investment laws and regulations.  Public comments on draft legislation are not consistently posted online nor made publicly available.  In a few instances, laws are passed quickly without meaningful publication, public review, or public debate. The government does not generally disclose the basis on which it reviews regulations.  Some government agencies make scientific studies publicly available.Printed copies of the Belize Government Gazette contain proposed as well as enacted laws and regulations and are publicly available for a fee.  Additionally, enacted laws are published free of cost on the Parliament’s website. Additionally, as part of the government’s e-governance agenda, several digitalization projects are underway, including the land and business registries, and the digitalization of firms and government services.Regulations and enforcement actions are appealable with regulatory decisions subject to judicial review.  The Office of the Ombudsman also may investigate allegations of official wrongdoing but has no legal authority to bring judicial charges.  Additionally, the Annual Report of the Ombudsman is presented to the National Assembly and is a publicly available document.The Belize Tax Service includes offices for business and personal income taxes and allows for online tax payments. The companies’ registry, along with the court system, are being digitized to facilitate e-filing of documents and online payment of fees.Information on public finance, both the government’s budget and its debt obligations (including explicit and contingent liabilities) are widely accessible to the public, with most documents available online.  The budget documents do not include information on contingent or state-owned enterprise (SOE) debt unless the government guarantees or is paying these debts. Nonetheless, the audited annual reports of all major SOEs were publicly available on their websites.  The Auditor General’s report on government spending continues to be significantly delayed.																																				International Regulatory Considerations										As a full member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Belize’s foreign, economic and trade policies vis-a-vis non-member states are coordinated regionally.  The country’s import tariffs are largely defined by CARICOM’s Common External Tariff.Besides CARICOM, Belize is a member of the Central American Integration System (SICA) at a political level but is not a part of the Secretariat of Central American Economic Integration (SIECA) that supports economic integration with Central America.  Belize is also a member of the WTO and adheres to the organization’s agreements and reporting system.The Belize Bureau of Standards (BBS) is the national standards body responsible for preparing, promoting, and implementing standards for goods, services, and processes.  The BBS operates in accordance with the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade and the CARICOM Regional Organization for Standards and Quality.  The BBS is also a member of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and Codex Alimentarius.																																				Legal System and Judicial Independence										As a former British colony, Belize follows the English Common Law legal system. The Belize Constitution is the supreme law and founded on the principle of a separation of powers with independence of the judiciary from the executive and legislative branches of government. Belize has a written Contract Act, but no specialized courts to deal with commercial disputes or cases.The judicial system remains generally independent of the executive branch.  Case law exists where the judiciary has ruled against the government, and its judgements are respected and authoritative.  The highest appellate court, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), is based in Trinidad and Tobago. Below the Caribbean Court of Justice, Belize’s judiciary was amended by the Senior Courts Act of 2022 which established the Senior Courts, encompassing both the High Court and Court of Appeals. The Act created new judicial appointments with a view of modernizing the administration of the High Court. It is expected that the 2022 legislative reform is a significant step in addressing concerns of an underfunded and resourced judiciary, resulting in frequent adjournments, delays, poor case-flow management, and a backlog of cases.  General information relating to Belize’s judicial and legal system, including links to Belize&#8217;s Constitution, laws and judicial decisions are available at the Judiciary of Belize website  www.belizejudiciary.org .Businesses and citizens may appeal regulations and enforcement actions.  Regulatory decisions are also subject to judicial review.																																				Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment										The country has an English Common Law legal system supplemented by local legislation and regulations.  The legal system does not generally discriminate against foreign investment and there are no restrictions to foreign ownership.  The Exchange Control Act and its subsidiary laws and regulations, however, provide the legal framework that applies to foreign ownership and control. Other laws stipulate that foreign investment can qualify for incentives; citizens have the right to private property; contracts are legally binding and enforceable; and regulations are subject to judicial review, among other provisions favorable to foreign investment.Major laws enacted or amended are generally available in the National Assembly&#8217;s website at  www.nationalassembly.gov.bz .  For 2022, these include the CBB (Amendment) Act, 2022; the Belize Companies Act, 2022; the Trademarks (Amendment) Act, 2022; the Senior Courts Act, 2022; the Digital Government Act, 2022 and the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2022.There is no “one-stop-shop” website for investment, and the laws, rules, procedures, and reporting requirements related to investors differ depending on the nature of the investment.  BELTRAIDE provides advisory services for foreign investors relating to procedures for doing business in Belize and what incentives might be available to qualifying investors.  Further information is available at the BELTRAIDE website: www.beltraide.bz.																																				Competition and Antitrust Laws										Belize does not have any laws governing competition, but there are attempts to limit outside competition in certain industries (such as food and agriculture) by levying high import duties and import licensing requirements.																																				Expropriation and Compensation										Expropriation cases can take several years to settle but there were no new expropriation cases in 2022. Belizean law requires that the government assess and compensate according to fair market value.  Previous nationalizations of the electricity, shipping, and telecommunication companies were legally challenged and resolved from 2015 to 2022.																																				Dispute Settlement																										ICSID Convention and New York Convention						Belize formally acceded to the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (New York Convention) in 2021. Additionally, the Arbitration Act of Belize governs arbitration and expressly incorporates three international conventions into domestic law.  These conventions include the 1923 Geneva Protocol on Arbitration Clauses; the Convention on the Execution of Foreign Arbitral Awards; and the New York Convention.  The United Kingdom, on behalf of Belize, signed the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States (ICSID Convention) in 1965, yet Belize has not ratified the convention.						Investor-State Dispute Settlement						Belize is signatory to various investment agreements that offer provisions for the settlement of investor-state disputes.  Belize is also a member of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, as well as a party to two Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA): 1) between CARIFORUM and the EU; and 2) CARIFORUM and the United Kingdom.  These arrangements make provisions for the settlement of investor-state disputes.Since Belize is not a party to any Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) or Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States, investment disputes involving U.S. persons are taken either before the courts or before international arbitration panels. Over the past decade, the Government of Belize was involved in five to eight investment disputes settled in international courts, with one involving a U.S. company.  Most cases were initially entered in arbitration panels but were eventually appealed either before the U.S. District Court of Colombia or the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).  Most of the judgments went against the government, which settled the majority and continues to settle other cases.Local courts are empowered to recognize and enforce foreign arbitral awards against the government, but these are generally challenged up to the CCJ.  The Crown Proceedings (Amendment) Act and the CBB (International Immunities) Act were passed in 2017, affecting the enforcement of foreign arbitral awards against the government. The Crown Proceedings Amendment Act establishes that, for cases in which a foreign judgment is entered against the government but a court in Belize later declares the judgement “unlawful, void or otherwise invalid,” the foreign judgment is to be legally set aside.There has not been a history of extrajudicial actions against foreign investors.						International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts						Belize’s Arbitration Act allows the High Court of Belize to support and supervise dispute settlement between private parties through arbitration. The High Court also provides court-connected mediation as an alternative method to dispute settlement between private parties and as a means of reducing costs and duration of litigation. Local courts are empowered to recognize and enforce foreign arbitral awards, but these are generally challenged up to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Cases involving SOEs have gone before domestic courts with rulings both in favor and against the SOEs.  Foreign businesses generally consider these rulings fair and impartial.																										Bankruptcy Regulations										The Bankruptcy Act of Belize provides for bankruptcy filings, the establishment of receivership, trustees, adjudication, and seizures of the property of the bankrupt.  The court may order the arrest of the debtor as well as the seizure of assets and documents in the event the debtor may flee or avoid payment to creditors.  The Act also provides for imprisonment on conviction of certain specified offenses.  The Director of Public Prosecutions may also institute proceedings for offenses related to bankruptcy.   The bankruptcy law generally outlines actions a creditor may take to recoup losses.  The Companies Act of 2022 similarly makes provisions for the liquidation, striking off, dissolution and winding up of a company. Bankruptcy protections are not as comprehensive as U.S. bankruptcy law.																																												4. Industrial Policies						    																																																Investment Incentives										Several pieces of legislation including the Fiscal Incentives Act, the Designated Processing Areas Act, the Free Zones Act, the International Business Companies Act, the Retired Persons Incentives Act, the Diaspora Retiree Incentive Program, the Trusts Act, the Offshore Banking Act, and the Gaming Control Act provide for the granting of investment incentives.  These acts offer a range of incentives including tax deferments, tax reductions, access to land and capital, and preferential access to some government concessions. The government does not offer incentives, such as feed-in tariffs, discounts on electricity rates, or tax incentives for net-zero or clean energy investments.While government policies support public private partnerships, they do not generally issue guarantees or joint financing of foreign direct investment projects.  In exceptional circumstances, guarantees have been issued for SOE investments to purse funding from development institutions.																																				Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation										The Designated Processing Areas Act (DPA) was passed in 2018 and future legislative amendments to the regime are expected. The DPA remains a tool to attract local and foreign investments that follow value-added business models to boost production for export markets.  Approved companies receive a DPA status for a period of up to ten years and may qualify for various tax exemptions.  Companies may maintain a foreign currency account in a domestic or international bank located in Belize as well as sell, lease, or transfer goods and services between DPA companies.  They may also be eligible for an annual quota for fuel solely for specified uses.A Free Zone Act passed in 2019 amended the Commercial Free Zone (CFZ) Act.  Belize currently has two CFZs, one on the northern border with Mexico and a small zone on the western border with Guatemala.  The legislation limited the activities allowed in CFZs to specific sectors. Banks and financial institutions licensed under the laws of Belize are allowed to operate within a CFZ, but their transactions are limited to only CFZ-centered business. Companies may operate both in the national customs territory and in the Free Zone but must maintain separate accounts and goods entering the customs territory are subject to customs duties.  The Commercial Free Zone Management Agency (CFZMA) monitors and administers the free zones.  Incentives include exemptions from a range of import duties and taxes, income tax, taxes on dividends, capital gains tax, or any new corporate tax levied by the government during the first ten years of operation.																																				Performance and Data Localization Requirements										Domestic and foreign investors seeking to access incentives offered under the various incentive programs must comply with the program conditions including performance requirements. Investments that have been approved for incentives generally report to the authorizing agency, namely BELTRAIDE or the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment, to ensure they meet stipulations on the concession.The Fiscal Incentives Act awards a qualified entity a development concession during the start-up or expansion stages to foster growth by offsetting custom duties.  Two programs are offered under this Act, the Regular Program for investments exceeding US $150,000 and the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Program for investments of less than US $150,000. In general, investment incentives are applicable to both domestic and foreign investors.  The Fiscal Incentives SME Program, however, is aimed at smaller enterprises with a minimum of 51 percent Belizean ownership.  The SME Program offers the same benefits of the Regular Program, except for the allowable timeframe for duty exemptions.  Under this program, companies are allowed a maximum of five years of development concessions, with the expectation that after this period companies can transition to the Regular Program.The Qualified Retirement Program (QRP) was created to facilitate eligible persons who meet certain income requirements to permanently live and retire in Belize.  The Belize Tourism Board oversees this program designed to benefit retired persons over 45 years of age.  To qualify, applicants need a proof of income of no less than US $2,000 per month through a pension or annuity generated outside of Belize.  An approved QRP participant is allowed to import personal effects as well as approved means of transportation free of customs duties and taxes.  Under the program, beneficiaries cannot engage in employment, own a business, or invest in Belize. Belize’s Data Protection Act partially aligned with Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The Act mandates the sharing of data between governmental agencies and categorizes financial records as sensitive personal data. It also lays out fines as high as US $250,000. The Act creates a carve-out for international transfers of data to cloud storage outside Belize whereby no consent is required from data subjects. Additionally, the Act gives a three-day window as the default for notifying the Commissioner and data subjects of breaches.																																												5. Protection of Property Rights						    																																																Real Property										The preamble of the Belize Constitution preserves the right of the individual to own private property to operate private businesses.  Common law, Belize legislation, and case law all reinforce property rights and interests.  Private entities, whether foreign or local, have the right to freely establish, acquire, and dispose of interests in property and business enterprises.  Generally, the country has no restrictions on foreign ownership and control; however, foreign investments in Belize must be registered at the CBB and adhere to the Exchange Control Act and related regulations.Mortgages and liens exist, and related real estate is recorded with the registry of the Lands and Survey Department.  Investors have reported concerns that the Lands and Survey Department has a history of corruption and charges of land fraud.  As part of its land reform policy, the Lands Department continues to engage with the public through mobile clinics, where Lands Department personnel visit communities across to country to address land concerns, including issuing freehold titles. Investors are nonetheless advised to perform due diligence prior to purchasing property.Foreign and non-resident investors are not allowed to acquire national lease property but may acquire titled privately owned property.  The Central Bank regulates real estate transactions involving non-residents for exchange control purposes.  Additionally, the rate of stamp duty chargeable on land transfers involving foreign persons or a foreign controlled company is 8 percent for land transfers valued more than US $10,000, as opposed to 5 percent on transfers involving Belizeans and CARICOM nationals.There are three different types of titles to freehold property in Belize: Deed of Conveyance, Transfer of Certificate of Title, and Land Certificate.  Leasehold property from the government is available to Belizeans who can then apply for conversion to a fee simple title. Squatters’ rights exist but are only enforceable by order of the High Court after the resident has proven uninterrupted possession for at least 30 years on national lands or at least 12 years on registered lands.																																				Intellectual Property Rights										Belize is a member of the WTO and has implemented the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS).  Belize is not listed in the 2023 USTR’s Special 301 report nor the 2022 notorious market report.  Generally, Intellectual Property (IP) rights must be registered and enforced in Belize.  IP protections are enforceable through civil proceedings initiated by the IP holder.  The Belize Intellectual Property Office (BELIPO) ( http://www.belipo.bz ) was established to administer IP laws and functions as the country’s national intellectual property registry.  Its mandate covers the protection of copyrights, industrial designs, patents, trademarks, new plant varieties, and topographies of integrated circuits.  The Customs Department struggles to effectively police counterfeit goods entering Belize due to limited staffing. IP rights of non-resident brands are generally not upheld as an in-country representative is required to confirm goods are counterfeit. In both 2020 and 2021, Belize authorities intercepted two shipments of counterfeit goods per year. In 2022, the authorities reported intercepting five shipments, for a total value of US$ 70,000 goods intercepted between 2020 and 2022.In 2022, Belize passed the Trademarks (Amendment) Act and the Patents (Amendment) Act. The Trademarks (Amendment)Act gives effect to the Protocol relating to the Madrid Agreement concerning the International Registration of Marks (“the Madrid Protocol”). The Patents (Amendment) Act allows for greater administrative and operational efficiency for the office of the patent examiner, patent officer, trademark supervisors and trademark examiners.In practice, however, there is no active enforcement of IP protections, though there is active pursuit and prosecution of contraband. There has been no report on seizures of counterfeit goods and no prosecution of IPR violations in the last year.For additional information about national laws and points of contact at local IP offices, please see WIPO’s country profiles at  http://www.wipo.int/directory/en/. 																																												6. Financial Sector						    																																																Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment										Belize&#8217;s financial system is small with little to no foreign portfolio investment transactions. The CBB must approve capital transactions, such as the purchase and sale of land, company shares, financial assets, and other investments that transfer assets between foreign and local entities. The Central Bank advised that, effective April 2022, it would only accept electronic applications for the approval of portfolio and capital investments or land transfers.  There is no stock exchange and capital market operations are rudimentary.Belize accepted the obligations of IMF Article VIII, and the exchange regime is free of restrictions or multiple currency practices.Credit is made available on market terms with interest rates largely set by prevailing local market conditions within commercial banks.  Foreign investors can access credit on the local market.  Under the International Banking Act, foreign investors/nonresidents may access credit from international banks registered and licensed in Belize. However, permission to access credit from the domestic banks requires Central Bank approval. The Belize Development Finance Corporation (DFC), a state-owned development bank, offers loan financing services in various sectors.  To qualify for a loan from the DFC, an individual must be a Belizean resident or citizen, while a company must be majority Belizean owned.  The National Bank of Belize is a state-owned bank that provides concessionary credit primarily to public officers, teachers, and low-income Belizeans.																																				Money and Banking System										The COVID-19 pandemic forced the banking sector to accelerate the use of digital mediums and develop new products and services. As a result, the banking and telecommunications sectors now incorporate more digital financial services such as digital wallets and mobile banking. These innovations are expected to promote greater financial inclusion to underserved or unbanked communities, particularly in rural areas.According to the IMF, a “sharper slowdown in domestic economic activity could also exacerbate existing vulnerabilities in the banking sector.” Belize is looking to improve its AML/CFT framework as it prepares for the Mutual Evaluation by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force in November 2023. The Central Bank is also looking to strengthen local banks vulnerability to higher nonperforming loans (NPL) rates and placing some institutions under enhanced supervision.Nonperforming loans increased to 7 percent of gross loans in 2022, higher than 2021’s 5 percent and the regulatory ceiling. This was due to the expiration of COVID-19 forbearance measures and business contractions. Total assets of the largest bank were approximately US$ 855 million as of December 2022.The CBB ( https://www.centralbank.org.bz ) is responsible for formulating and implementing monetary policy focusing on the stability of the exchange rate and economic growth.Generally, there are no restrictions on foreigners opening bank accounts in Belize. Regulations differ based on residency status and whether the individual is seeking to establish a local bank account or a foreign currency account.   Foreign banks and branches are allowed to operate in the country with all banks subject to Central Bank measures and regulations. Efforts are also underway to secure new correspondent banking relationships to reduce risks of disruption of international financial transactions.																																				Foreign Exchange and Remittances																										Foreign Exchange						The Government of Belize has established currency controls, and foreign investors seeking to convert, transfer, or repatriate funds must comply with Central Bank regulations.  Foreign investments must be registered at the Central Bank to facilitate inflows and outflows of foreign currency.  Registering the inflows of funds facilities an “Approved Status” for investments and repatriation of funds thereafter. Effective June 2022, the CBB accepts via email all foreign exchange requests requiring approval to expedite the application process and to centralize applicants’ data.Belize has a stable currency, with the Belize dollar pegged to the United States Dollar since May 1976 at a fixed exchange rate of BZ $2.00 to the US $1.00.						Remittance Policies						Generally, there are no time limitations on remittances.  Where there is a waiting period, it depends on the availability of foreign exchange, but does not generally exceed 60 days.  Since April 2022, there has been a full resumption of all payments of cash dividends and repatriation of profits to international firms.																										Sovereign Wealth Funds										Belize does not have a sovereign wealth fund.																																												7. State-Owned Enterprises						    																						State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) exist largely in the utilities sectors.  The government is the majority shareholder in Belize Water Services Limited (the country’s sole provider of water services), Belize Electricity Limited (the sole distributor of electricity), and Belize Telemedia Limited (the largest telecommunications provider in the country).There is no published list of SOEs.  Information relating to the operations of major SOEs is available on their websites:  Belize Electricity Limited  http://www.bel.com.bz ; Belize Telemedia Limited at  https://www.livedigi.com ;  Belize Water Services Limited  http://www.bws.bz There is no public third-party market analysis that evaluate whether SOEs receive non-market advantages by the government.  Belize Electricity Limited and Belize Water Services Limited are the only service providers in their respective sectors.  Belize Telemedia Limited, on the other hand, competes with one other provider for mobile connectivity and there are multiple players that provide internet and data services.  U.S. firms have identified challenges in participating and competing in areas related to the bidding, procurement, and dispute settlement processes, particular to SOEs. These SOEs do not compete internationally.																										Privatization Program										The Government of Belize does not have a privatization program.																																												8. Responsible Business Conduct						    																						Belize generally lacks broad awareness of the expectations and standards for responsible business conduct (RBC).  The government has not instituted nor proposed requirements for businesses to conduct due diligence or reporting regarding human rights or other responsible business conduct. However, many foreign and local companies engage in responsible corporate behaviors and partner with NGOs or international organizations to reinvest in community development and charitable work.  Companies sponsor educational scholarships, sports-related activities, community enhancement projects, and entrepreneurship activities, among other programs.  There is a strong thread of environmental awareness that also impacts business decision-making.The Office of the Ombudsman is responsible for investigating complaints of official corruption and abuse of power.  While it has wide investigative powers, local media maintains that the Office lacks effective enforcement authority, is under-resourced, and did not renew or name a replacement for the post of ombudsman.  The Office remained closed, and no complaints were recorded by the office throughout 2022.There are no alleged or reported human or labor rights concerns relating to RBC.  Belize has no recent cases of private-sector impact on human rights and no NGOs, investment funds, worker organizations/unions, or business associations to specifically promote or monitor RBC.  In recent years, labor unions and business associations have become actively engaged in advocating for stronger measures against corruption.Certain projects require the Department of the Environment’s approval for Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Environmental Compliance Plans.  The Department of Environment website,  http://www.doe.gov.bz , has more information on the Environmental Protection Act, various regulations, applications, and guidelines. Local legislation (Labour Act Revised Edition 2020) protects all workers in Belize, including those in the informal sector and migrant workers. Specific sections of the legislation focus on protecting employees from forced labor and this is monitored through unannounced site inspections, desk reporting, and third-party reports.Belize has not adopted a particular accounting framework as its national standard.  The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are required for domestic banks under the Domestic Bank and Financial Institutions Act (DBFIA) of Belize.  Under the DBFIA, the CBB issues practice direction, directives, guidance, and advisories on corporate governance applicable to all banks and financial institutions operating and supervised by the Central Bank.For other companies, Belize permits the use of IFRS Standards and the IFRS for SMEs as the standard financial reporting framework for preparing financial statements.  The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Belize regards IFRS Standards as an allowed accounting framework under its professional standards.  Alternatively, non-bank companies are permitted to use other internationally recognized standards.  The U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Canadian GAAP are often used.  There are no government measures relating executive compensation standards and RBC policies are not factored into procurement decisions.  Opposition party political pronouncements often target official malfeasance in procurement and cronyism in government contracts, but these concerns are historically muted once the opposition takes power.Belize does not have a developed mineral sector and is not a conflict or high-risk country.  As such, it does not adhere to the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Afflicted and High-Risk Areas.Belize’s extractive/mining industry is not developed, and it does not participate in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and/or the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights.The country is not a signatory of The Montreux Document on Private Military and Security Companies, nor a supporter of the International Code of Conduct or Private Security Service Providers and is not a participant in the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers&#8217; Association.																										Additional Resources										Department of StateCountry Reports on Human Rights Practices ( https://www.state.gov/reports-bureau-of-democracy-human-rights-and-labor/country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/)Trafficking in Persons Report ( https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/)Guidance on Implementing the &#8220;UN Guiding Principles&#8221; for Transactions Linked to Foreign Government End-Users for Products or Services with Surveillance Capabilities ( https://www.state.gov/key-topics-bureau-of-democracy-human-rights-and-labor/due-diligence-guidance/)U.S. National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises ( https://www.state.gov/u-s-national-contact-point-for-the-oecd-guidelines-for-multinational-enterprises/)Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory ( https://www.state.gov/xinjiang-supply-chain-business-advisory/)Department of the TreasuryOFAC Recent Actions ( https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions )Department of LaborFindings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor Report ( https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings  )List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor ( https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/reports/child-labor/list-of-goods )Sweat &amp; Toil: Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking Around the World ( https://www.dol.gov/general/apps/ilab )Comply Chain ( https://www.dol.gov/ilab/complychain/ )																																				Climate Issues										Over the last decade, Belize has developed several important climate policy frameworks.  These include the National Climate Resilience Investment Plan, Growth and Sustainable Development Strategy 2012 – 2017, and the National Climate Change Policy, Strategy and Action Plan (2015 – 2020.  In October 2022, Belize launched its Blue Economy Policy and Strategy alongside its Belize Maritime Economy Plan and that seek to provide a blueprint for the development of Belize marine space. The Marine Spatial Plan, launched in October 2022, will monitor the sustainable development and designation of 30 percent of Belize’s marine space for biodiversity protect. In 2021, Belize submitted its updated National Determined Contributions (NDC) as well as its National Climate Finance Strategy, to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions as it responds to climate change.Belize is categorized as a small island developing state (SIDS) that is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate changes and is a relatively minor contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions.  Belize’s updated National Determined Contributions (NDC) is nonetheless committed to developing a long-term strategy aligned with achieving net zero global emissions by 2050.  Government strategies do specify expectations on private sector contributions as well as support required to the private sector to achieve climate targets, particularly as they relate to the electricity, transportation, and waste management sectors.Belize has a wide array of government policies that contribute to its climate and conservation agenda, including over one hundred terrestrial and marine protected areas through co-management arrangements between the government, non-government organizations, and community-based organizations.  These are complemented by sustainable forest management, fisheries management, and other ecosystem management plans.  Belize is hopeful for greater climate financing from multilateral institutions and creditors to implement climate change mitigation and adaptation policies.  In January 2022, the government established the Climate Finance Unit (CFU) to maximize Belize’s access to climate finance to enhance resilience and sustainable development. Policies do not target commodities or supply chains as drivers of deforestation. Some procurement policies include environment and green growth considerations, particularly if projects are funded by external donors.																																												9. Corruption						    																						Freedom House finds that Belize has anticorruption laws that are not frequently enforced.  Under the Prevention of Corruption in Public Life Act, public officials are required to make annual financial disclosures but there is little adherence to this requirement and poor enforcement.  The law criminalizes acts of corruption by public officials and includes measures on the use of office for private gain; code of conduct breaches; the misuse of public funds; and bribery.  This Act also established an Integrity Commission mandated to monitor, prevent, and combat corruption by examining declarations of physical assets and financial positions filed by public officers.Throughout much of 2022, key transparency and oversight bodies, including the Integrity Commission, the Ombudsman’s Office, the Auditor General’s Office, and the Labor Commissioner’s position remained vacant. In practice, these offices are under-staffed and under-resourced to effectively undertake their respective mandates. Newly appointed members of the Integrity Commission were sworn into office in December 2022, several months after having been appointed in May 2022. The former Auditor General was nominated to return to the position in September 2022 following a yearlong vacancy. Even so, she was not formally sworn into the position until January 2023.The Office of the Ombudsman has wide investigative powers but lacks effective enforcement authority.For most of 2022, the post of the Office of the Ombudsman remained closed with no complaints recorded throughout the year as the post remained vacant.The Money Laundering and Terrorism (Prevention) Act includes “politically exposed persons” such as family members or close associates of any politician.The Ministry of Finance issues the Belize Stores Orders and Financial Orders which establish the policies and procedures for government procurement.  The Manual for the Control of Public Finances provides the framework for the registration and use of public funds to procure goods and services.Private companies are neither required to establish internal codes of conduct, ethics, or compliance programs, nor is it common to use them.In June 2001, the Government of Belize signed the Organization of American States (OAS) Inter-American Convention on Corruption, which calls for periodic reviews.  In December 2016, Belize acceded to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and is in the process of implementing the convention.There are few non-governmental institutions that monitor government activities or investigate corruption. The government does not provide protection to NGOs investigating corruption. According to local media, in 2022, some organizations called on the government to fill vacant positions in key transparency and oversight bodies, including the Integrity Commission, the Ombudsman’s Office, the Auditor General’s Office, and the Labor Commissioner.  Environmental NGOs and the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) actively monitor government policy. In February 2023, the BCCI officially released a draft campaign finance bill to enact legislation for greater transparency in reporting on source funding and expenditures for political campaigning.Despite these measures, many businesspeople complain that politicians from both major political parties utilize their offices to benefit constituents and political allies in relations to businesses seeking licenses, the importation of goods, winning government contracts for procurement of goods and services, and transfer of government land to private owners.  Some middle-class citizens and business owners have complained of government officials, including police, soliciting bribes.																										Resources to Report Corruption										Contact at the government agency or agencies that are responsible for combating corruption:Office of the Ombudsman91 Freetown RoadBelize City, BelizeT: +501-223-3594E:   ombudsman@btl.net W:   www.ombudsman.gov.bzOffice of the Auditor GeneralCorner of Douglas Jones Street &amp; New RoadBelize City, BelizeMountain View BoulevardBelmopan City, Belize501-222-5181, 222-5086, 822-2850, 822-0208Belize Integrity CommissionNational Assembly Building, Independence HillBelmopan, Belize501-822-0121For specific complaints within the police force:Professional Standards Branch1902 Constitutions DriveBelmopan, BelizeT: +501-822-2218 or 822-2674																																												10. Political and Security Environment						    																						Belize has traditionally enjoyed one of the most stable political environments in the region, having held peaceful and transparent democratic elections since gaining independence on September 21, 1981.  In general elections, the two major political parties usually trade leadership. The current People’s United Party gained an overwhelming majority in the November 2020 General Elections, winning twenty-six of the thirty-one electoral divisions.Some American investors experienced property destruction and loss in the sugar cane industry in the last year.Freedom House and local media note that neighboring Guatemala’s long-standing territorial claim on Belize has persisted for almost two centuries.A major security concern is the high level of crime countrywide. In 2022, Belize fell from the third highest murder rate in the region to the sixth. Its homicide rate decreased from 29 to 25 per 100,000 persons. Human and drug trafficking, money laundering (institutional and trade-based), and local criminal gang activity remain significant problems exacerbated by the low conviction rate.																																		11. Labor Policies and Practices						    																						According to the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB), the population was estimated to be 441,471 as of July 2022.  The labor force was 191,8728 as of October 2022.  Of this, the unemployed amounted to 9,644 persons for an unemployment rate of 5 percent, representing a 4.2 percent decrease from September 2021. The report noted that about 44.4 percent of working aged women participated in the labor force and 73.4 percent of men. The main reason women did not look for work was due to personal or family responsibilities, while men did not look for work mainly due to school or training.In its Labor Force Survey October 2022, the Statistical Institute of Belize estimated the number of people informally employed was 64,268, accounting for about 35.3 percent of all those employed. In March 2023, the government released findings from a 2021 multidimensional poverty index (MPI) to complement the traditionally measured monetary poverty. The MPI measures poverty as an “accumulation of concurrent deprivations across various dimensions of well-being.” The MPI results notes that 35.7 percent of the population were multidimensionally poor.The agriculture sector has identified shortage of unskilled labor in the agriculture sector. The health sector faces a shortage of qualified nurses and high.In general, there are no restrictions on employers adjusting their labor force in response to fluctuating market conditions.  Employers are flexible in offering salary increases, which are normally justified based on cost of living and prevailing practice consideration.  Severance payment is subject to local labor law (Labour Act Chapter 29).  This act differentiates between layoffs (voluntary termination and redundancy) and firing (dismissal).  In the cases of voluntary termination and redundancy, the law provides for an appropriate notice period, payment in lieu of notice, severance, etc.  In the case of redundancy, the employer must notify, where applicable, the recognized trade union or workers’ representative as well as the Labour Commissioner.In addition to the general Social Security system, the government maintains a National Health Insurance scheme in certain marginalized communities throughout the country.  The government also provides some assistance to unemployed persons who represent marginalized sectors of the community, such as single women, single mothers, and unemployed young people.Foreign investors who have a development concession are permitted to bring in skilled personnel to complement their local labor force and, if appropriate, establish training programs for Belizean nationals. Labor laws are not generally waived to attract or retain investment.Belize has eleven trade unions and an umbrella organization, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB).  The unions also nominate a senator to represent them in the legislature. Belize has ratified 50 International Labor Organization (ILO) conventions, of which 45 are in force, including Convention 182 against the worst forms of child labor.  Trade unions are independent of the government and employers both in practice and in law.  The Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government recognizes registered unions and employers’ associations.  Trade union laws establish procedures for the registration and status of trade unions and employers’ organizations and for collective bargaining.  Unions are common in the public sector (teachers and public servants), the Social Security Board, the utility and agriculture sectors, and among port stevedores.Where employees are unionized, employers must refer to the laws relating to the operation of unions as well as the terms of existing collective bargaining agreements between the employer and unions. Where disputes arise between an employer and employee in the private sector and where the employee is not represented by a union, both parties may approach the Labour Department to mediate discussions for an amicable solution. Failing a resolution, the matter is then referred to the labor tribunal before proceeding the court.The national fire service, postal service, monetary and financial services, civil aviation and airport security services, and port authority pilots and security services are all deemed essential services. The law allows authorities to refer disputes involving employees who provide “essential services” to compulsory arbitration, prohibit strikes, and termination actions.Belize has laws and regulations relating to international labor standards.  There is also a system in place for labor inspectors to advocate on labor-related concerns and complaints, as well as to visit and inspect business facilities to ensure adherence to local labor laws. Belize’s legislation does not address a situation in which child labor is contracted between a parent and the employer. The penalty for employing a child below minimum age is a fine not exceeding US $12.50 or imprisonment not exceeding two months.Additionally, local experts mention that while there are laws that prohibit a wide range of discrimination in the workplace, they are not effectively enforced and do not explicitly provide protections for persons with disabilities or against discrimination related to sexual orientation and/or gender identity. There is anecdotal evidence that certain vulnerable sectors, particularly migrant workers, undocumented workers, young service workers, and agricultural laborers were regularly paid below the minimum wage and classified as contract or nonpermanent employees to avoid providing certain benefits.The government established a minimum wage task force in March 2022 and subsequently enacted regulatory amendments effective January 1, 2023, that increased the minimum wage for all categories of workers to US $2.50, an increase from US $1.65.																																		12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Other Investment Insurance or Development Finance Programs						    																						The United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has provided political risk insurance in support of Belize’s Blue Bond for Conservation, the largest blue bond for ocean conservation globally to date. There is an OPIC Agreement between Belize and the United States, which predates Belize’s independence. The DFC has not negotiated the amendment of or replacement of the OPIC agreement. The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is implementing a five-year compact with Belize that will focus on providing development financing in the education and electricity sectors.																																		13. Foreign Direct Investment Statistics						    																						Table 2: Key Macroeconomic Data, U.S. FDI in Host Country/EconomyHost Country Statistical source*USG or international statistical sourceUSG or International Source of Data:  BEA; IMF; Eurostat; UNCTAD, OtherEconomic DataYearAmountYearAmountHost Country Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ($M USD)2022$2.57 billion2021$2.49 billionwww.worldbank.org/en/countryForeign Direct InvestmentHost Country Statistical source*USG or international statistical sourceUSG or international Source of data:  BEA; IMF; Eurostat; UNCTAD, OtherU.S. FDI in partner country ($M USD, stock positions)N/AN/A2021N/ABEA data available at https://apps.bea.gov/international/factsheet/Host country’s FDI in the United States ($M USD, stock positions)N/AN/A2021$64 millionBEA data available at https://apps.bea.gov/international/factsheet/Total inbound stock of FDI as % host GDP ($M USD, stock positions)N/AN/AN/A$141.1 millionUNCTAD data available athttps://unctad.org/topic/investment/world-investment-report* Source for Host Country Data: Statistical Institute of Belize –  https://sib.org.bz/statistics/economic-statistics/gross-domestic-product/ The CBB recorded total inflows of FDI at US $207.25 million in 2022 and outflows at US $73.7 million in the same period.  FDI inflows were concentrated primarily in real estate, construction, and hotel and restaurant.Table 3: Sources and Destination of FDIThe  IMF Coordinated Direct Investment Survey (CDIS)  did not report data on the sources and destination of inward and outward FDI as it relates to Belize.																																		14. Contact for More Information						    																						Economic Officer4 Floral Park RoadBelmopan, BelizeEmail:  BelmopanPolEcon@state.gov Telephone: +501-822-4011																										    							View report by:																				Albania											Algeria											Andorra											Angola											Antigua and Barbuda											Argentina											Armenia											Australia											Austria											The Bahamas											Azerbaijan											Bahrain											Bangladesh											Barbados											Belarus											Belgium											Belize											Benin											Bolivia											Bosnia and Herzegovina											Botswana											Brazil											Brunei											Bulgaria											Burkina Faso											Burma											Burundi											Cabo Verde											Cambodia											Cameroon											Canada											Chile											China											Colombia											Costa Rica											Côte d’Ivoire											Croatia											Cyprus											Czechia											Democratic Republic of the Congo											Denmark											Djibouti											Dominica											Dominican Republic											Ecuador											Egypt											El Salvador											Equatorial Guinea											Eritrea											Estonia											Eswatini											Ethiopia											Fiji											Finland											France and Monaco											The Gambia											Gabon											Georgia											Germany											Ghana											Greece											Grenada											Guatemala											Guinea											Guyana											Haiti											Honduras											Hong Kong											Hungary											Iceland											India											Indonesia											Iraq											Ireland											Israel											Italy											Jamaica											Japan											Jordan											Kazakhstan											Kenya											Kosovo											Kyrgyz Republic											Laos											Latvia											Lebanon											Lesotho											Liberia											Libya											Lithuania											Luxembourg											Macau											Madagascar											Malawi											Malaysia											Maldives											Mali											Malta											Marshall Islands											Mauritania											Mauritius											Mexico											Micronesia											Moldova											Mongolia											Montenegro											Morocco											Mozambique											Namibia											Nepal											Netherlands											New Zealand											Nicaragua											Niger											Nigeria											North Macedonia											Norway											Oman											Pakistan											Palau											Panama											Papua New Guinea											Paraguay											Philippines											Peru											Poland											Portugal											Qatar											Republic of the Congo											Romania											Rwanda											Saint Kitts and Nevis											Saint Lucia											Saint Vincent and the Grenadines											Samoa											Sao Tome and Principe											Saudi Arabia											Senegal											Serbia											Seychelles											Sierra Leone											Singapore											Slovakia											Slovenia											Somalia											South Africa											South Korea											South Sudan											Spain											Sri Lanka											Suriname											Sweden											Switzerland											Taiwan											Tajikistan											Tanzania											Thailand											Timor-Leste											Togo											Trinidad and Tobago											Tunisia											Türkiye											United Arab Emirates											Uganda											Ukraine											United Kingdom											Uruguay											Uzbekistan											Vietnam											West Bank and Gaza											Zambia											Zimbabwe															Build A Custom Report																						On This Page				search													>																										EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment																																							Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment																																																						Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment																																																						Other Investment Policy Reviews																																																						Business Facilitation																																																						Outward Investment																																																			2. Bilateral Investment and Taxation Treaties																3. Legal Regime																																							Transparency of the Regulatory System																																																						International Regulatory Considerations																																																						Legal System and Judicial Independence																																																						Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment																																																						Competition and Antitrust Laws																																																						Expropriation and Compensation																																																						Dispute Settlement																																																				ICSID Convention and New York Convention																																												Investor-State Dispute Settlement																																												International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts																																																																																				Bankruptcy Regulations																																																			4. Industrial Policies																																							Investment Incentives																																																						Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation																																																						Performance and Data Localization Requirements																																																			5. Protection of Property Rights																																							Real Property																																																						Intellectual Property Rights																																																			6. Financial Sector																																							Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment																																																						Money and Banking System																																																						Foreign Exchange and Remittances																																																				Foreign Exchange																																												Remittance Policies																																																																																				Sovereign Wealth Funds																																																			7. State-Owned Enterprises																																							Privatization Program																																																			8. Responsible Business Conduct																																							Additional Resources																																																						Climate Issues																																																			9. Corruption																																							Resources to Report Corruption																																																			10. Political and Security Environment																11. Labor Policies and Practices																12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Other Investment Insurance or Development Finance Programs																13. Foreign Direct Investment Statistics																14. Contact for More Information																						Tags																					Belize																								Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs																								Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
- Press briefing with Todd D. Robinson, Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Todd D.  Robinson, Assistant SecretaryBureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement AffairsMODERATOR:  Greetings to everyone from the U.S. Department of State’s Media Hub of the Americas in Miami, Florida.  I would like to welcome our participants who have dialed in from the United States and across the region.  This is an on-the-record press briefing with the Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Todd D. Robinson. Assistant Secretary Robinson will discuss outcomes from Friday’s virtual ministerial to launch a Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats as well as next steps for the global coalition.  This coalition seeks to unite countries worldwide in a concerted effort to prevent the illicit manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs, identify emerging drug trends, and respond effectively to their public health impacts. As a reminder, today’s briefing is on the record.  And with that, I will turn it over to Assistant Secretary Robinson. ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Thank you for joining this call today and for the opportunity to discuss the collective efforts we have undertaken to confront the important issue of synthetic drugs. Last Friday, as you know, Secretary Blinken hosted a virtual ministerial to launch a Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats.  Nearly 100 countries and international organizations participated in the launch, underscoring the shared concern about this public health and national security threat.  The coalition aims to unite countries worldwide in a concerted effort to combat the illicit manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs.  Together, we hope to strengthen efforts to prevent the production and trafficking of illicit synthetic drugs, identify emerging synthetic drug trends and use patterns, and promote efforts to respond effectively to the public health impacts they impose. Participants at the ministerial underscored the importance of sharing data and increasing efforts to mitigate the health impact of synthetic drug use.  As you all already know, synthetic drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamine pose a grave risk to the health and security of our citizens here in the United States.  The consequences of these drugs are devastating as evidenced by the alarming statistics. In 2022, the CDC estimated that nearly 110,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses.  Recognizing the gravity of this situation, the Biden administration is fully committed to preventing drug use and minimizing its negative impact.  We understand the importance of connecting individuals to treatment and supporting the more than 20 million Americans in recovery.  President Biden’s National Drug Control Strategy has allocated a substantial $24 billion dollars in this fiscal year to strengthen drug-related public health interventions.  These measures not only safeguard the health of our citizens, but also exemplify our dedication at home as we look to other nations to also take action. It is vital to note that these dangers are not limited to the United States.  More countries than ever are facing an increasing threat from synthetic drugs like tramadol, Captagon, MDMA, and Ketamine.  Criminals are constantly innovating to create new synthetic drugs, adjusting formulas to avoid international controls and domestic regulations, and creating new demand.   One staggering number to note:  Over the past decade, more than 1,100 new synthetic drugs were detected and reported by the United Nations.  Through the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats, we are harnessing international cooperation and shared knowledge to tackle this crisis head on.  By working together, we can more effectively disrupt the illicit synthetic drug supply chains, enhance our ability to identify and respond to emerging threats, and protect the lives and well-being of our own citizens and of people around the world. The United States has already been working with partners like Mexico, Canada, and other countries to drive urgent global action to disrupt the synthetic drug trade from beginning to end.  We are engaging with countries such as India to strengthen our partnerships on securing pharmaceutical and chemical supply chains to prevent criminal diversion of dual-use precursor chemicals, and we remain committed to engaging with the PRC to address the threat illicit synthetic drugs pose to our countries.  The Department of State also works within the UN, the Organization of American States, the G7, G20, and other organizations to improve the abilities of our countries to detect and disrupt the illicit manufacturing, diversion, and trafficking of precursor chemicals and finished drugs.   We have more important work to do, so in closing, let me express my gratitude to our international partners who have already joined us in this crucial endeavor.  The fight against synthetic drugs requires a global response, and we are confident that our collective efforts will yield significant results.  Together, we can create a safer and healthier future for our citizens and generations to come.   Thank you, and I look forward to your questions.   MODERATOR:  Thank you so much, Assistant Secretary.  We will now begin the question-and-answer portion of today’s briefing.  For those on the English line asking questions, please limit yourself to one question related to the topic of today’s briefing.  If you submitted your question in advance, I have incorporated the question into the queue.  Our first question today we received from Daniel – from Jim Carson of La Jornada in Mexico:  “What specific will be new out of this declaration?  Are you setting up a FinCEN-type structure to share information, do evaluations, and a secretariat, or is it simply a reiteration of past commitments without any specific additional actions?”   ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Great question.  The first thing I would say is we are – we are building on what we have done in the past and what has been done by other countries in the past.  The coalition is intended to be an inclusive forum for sharing best practices and identifying areas for collaboration to improve the global response to public health and security threats posed by synthetic drugs.  We ask that countries commit to working collaboratively with other coalition member countries at both political and technical levels to develop a joint framework for addressing synthetic drugs and develop actions in line with that framework.  Thanks.   MODERATOR:  Thank you.  We received a question from journalist Fernando Morales from Red Salvadoreña de Medios in El Salvador: “El Salvador is a corridor for the transit of synthetic drugs like fentanyl.  How is work being done to prevent the trafficking of these narcotics?”   ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  I’m sorry.  Could you say that again?  MODERATOR:  Absolutely, Assistant Secretary.  “El Salvador is a corridor for the transit of synthetic drugs like fentanyl.  How is work being done to prevent the trafficking of these narcotics?&#8221; ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Great question.  As our correspondent will note, the United States Government on several different levels is working with members of the civilian security forces in El Salvador and throughout the region – El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras – on things like investigations, going after the trafficking networks.  We have experts on the ground from DEA and the Department of Justice.   We also work on training.  As the correspondent will note, there is an International Law Enforcement Academy hosted by the Government of El Salvador where we can do training for police and prosecutors in the region on different techniques and modernized techniques for going after these networks.  So those are ways that we are – those are ways that we are trying to get after these – shut down these corridors.   MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  The next question will go to Jesús Esquivel from Proceso Magazine in Mexico.  Jesús, please unmute yourself.   QUESTION:  Hello.  Can you hear me?   MODERATOR:  Yes.  Please ask your question.  &#8212;    QUESTION:  Okay.  Yes.  Under Secretary, there has always been the accusations that the Mexican cartels are responsible for all the synthetic drugs in the United States, but as you probably know, the domestic cartels in the U.S. are also responsible for the distributions and sale of these drugs.   My question to you is:  What exactly or when exactly the U.S. Government for the first time is going to be exposing the domestic cartels in this problem and in the United States?  And also, if you think the accusations as – members of the U.S. Congress made to Mexico and threats that they probably going to invade Mexico to stop the drug trafficking, it will help in this global coalition in the case of – specifically of Mexico to cooperate with the U.S. Government?   ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Thank you, Jesús.  Both good questions.  Look, first of all, I would – I would not exactly support the premise of your question.  We have never said that all of the fentanyl or synthetic opioids that are coming to the United States are coming from Mexico.  We know that this is a global – a global effort by cartels from different regions around the world, including criminals in the United States.  I don’t think the FBI or the Department of Justice or our local law enforcement authorities have been shy about exposing the criminal networks in the United States that are trafficking in these drugs.  I think they will continue to publicly expose them when available.  So that’s thing number one. Thing number two, we have – the United States has an excellent relationship with our counterparts in Mexico.  We are both working very close to go after the networks in Mexico, to increase our cooperation on both sides of our southwest border, your northern border.  And we are working together internationally to share our experiences with working together with other countries around the world.  I’m very proud of our relationship with our Mexican counterparts, and we’re going to continue to call on them as they call on us to work together to do more to stop – to stop this global trafficking of synthetic drugs. MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary Robison.  The next question will go to Adyr Corral from El Sol de Mexico.  Adyr, please unmute yourself.  Go ahead.  Adyr, can you hear us?   Okay, unfortunately we’re going to have to move on.  I see we have a submitted question in our Q&amp;A from Brendan O’Boyle from Reuters in Mexico City: “Thank you, Ambassador.  Within the coalition, where is there concern about fentanyl’s short-term spread geographically?  In Mexico, some experts have sounded alarm about fentanyl spreading in drug supply domestically, though data is scarce.  Have coalition partners in Mexico recognized domestic spread?” ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  I’m sorry, can you repeat that question again? MODERATOR:  Sure, sir.  “Thank you, Ambassador.  Within the coalition, where is there concern about fentanyl’s short-term spread geographically?  In Mexico, some experts have sounded the alarm about fentanyl spreading in the drug supply domestically, though data is scarce.  Have coalition partners in Mexico recognized domestic spread?” ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  The short answer is I believe the Government of Mexico has recognized the short-term spread of synthetic opioids.  We are – and – but there’s a very good relationship between our Office of National Drug Control Policy and the secretary for Health in Mexico.  They are working very closely together on campaigns to raise awareness about synthetic opioids and what can be done to avoid falling into – into that addiction.  So we feel like we have a burgeoning story to tell, a better story to tell as we go forward on our cooperation on the messaging against the domestic – in Mexico, the domestic spread of the – and growth of the use of synthetic opioids. MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  I’m told we’ve resolved the microphone issues with Adyr Corral, so we’ll go back to Adyr Corral from El Sol de Mexico.  Please unmute yourself. QUESTION:  Hi.  You can hear me? ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Yes. MODERATOR:  We can hear you. QUESTION:  Ah, thank you very much.  Sorry for the problems.  I would like to ask the assistant secretary for a comment on the initiative to designate the fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction in Congress.  How about that, Assistant Secretary? ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Thank you, great question.  We have currently – the Department of Justice, DEA, FBI, Department of State – we feel like we have the authorities necessary to go after the networks that are trafficking in these drugs.  At the moment, we don’t see that classifying fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction will give us any more authority than we already have to try to stop its trafficking.  So we feel pretty comfortable that we’re in a good place in terms of having the tools necessary to go after the drug and to go after the networks that are trafficking the drugs.  QUESTION:  Thank you very much.  MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  The next question was submitted in advance from Juan Silva from W Radio in Colombia:  “How do you assess the current situation in Colombia in terms of the fight against drugs?”  ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Well, as the correspondent, as Juan will know, we have a very long, very strong, very deep relationship with Colombia and Colombia’s security forces that has developed over a number of years.  We feel like we are – we have developed into great partners.  Colombia has become a net exporter of security globally, and that is in large part due to the very strong relationship that has developed with the United States.   Today we continue in that effort.  There are areas where we are hoping to start working – new areas where we are starting to – we want to begin working with the Petro government, and we are in constant conversation with Petro and his team to figure out how we can best help them bring greater security and safety to communities in Colombia, and by doing so, help shut down the networks that are trafficking drugs north to the United States.  Thanks.  MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.   Our next question we received from Eduard Ribas from EFE:  “What responsibility does China have on the trafficking of fentanyl precursors?  How can this coalition be successful without Chinese participation?”  ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Well, I would say the – we know good things happen when China is involved in conversations like this.  You will recall in 2019 the Chinese Government scheduled fentanyl and made it much harder to get out of the country directly and be shipped directly to other countries.  And when they did that, the trafficking of fentanyl itself in the United States from China went to almost zero.  So we think that there’s a lot more that can be done by the PRC in terms of greater monitoring and labeling and information-sharing on the precursor chemicals that are leaving the PRC, and they – we invited them to join the coalition.  We expect at some point that they will take us up on our invitation because they want to be responsible, a responsible country in this effort.  And we all know that they play – that there are companies in China that play an important role in the distribution of the precursor chemicals that go into making these drugs.  Over.  MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  We have time for about two more questions.  One was submitted in advance from a journalist in Guyana regarding CARICOM, Denis Chabrol from Demarara Waves Online News:  “How badly are Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations affected by synthetic drugs?”  ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Thank you.  Again, this is a – that’s a great question.  I would say although we haven’t seen significant production in the Caribbean, it’s important to note that criminal chemists can easily synthesize fentanyl almost anywhere.  The Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats will provide a foundation for developing and implementing effective, practical solutions to prevent the illicit manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs.  It will help detect emerging drug threats, and we hope it will help respond to the – to their public health impacts.  Over. MODERATOR:  Thank you.  I see in the chat the journalist had added:  “What do we expect from CARICOM and what assistance the U.S. can provide?” ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Well, actually, I would turn it around.  The question should be:  What more can CARICOM countries do?  And I think, again, when we talk about things like exchanging information, when we talk about things like making sure that they are getting access, making sure their communities are getting access to the antidotes for overdoses, making sure that they are reporting to the international organizations that are collecting information that everybody else can use – those are the things that that we would hope we could get from countries that are involved in the global coalition.  And the United States and the international community will continue to help with training and equipping those police forces and prosecutors that are working on this issue.  Over. MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  We had a question from Martin Villena from Andina News Agency in Peru:  “Concerning the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats, does its launch also mean strengthening even more relations with countries such as Peru and Colombia, which face the issue and the related problems concerning cocaine productions in their territories?” ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Well, we’re always working to strengthening – strengthening the relationship with our good friends in Peru and Colombia.  But in fact, again, we will – what the establishment of this coalition is looking to do is to have our friends from Peru and Colombia share their experiences with other countries around the world and help other countries who don’t have the expertise that our countries do, help them address the issues in their countries.  We have great relationships with our partners in Peru and Colombia; I don’t expect that will change.  But we will – in the establishment of this coalition, we will be asking them to do more to help on a global level.  Over.   MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  We received a question from Carrie Kahn with NPR:  “How do proposals from some Republicans in the United States urging military intervention to stop fentanyl trafficking in Mexico affect your plans to enlist global partners?” ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Well, I would say we’re going to let Congress – the Senate and the House – develop and debate their own ideas.  We are going to – I am focused on working with our civilian security partners globally, making sure that they have the training, the equipment, the strategies; making sure they have access to the expertise necessary to focus on what is our responsibility, which is providing civilian security to our communities, both in the United States and around and world. MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  I believe we’ve gone through all the questions that we had today, so that will conclude today’s briefing.  I wanted to thank you for joining us today, as well as all of the journalists on the line for their questions.  If you have any follow-up questions about today’s briefing, you may contact the Miami Media Hub at MiamiHub@state.gov.  An English recording and transcript will be available for this briefing, as well as transcripts in Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese.  Thank you so much and have a good day. ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Thanks.  Thanks, everybody. 
- Belize HomeReportsBureau of Economic and Business Affairs2023 Fiscal Transparency Report&#8230;Belize				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Fiscal Transparency Report: Belize																																					Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs																																																																																																				 In this section																																												Government-by-Government Assessments: Belize																																												Government-by-Government Assessments: Belize				During the review period, the government made its enacted budget, end-of-year report, and information on debt obligations publicly available, including online.  Budget information was generally reliable.  However, it did not publish an executive budget proposal within a reasonable period.  Publicly available budget documents provided a substantially complete picture of the government’s planned expenditures and revenue, including natural resource revenues.  The government reviewed its budget throughout fiscal year.  Actual revenues and expenditures reasonably corresponded to those in the enacted budget.  Budget documents were comparable year-to-year and prepared according to internationally accepted principles.  The government broke down expenditures to support executive offices.  The military and intelligence budgets were subject to civilian public oversight.  While the supreme audit institution met international standards of independence, it did not publish audit reports within a reasonable period.Belize’s fiscal transparency would be improved by:Making its executive budget proposal publicly available within a reasonable period; andEnsuring the supreme audit institution audits the government’s executed budget and makes audit reports publicly available within a reasonable period.																												    							View report by:																				Belize											Dominican Republic											Ecuador											El Salvador											Haiti											Nicaragua											Suriname																										On This Page				search													>																										Government-by-Government Assessments: Belize																	Tags																					Belize																								Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs																								Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs																								Division for International Finance and Development