Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño
BELIZE CITY, Wed. Mar. 26, 2025
Upon taking office on January 20, 2025, United States president Donald Trump implemented a sweeping foreign aid freeze, and while there were many speculations that entities and organizations in Belize who benefitted from related development aid would be affected, the Prime Minister today confirmed that, “everything is on pause.” AMANDALA had asked him specifically about the U.S. $125 million Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact that was slated to pump significant capital into the development of the education and energy sectors when he confirmed the overall freeze.
Nonetheless, the Prime Minister says he shares the hope of the officials at the U.S. Embassy in Belize that “it will proceed …,” and expressed his belief that “they will proceed with it when the dust settles down.” But what if they don’t resume the project? PM Briceño put fears of an overall shortfall in the finances needed to run the Education Ministry to rest, saying that the funding from the MCC compact was certainly not going to be used to finance the work of the Ministry of Education. He explained, “It was to do other projects, bringing people to align the educational system with the economy so that our young people can be better prepared for the economy of the future, working with the teachers, training and so forth.” The PM concluded, “So, we’re going to be fine.”
Belize soon to receive sterile NWS flies
According to Prime Minister John Briceño, the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will soon be sending sterile NWS flies Belize’s way to assist in our efforts to combat the spread of the New World Screwworm (NWS).
The sterile insect technique involves having sterile male flies mate with female NWS flies so that no offspring is produced. Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, Hon. Jose Mai had complained in January and February this year that the Ministry had written the relevant U.S. authorities asking that Belize be provided with sterile flies mass-reared by APHIS. However, there had been no favourable response, despite the sterile flies being distributed to all other Central American countries currently facing a screwworm infestation.
There was speculation by some that Belize was being punished in this manner due to its Palestine advocacy, but today, the Prime Minister provided another explanation. He stated, “No, I don’t think it was an issue of that.” He then revealed that they had agreed to give Belize the sterile flies. Expanding on his explanation for why the APHIS had not provided the assistance to Belize “immediately,” he shared, “There was a bigger crisis in other parts of Central America, and I imagine that they felt that if they bring the flies here to stop it here and you don’t stop it over there, it will still come to Belize; so they’re trying to contain it over there. But now that they are seeing that it is starting to spread to Belize, they are making the sterile flies also available to Belize.” Additionally, the PM says the APHIS had slowed the pace of the mass-rearing of the flies, so they didn’t have enough flies to issue; and now “they are trying to ramp up the production of these flies.” Up to March 21, Belize had 33 cases of screwworm among cattle, pigs, dogs, sheep and a horse. Twenty-seven cases were in Toledo, four in Cayo, one in the Belize District and another in Orange Walk.
PM explains why Minister Mai no longer has oversight over sugar industry
Swearing in of Hon. Jose Mai
A few days after the Prime Minister revealed his Cabinet appointments on Saturday, March 15, it emerged that, while Hon. Jose Mai retained his same Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, he would no longer have responsibility for the sugar industry. Instead, Prime Minister John Briceño would be the substantive minister responsible for the portfolio, while Minister of State, Dr. Osmond Martinez, a trained economist, would have direct day-to-day oversight.
Speaking about the change on a talk show last week, the Prime Minister revealed that he attended an emergency meeting in February in Miami with the principals of ASR (American Sugar Refining), the parent company of the miller in the north, Belize Sugar Industries (BSI), to address concerns they had about the handling of matters in the sugar industry. We presume the reference was to the developments at the height of the tension between BSI and the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA) (of which both the PM and Minister Mai are members) when they were negotiating a new commercial agreement in 2023. If one may recall, in March of 2024, ASR had warned that it was considering its options in Belize due to the industry being run by political rather than business considerations.
Today, Amandala asked the Prime Minister if the thousands of members of the BSCFA could view the reduction of the influence exercised by Minister Mai over that issue to be an indication that his (Briceño’s) leadership is swaying to the bidding of the multinational. PM Briceño rejected the insinuation and said the change is simply meant to signal that they are giving it “the most important priority by having it under the Office of the Prime Minister.”
When asked if he is concerned about potential tension erupting this year again when a new commercial agreement must be hammered out, the PM responded, “I think that BSCFA, the leaders are realizing that we could be continuing this fighting back and forth, and they might be fighting over nothing. So, it is important that we be able to look at the industry as a whole and what is in the best interest of everyone and not the individual.”
A task force has been established to determine what is applicable from the recommendations of the sugar industry commission of inquiry at a time when the industry is facing a crisis due to multiple threats.
Unbeknownst to us at the time of the interview, the BSCFA Committee of Management had actually written the Prime Minister a letter on March 25 precisely expressing concerns about the removal of oversight for the sugar industry from Minister Mai. The Association asserted that the decision was seemingly influenced by the PM’s emergency meeting with ASR, and questioned how that could directly impact the assignment of portfolios in the Cabinet. The BSCFA poignantly stated that they are yet to learn what else “was required from your government by ASR owners and managers.” The Association is of the view that the cane farmers may just find themselves at “the mercy of multinational interests rather than supported by a government that champions their rights and well-being.”
While the BSCFA says it recognizes Dr. Martinez’ demonstrated drive to achieve his goals, they expressed their belief that “he lacks both the experience and knowledge of the intricacies of the sugar industry.” On the other hand, they noted that Minister Mai has been “a passionate and effective voice for the sugar cane farmers, fighting for fair pricing, better working conditions, and fair policies that genuinely serve their interests.”
Budget will not be presented until mid-May
The draft estimates of revenue and expenditure, or the annual budget of the public service, is usually presented in the House of Representatives in early March so that it can be debated in the third week of that month. The fiscal year begins April 1st. Due to this year’s general elections that were held on March 12, the process to finalize the budget was interrupted. According to the Prime Minister, they are now aiming to have the budget presented by mid-May.
Chester’s transition to Transport CEO post delayed
Chester Williams – Commissioner of Police
Earlier this week it was confirmed that the rumoured move of Commissioner of Police Chester Williams over to the position of CEO of the Ministry of Transport, Indigenous, Constitutional and Religious Affairs, won’t be executed immediately. It appears that a request has been made for a transition period which, sources say, may be between two and three months in length.
Confirming that a transition period is needed, the Prime Minister says they are still working out the details of the timeline. He then expressed his deep appreciation for Commissioner Williams “for the extraordinary work that he did – and I mean that sincerely … I think he’s been the most successful Commissioner that we’ve had—certainly in modern history, but it’s time to move on.” The PM says he believes that Williams can assist in modernizing the Transport sector and address the challenges of increased infractions due to better roads.
Asked if there is a place for Williams in the People’s United Party if he wishes to run for political office, PM Briceño responded, “We always have a place for good people. I think that Chester Williams is a good person, a good Belizean, and I think that he could also do good in public service … so it would be an easy transition should that happen, and if he were to decide that’s what he wants to do.”
Hon. Rodwell Ferguson will be the PM’s troubleshooter
Swearing in of Hon. Rodwell Ferguson
The former Minister of Transport, Hon. Rodwell Ferguson, Sr. will serve as Minister of State in the second Cabinet of Prime Minister John Briceño. When we asked the Prime Minister what exact role Ferguson will fill, he told us that he will be deployed as a troubleshooter when he, the Prime Minister, is bogged down with the extensive responsibilities of his office. The PM said Ferguson can travel to wherever there is an issue and then provide advice on how best to handle it. He stated of Ferguson, “I think he has great interpersonal skills; he’s a good people person, and I think that he can be extremely helpful there.”