Belize Times - September 25, 2022 PM's Independence Day Address

“To every Belizean student, from kinder to university, to every Belizean worker, from the public officer to office staff to those in the fields, to every Belizean Homemaker and retiree, to our entrepreneurs and artists, I salute you today. This happy birthday is your collective achievement. This is your day. By your pride, your confidence, your resolve, you show the world that small is special, that unde veloped is rich and that third world is first rate. And so with the guidance of our creator, let us march forward to 42 and beyond, with that singular Beliz ean faith, that unshakeable belief that the greater glories of tomorrow are sowed today. Happy Independence Day!”

Tourism and Aviation in Cayman

Caribbean Aviation Day is be ing hosted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) under the theme, “Recover, Reconnect, Revive”. The day is being celebrated as part of a series of events being hosted by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) in the Cayman Islands. Present at the events are Hon. Anthony Mahler (Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations), Hon. Andre Perez (Minister of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation), Mrs. Nicole Solano (CEO of the Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations), Mr. Mohit Budhrani (Chairman of the BTB) and Mr. Evan Tillett (Director of Tour ism).

Caribbean Aviation Day brings together industry experts, senior aviation executives, and government authorities, to discuss the opportunities and chal lenges facing the region’s air transport sector. Minister Mahler participated in a Ministerial Roundtable on Maximising the Social and Economic Value of Aviation in the Caribbean.

Belize Independence Fest 2022 in LA

The Belize Tourism Board is today participating in the Belize In dependence Fest 2022 being held on Nutwood Street in Los Angeles, California. Visitors to the event have the opportunity to savor a variety of Belizean food and drinks while entertained by a great selection of music.

Those who stop by the Belize booth can sign up to win a piece of property in Belize to be raffled in December 2022 by the Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations. Today's selected winner will win a roundtrip ticket and a vacation stay in Belize. All visitors to the booth will walk away with a bag of free Belize goodies.

Belize in Ensemble Vacations Fall 2022

Belize is featured in Ensemble Vacations Fall 2022 Magazine, one of Canada’s afflu ent Consortia having a readership of over 100,000. Vanessa Dewson, Travel Advisor & Photography Tour Specialist wrote about her experience while in Belize on our Adventure + Sustainability FAM in April 2022. This fourpage spread can be found on page 32.

MARCHING FORWARD TO 42 PROUD AND STRONG

Belizeans at home and abroad cel ebrated the calendar of events for this year 2022 September festivities in full fête post-COVID 19 pandemic. The chant loudly resonated with the tempo - “wi ready fi di road.” The long-anticipated car nival J’ouvert and road March brought out hundreds upon hundreds of onlookers awed with the revelling, gyrating carnival bands and participants jumping up behind the ‘big truck’. The various groups clad in colorful costumes of intricate design sa shayed throughout the charted route. With the Soca music at full blast, the spectators were witness to the show case of Belizean pride and culture veiled in patriotic pomp and circumstance.

Some of the more formal events were the Youth Children’s Rally, the Tribute to Belizean Patriots and the National Hon ours and Awards ceremony, and National Service Day especially the Wreath-Laying Ceremony recognizing the life service of the Leader Emeritus George Cadle Price. This event became indicative of the need to stay the course of the People’s Unit ed Party’s social justice roots which PM John Briceño follows daily.

However, Pan Yaad Steel Pan con cert and its unique sound was a sold-out event for 2022. The unanticipated crowd created a lively ruckus that saw the event planners making adjustments to seat the many. The appreciation for the tuning of the metallic-sounding melodies was abuzz as the ‘yaadys’ rocked the House of Culture to its core. Pan Yaad was big ger and better and signalled the need for a musical encore across the Jewel.

The 20th night of 2022 was clearly symbolic of 1981 some forty-one years ago when the Union Jack was replaced with the Belizean flag cementing our in dependence. In Belize City, at about 9 p.m. the citizenry converged on the ma rine parade lining the full length of the sea wall. The ones at the Memorial Park were witnesses to the historical moment when the Belizean flag was hoisted. The promise of a show of pyrotechnics be came a reality at the stroke of midnight when the fireworks seared the starlit sky. The spectators were not disappointed. That same spirit resonated in the different towns and villages across the nation. The pulse was truly beaming with nationalistic pride. Belize had “rebound” @ 41. As the

Belizean people retreated in the quiet of the morn’ of Independence Day prepa rations were underway for ceremonial gala of the uniform parade in Belize City and elsewhere there was local revelry.

Simultaneously Belmopan was holding the official ceremony with the Prime Minister Honorable John Briceño delivering a state of the nation address. Unfortunately, respecting the demo cratic norms, the Leader of the Op position Shyne Barrow was given the opportunity to rant and misinterpret his views on government’s performance for 2022. Someone once said if a fool is given a stage he will surely act a fool. The nation and the Belizean people was not spared the agony of listening to ut ter nonsense from the LOO 21. Shyne attempted to berated the Government, tried to ridicule the Prime Minister and he succeeded in embarrassing the na tion in the attempt to gaslight and de ceive the masses with false allegations about the Briceño administration. Con man Shyne’s was out in full force.

Contrarily PM Briceño eviscerated the nonsensical intellectual speech with truth and factual statistics, highlighting the stellar performance by his adminis tration. The understanding that develop ment goes beyond economics. That true development includes development of people. Briceño gave notice to the world that small is special, undeveloped is rich and third world is first rate. Hinting that the successes of any country is depen dent on the leadership skills at the helm. It was not the IFIs imposed recovery that ushered in the quick turnaround but a home-grown recovery plan- PlanBelize.

The festive season of the celebra tion of September 2022 has come to an end, but the task of nation-building continues. The PM asked that “with the guidance of our creator let us march for ward to 42 and beyond, with that singu lar Belizean faith, that unshakable belief that the greater glories of tomorrow are sowed today “.

serving Belize

Founder: Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price, People’s United Party

The Ministry of National De fence and Border Security hereby informs the public that on Sunday, September 18th, 2022, a joint Be lize Defence Force and Belize Na tional Coast Guard patrol deployed to the Sarstoon and encountered five Guatemalan Armed Forces maritime vessels on the northern side of the Sarstoon Island. The joint patrol also observed five civil ian vessels operated by members of the Belize Territorial Volunteers.

Mr. Wil Maheia, leader of the Belize Territorial Volunteers, in formed the joint patrol that they

had placed two Belizean National Flags on the Sarstoon Island, which members of the Guatemalan Armed Forces later removed. The Guatema lans informed the joint patrol that the entire area belongs to Guatemala; however, the joint patrol commander informed the Guatemalan Armed Forces that they were in Belizean territory and that they should leave. Shortly thereafter, the Belize Territorial Volunteers and the Guatemalan Armed Forces ves sels departed. The Belize Defence Force and Belize National Coast Guard joint patrol then left the area

to the Sarstoon Forward Operating Base to maintain military presence.

The Ministry of National De fence and Border Security wishes to inform the public that the joint deployment continues to conduct regular patrols from Barranco Village to the Sarstoon Island, and remains vigilant to ensure the territorial in tegrity and national sovereignty of Belize.

Ministry of National Defence and Border Security Belmopan

OFFICE MANAGER

Fay Castillo

EDITOR

José Jiménez

LAYOUT/GRAPHIC

Chris Williams

Printed and 671-8385 Queen City, Belize INCURSION ON THE BELIZE SIDE OF THE SARSTOON RIVER

Roberto Peyrefitte

EDITORIAL

GIMME FIVE!!

Just as one cycle closes another begins. Belize has now completed her 41st year and launches con fident, hopeful, and joyful onto her 42nd year as a sovereign and independent nation. After two years of being kept indoors amid lockdowns and quarantine restrictions, Belizeans were ready to celebrate. The atmosphere surrounding regular September Celebrations should be just that, celebratory. It would have been an act of kindness to have advised the Leader of the Opposition of that fact. Unfortunately, he seems to be the LOO (Lonely Opposition of One) and has absolutely no one to guide him. Those other members of the House on the Opposition side last year chose to bring back Hon. Patrick Faber precisely to avoid this complete and utter embarrassment. We not so gently remind Aunty B and our dear friend Hugo to be careful what they ask for…because as in this case they certainly got it. They should have at least had the decency to show up and face the mortification they are entirely responsible for and which with mulish persistence foisted upon us. Hon. Tracy and Hon. Faber’s hard pass on this year’s debacle is by comparison quite understandable and entirely justifiable.

We should turn our focus instead on the highlight of the Prime Minister’s Independence Speech, and the announcement of the long-awaited five-dollar minimum wage that will come into effect as of January 2023. This is exciting news because the minimum wage is one way the government can ensure that money is redirected to those who need it the most. That sector in our communities that earn a minimum wage is those who are now living under the poverty line and whom this government seeks to raise to a dignified standard of living. The Briceño administration seeks to adjust the minimum wage so that it sits more on par with the living wage. Simply put, a living wage is a wage that permits Beliz eans to cover their basic needs and provides them with the means to live with dignity. This is exciting news, as this will mean more income for families which translates into more spending. Managed well far from causing mass firings, after a short adjustment, period a raise in wages is a powerful tool for stimulating the economy.

There is much for the LOO to learn from Prime Minister Briceño. Foremost on this list is a lesson on decorum, courtesy, and plain and simple manners. Perhaps a lesson or two on Economics would not be remiss either. Belize stands at 41 almost self-sufficient in the production of its food staples. A testament to the arduous work of its 14,307 farmers who toil on 613,000 acres of farmland country wide. This has been done while keeping one-third of our lands and seas under protected environmen tal sanctuaries. The Blue Bond now serves as the international model and standard for environmental reform and debt relief. Finally, the rollout of free secondary education is being piloted in Belize City on the Southside, while the National Health Insurance now also covers the Corozal District in its en tirety, is being expanded in the city, and is getting ready to roll out in the Orange Walk district. Lowcost housing, subsidized by the government is being made available across the country, land grants are being made available and front-line workers are being prioritized for these. Loans and training for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are being facilitated with sixty percent of these being earmarked especially for women. In addition, import duties are being removed from packaging and labelling materials and introducing a four-year exemption from Business Tax and GST after registering as an MSME with Beltraide and Tax Services. In addition, the government will award 20 percent of their procurement tenders which is a value of $45M to MSMEs. All these initiatives will positively and directly affect the small businessperson, and this will help Belize to foster her working middle-class families helping to bridge the income gap. The LOO has a pronounced dramatic flair, in keeping with his diva days on the entertainment circuit. Running a country cannot be about how much airtime an individual can shamelessly milk out of a situation. Prime Minister Hon John Briceño will ensure that Belize will remain both proud and strong!

EDITORIAL en Español

DAME LOS CINCO

Cuando un ciclo se cierra, otro comienza. Belice ha cumplido su 41º año y se lanza confiada, esperanzada y alegre a su 42º año como nación soberana e independiente. Después de dos años de mantenerse en casa entre cierres y restricciones de cuarentena, los beliceños estaban listos para celebrar. El ambiente que rodea a las celebraciones habituales de sep tiembre debería ser precisamente eso, de celebración. Habría sido un detalle avisarle al líder de la oposición de este hecho. Desgraciadamente, parece que es el LOO (Lonely Opposition of One) y no tiene absolutamente nadie que le guíe. Los otros miembros de la Cámara en el lado de la Oposición el año pasado eligieron traer de vuelta al Honorable Patrick Faber precisamente para evitar esta completa y absoluta vergüenza. Recordamos a la Tía B y a nuestro querido amigo Hugo que tengan cuidado con lo que piden... porque como en este caso ciertamente lo han consegui do. Deberían haber tenido al menos la decencia de presentarse y enfrentarse a la mortificación de la que son enteramente responsables y que nos han endilgado con su persistencia testaruda. La rotunda ausencia de la Honorable Tracy y del Honorable Faber en la debacle de este año es, en comparación, bastante comprensible y totalmente justificable.

Deberíamos centrarnos más bien en lo más destacado del discurso de independencia del primer ministro, y en el anuncio del tan esperado salario mínimo de cinco dólares que entrará en vigor a partir de enero de 2023. Se trata de una noticia emocionante porque el salario mínimo es una de las formas en que el Gobierno puede garantizar que el dinero se redirija a los que más lo necesitan. Ese sector de nuestras comunidades que ganan un salario mínimo son los que hoy viven bajo la línea de pobreza y que este gobierno busca elevar a un nivel de vida digno. El gobierno de Briceño busca ajustar el salario mínimo para que esté más a la par del salario digno. En pocas palabras, un salario digno es un salario que permite a los beliceños cubrir sus necesidades básicas y les proporciona los medios para vivir con dignidad. Se trata de una noticia emocionante, ya que supondrá más ingresos para las familias, lo que se traduce en más gastos. Bien gestionado, lejos de provocar despidos masivos, tras un breve periodo de ajuste, un aumento de los salarios es una poderosa herramienta para estimular la economía.

La LOO tiene mucho que aprender del primer ministro Briceño. Lo primero en esta lista es una lección de decoro, cortesía y modales sencillos. Quizá tampoco estaría de más una o dos lecciones de economía. Belice es casi autosuficiente en la producción de sus alimentos básicos. Un testimonio del duro trabajo de sus 14.307 agricultores que trabajan en 613.000 acres de tierra de cultivo en todo el país. Esto se ha logrado mientras se mantiene un tercio de nuestras tierras y mares bajo santuarios ambientales protegidos. El Bono Azul sirve ahora de modelo y norma internacional para la reforma medioambiental y el alivio de la deuda. Por último, la implantación de la educación secundaria gratuita se está llevando a cabo en la ciudad de Belice, en la zona sur, mientras que el Seguro Nacional de Salud cubre ahora también el distrito de Corozal en su totalidad, se está ampliando en la ciudad y se está preparando su implantación en el distrito de Orange Walk. En todo el país se están poniendo a disposición viviendas de bajo coste, subvencionadas por el gobierno, y se está dando prioridad a los trabajadores de primera línea. Se están facilitando préstamos y formación para las micro, pequeñas y medianas empresas (MIPYMES), y el 60% de ellos se destinan especialmente a las mu jeres. Además, se están eliminando los derechos de importación de los materiales de envasado y etiquetado, así como la introducción de una exención de cuatro años del Impuesto sobre Actividades Económicas y del Impuesto sobre el Valor Añadido (GST) tras registrarse como MIPYME en Beltraide y en los Servicios Fis cales. Además, el gobierno adjudicará a las MiPYMES el 20% de sus licitaciones, lo que supone un valor de 45 millones. Todas estas iniciativas afectarán positiva y directamente al pequeño empresario y esto ayudará a Belice a fomentar sus familias de clase media trabajadora ayudando a reducir la brecha de ingresos. El LOO tiene un marcado carácter dramático, acorde con su época de diva en el circuito del espectáculo. Dirigir un país no puede ser sobre cuánto tiempo en el aire un individuo puede desvergonzadamente sacar de una situ ación. ¡El primer ministro John Briceño se asegurará de que Belice permanezca orgulloso y fuerte!

Prime Minister John Briceño

Remarks on National Service Day Lord Ridge Cemetery, September 19, 2022 Wreath-laying Ceremony

Every year, we gather here at the Lord’s Ridge Cemetery to honour the father of our nation. Three years ago, however, I remember this occasion dis tinctly, we were here in this very place and we pledged that the next PUP government would honour the work of Mr. Price by declaring his birth day a National Holiday. We made this promise on the year he would have turned 100. At that special event we spoke of the call to duty and the fact that even though Mr. Price desired to be a priest, his destiny turned out to be different.

But there is not much difference in what he desired and, in the work, he got done. Although it was another kind of work he was still in the ser vice of others and of course in the service of his Creator. Today the work started by Mr. Price is far from over. It is not over because he believed in a revolution that lives on in each generation of Be lize. The Peaceful Constructive Belizean Revolution can only be fulfilled when we truly become a na tion of free people, whose heart beats with social justice. To achieve this, we need to build a kinder nation where our children do not live in fear and our society is truly living out the preamble of Con stitution. So, we are duty bound to carry on the legacy of Mr. Price. This is why, we see it as our duty that every child in Southside Belize city must be given the chance to go to high school, free. In time we will extend this program to the children of every disadvantaged community in this nation because this is social justice.

See, Social Justice is ensuring that every Be lizean who can and wants to work can find mean ingful employment and we are working every day to create these opportunities. Through our MSME road shows we are encouraging a new generation of Belizean entrepreneurs. And while we have only just begun, already hundreds of our poorest families are being given the chance to own a de cent home through our program of starter homes. Our government is working and will continue to work towards a fairer and just society where ev ery Belizean can have the chance for a better life. Mr. Price taught us that we are a part of a human family and so all of us are duty bound to help one another. We all know that this is a part of our Chris tian calling and one of the best ways to follow the teachings of Jesus who said, “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, you do on to me.”

Thank you Minister Henry Charles! Good morn ing Acting Governor General Amb. Stuart Leslie, Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño, Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde, Leader of the Opposition Hon Moses Shyne Barrow, Mayor His Worship Bernard Wagner, Speaker Hon. Valerie Woods, Ministers of State, Excellencies, Co-Chair of the Celebrations Committee Marilyn Young, Father Valle-Sierra, Dis tinguished Guests All:

Valiant and Bold, Proud and Strong! The theme for our 41st anniversary of political independence, words that could not be more appropriate to de scribe the Liberator, the Fighter, the Planner, the Fearless and Determined Father of our Nation Be lize who succeeded after many years in achieving Independence.

Before continuing, and lest I forget, and at the age of 73 these things happen now and again, please allow me to thank the entire extended Price family, and more particularly Ms. Leni Jo Usher who is a pillar of strength for us all, and her son Minister Henry Charles for the great honour of voicing a few words in memory of the one and only Father of our Nation, Belize, the Rt. Hon George Cadle Price.

My Dad, Rafael or “Faelo” Fonseca was at Rt. Hon. George Price’s side for most of his profession al career, and in 1978, Rt. Hon George Price was one of the first on site when he, my dad, and his driver died in a tragic vehicular accident while Acting as Governor of Belize and Financial Secretary.

As kids, we went to sleep and woke up hearing Premier Price and our Dad working on the phone, discussing agrarian land reform, the budget, build ing Hattieville and then Belmopan and planning the independence and development of Belize. At formal ceremonies, my Mother Gertrude Fonseca was al ways there with these two Public Servants, as they carried out their roles, as Rt. Hon Price would say “with a sense of occasion.”

In short “Serve the People”

Today I want to thank the Leader of the Oppo sition, the members of the diplomatic community,

May God bless us all and May God Bless Belize and may the soul of Mr. Price and all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace, Amen.

developmental goals for Belize.

For all intents and purposes, he replaced my Dad as my mentor. Actually, the transition was al most seamless, as I first directly interacted with The Father of Belize on returning from Canada only days after my Dad’s fatal accident. He convinced me to return to Belize to join the journey for development. His focused drive and assurances proclaiming with confidence that Belize had the most potential catchup growth in the region, drafted me, and others be fore, like PM Said Musa to dedicate our lives to his the children and all of you for joining us for this celebration of the life of the Father of our Nation Mr. Price. And to all gathered here today and who are joining us virtually let us give thanks for the life and example of Mr. Price. We thank the family of Mr. Price for sharing him with us. On days like these let us all appreciate how truly blessed we are to live in our beautiful country and so with the guidance of our Creator we will continue to build on our peaceful, progressive revolution.

On returning, Premier Price appointed me to lead the Logistics Com mittee for Independence Celebrations, then Chairman of the then BTA and BEB, thus setting me off on the road to public life. From 1987 as his Na tional Campaign Manager, and then in 1989, as his Minister of State, we all worked together from early morning to late night planning the Belizean Development agenda and the campaign strategy to execute it. After 1993, in Opposition, we worked the smooth and planned transition of Leadership of the PUP. In Government 1998 to 2008, we stayed in touch, exchanging

MEMORIES OF MY TIME WITH THE FATHER OF THE NATION, RT. HON. GEORGE PRICE

By Ralph Fonseca, Delivered at the Wreath-laying Ceremony Sep tember 19, 2022

THE BELIZE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY CELEBRATES A SUCCESSFUL EXPO BELIZE MARKET PLACE 2022

Belize City, 20th September 2022 —The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) takes this opportunity to thank and congratulate all exhibitors, sponsors and members of its secretariat on a success ful Expo Belize Market Place 2022. Despite returning from a two-year hiatus, the expo saw substantial participation from the business sector. Over the two days approximately 13,000 visitors made their way to the grounds and were able to enjoy the wide variety of local busi nesses that the only the Expo has been known to host on such a grand scale.

We also commend the winners of our “Best Booth” Competition which was scored based on creativity, profession alism, innovation, and efficien cy. While we appreciate the great deal of effort all exhibi tors placed on their displays, we must acknowledge the fol lowing:

• Best Overall Booth –Courts Belize Ltd.

• Most Creative Booth –CK Girls

• Most Professional Booth –Sol Clay Jewelry

• Most Innovative Booth

– Solid Waste Management Au thority

• Best Female Entrepreneur – Nika’s Seamoss

• Best Male Entrepreneur –Lord Designs

In keeping with tradition, the Expo Belize Market Place Open ing Ceremony was also held at the

Marion Jones Sports Complex on Saturday September 17th. We is sue a special thanks to Mrs. Nar da Garcia, CEO of the Office of the Prime Minister who graciously accepted our invitation as Guest Speaker for the event and elaborat ed on the GOB’s plans and policies for empowering Belize’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

To date this has been one of the

largest expos since its inception in 1996 and it is an honor for the BCCI to have provided in excess of 62 MSMEs from across the country with a platform to show case their products and ser vices. As we look to the future, we will continue seeking new avenues to promote sustainable economic growth and inspire lo cal artisans to pursue impactful entrepreneurial ventures.

My fellow Belizeans, We gather on this hallowed Independence Hill, in front of Parliament, in the capital City of the sovereign state of Belize, to mark the 41st birthday of our be loved nation. I am privileged, for a second year now, to acknowledge the presence of so many distinguished guests and friends of Belize, and to offer my heartfelt con gratulations to the citizens and residents of our Jewel, our blessed land. This year we celebrate our independence in a time of global upheaval. There is unthinkable conflict in Eastern Europe with talk of nuclear weapons. In Asia, our close ally, the Republic of China on Taiwan, is menaced constantly by the military threats of its mammoth neighbor. In Latin America, democratic principles are stressed by the lure of autocracy in addressing injustice, while the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in the United Kingdom will force a rethink of constitutional tradition in Belize, the Caribbean and African Commonwealth. And of course, even as the Covid pandem ic and its massive ramifications recede, the demon of high inflation has been let

Independence Day Address 2022 Independence Hill, Belmopan Prime Minister John Briceño loose upon the global economy. This demon devours the purchasing power of the poorest people. It raises the cost of financing at a point that sovereign debt burdens stand at historical highs. And rising interest rates, according to World Bank President David Malpass, will inevitably precipitate a punitive global recession, and possibly stagflation, starting in 2023.

Apart from these unprecedented threats to people’s economic welfare and to participatory democracy, the climate crisis is wreaking havoc in every corner of our planet. Today, our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Mexico and of Taiwan where two separate earthquakes caused the loss of life and limb and billions in loss and damage. As we enter the active period of the Atlantic hurricane season, we in the Caribbean have to deal with the annual shocks caused by ever increasing violent storms. An IMF assessment showed that two thirds of the 511 disasters to hit small countries since 1950 have occurred in Caribbean countries.

Whether wildfires and droughts in North America, monsoons and flooding in Asia, deforestation in Latin America or crop failure in Africa, the world is unarguably less hospitable to humanity today than anytime in living memory.

Looking in the mirror at 41 and considering the current state of our nation, I believe that this backdrop of apparent worldwide upheaval gives all of us here in Belize plenty of reasons to be simultaneously proud, confident, and resolute. Belizeans can be proud that our Constitution is unblemished in 41years. Six times since Independence, there has been an orderly transition of political power, without violence or even the threat of violence. Just two weeks ago, a new Chief Justice was sworn in and she will oversee an entirely independent Judiciary, free of political control or interference. The Belizean public square, buttressed by myriad freedoms, and a vibrant, independent press corps, is more lively and more animated than ever. In just the last few months, two unrelated national petitions have attracted tens of thousands of individual signatures. This is but one example of Belizean democracy in action. These are ample reasons for national pride and national confidence. All of this is in partial fulfillment of Plan Belize.

Equally significant is the fact that Belize’s fiscal and economic health have proven spectacularly resilient. This year’s National Budget, with a neutral primary balance, will see total spending of 29 percent of GDP. Thirty point five percent of total spending will flow to the human development pillars of educa tion, health and community welfare. The public debt, at 132 percent of GDP two years ago, has been slashed to 90 percent of GDP, by a combination of debt restructuring, GDP growth, spending restraint and a revaluation of economic productivity. This year, in fact, interest on the public debt will represent seven cents of every dollar spent by Government. Our resiliency is home-grown, not IFI-imposed.

When we look in the mirror at 41, Belizeans should see a country on the cusp of being able to feed itself, a goal so many of our peers yearned to attain at the peak of the Covid pandemic. Domestic production of various food staples has reached truly impressive levels. For example: In 2021 rice production was over 33 million pounds; beans (production) was over 20 million pounds; corn was over 215 million pounds; chicken was over 42 million pounds; over five million dozen eggs; 16.5 million pounds of milk; the national cattle herd stood at 170 thousand heads of cattle. With an estimated 1,280 acres of vegetable pro duction, Belize is almost self-sufficient in this important measure. And this agricultural productivity is derived from farmers large and small alike – 14,307 of them, harvesting more than 613,000 acres across this country. The prospect of national food self-sufficiency has not compromised our sacred pact with nature. A third or more of our land and our seas are protected sanctuaries, immense stores of wealth safeguarded for the benefit of our children and for their children.

Our recent debt for conservation exchange is now serving as a global model for debt relief and environmental reform. These are, at 41 immeasurable sources of national pride and confidence. It is not without irony, I believe, that half a century after the Father of our Nation George Price cautioned us about the risks of unchecked capitalism and unrestrained markets, his caution is being vindicated on a much wider stage than Belize. So-called developed countries have reconsidered what development truly entails if that development is to be sustainable beyond this year’s profit and beyond this generation. The social justice of George Price’s “mixed economy”, radical thinking in the Cold War setting, now seems like common sense when we witness the European Union cap ping the profits of energy firms or the United Kingdom placing a ceiling on household energy bills. Whether in the case of constant financial support starting with caping the cost of fuel by reducing fuel taxes, subsidies for our cane farmers, further subsidies for our bus companies, tour operators and bakers, Belize can be proud that our public policy makes creative accommodations for the common good, notwithstanding external pressures. Of course, a nation’s life, its evolution, does not end at 41, and pride and confidence must, as I said earlier, be matched with resolve to address those faucets of national development that remain unconquered.

And it is this requisite resolve that has led to the launch the People’s Constitution Commission, whose work shall commence shortly, to consult far and wide and to recommend constitutional changes that will enhance national unity and upliftment as well as good governance. It is our resolve to peacefully secure every square inch of territory, land and sea that led us, upon approval in a referendum, to the ICJ for final determination of any claim to Belize by Gua temala. We are also resolute in rolling back the plague of poverty, so that every Belizean can enjoy the many bounties of our homeland.

THIS IS WHY IN JANUARY THE $5 PER HOUR MINIMUM WAGE WILL BE IMPLIMENTED.

It is why the introduction of free secondary school education has begun at three major high schools on the Southside of Belize City and will eventually be rolled out countrywide. It is why we continue to hand over the keys to new starter homes heavily subsidized by your government to needy Belizeans in every corner of Belize. And it is why job creation sits at the apex of importance within Government’s investment policy framework. That framework is off to a magnificent start, with 332 million dollars of new foreign direct investment anticipated in 2022, principally in the areas of tourism, agriculture, agro processing and in the BPO sector. And it is why thousands of hard-working Belizeans are benefitting from new land grants or the regularization of land titles that have been outstanding for far too long. Granting land to the needy is a unique transfer of wealth, and one that we are devoted to expanding. On the heels of last year’s historic investment conference, this year, Government is spearheading the first ever MSME Road Show, to bring the enabling tools for small business to every major district and community in our country. Today there is more than 400 million dollars in the banking sector in excess liquidity. The Belize Enter prise Revolving Fund (BERF) will diversify the national economy by strengthening and improving MSME competitiveness, through financing and technical assistance. There is the earmarking of MSME loans, of which 60 percent is to be designated for women. The MSME Enhancement Program (MEP) seeks to strengthen the competitiveness of Belize’s MSME Sector by fostering exports via the removal of Custom Import duty for a shortlist of packaging and labelling

materials; making Legislative changes by establishing a program to grant MSME busi nesses operating informally; and a four-year exemption from Business Tax and GST after registering with the Belize Tax Services and BELTRAIDE. The Government will also award 20 percent of its procurement tenders by 2025 to MSMEs. The total annual purchase of goods and services for the government is 225 million dollars, 20 percent of this is 45mn dollars. Registered MSMEs will be able to tap into this 45-million-dollar market.

I am confident that the 16.3 percent growth in GDP in 2021 and the 5.3 percent growth in the first quarter of 2022 is but the start of an extended surge in economic expansion and prosperity. Our focus, our insistence, is that this growth be equitable, across districts; focused on job creating industry and export-oriented businesses, to further fortify the Belize dollar. At present, our fixed peg is backed by well over four months of import cover. We are resolved to transforming the national infrastructure, not with extravagant spending that provide one-time jobs but with targeted, prudent invest ments that enable product to market transfers and that build intra-community wealth. At present, 213.3 miles of paving construction is underway as we expand the Primary Road Network. 239.8 miles of improved secondary roads is this year’s goal, as town and village connections are prioritized. And 11 bridges are under construction, includ ing the 30 million dollars to be invested in a new Haulover Bridge along the Phillip Goldson Highway. Recently, I led an official mission to Germany to examine an excit ing new process for converting sargassum to clean energy. How inventive a prospect for the coastline litter of sargassum to be transformed into power. Any power from Sargas sum will complement the additional solar power that our PUC soon expects to sanction as part of the national generation system.

Soon to commence as well, is a phased, 250-million-dollar expansion and remod eling of the Phillip Goldson International Airport to begin along with improvement to several municipal facilities. A recent Master Plan for the PGIA envisions 3 million passenger movements by 2040, triple the current level. A national Ports Policy will lay out the requirements for urgent improvements to the Belize City Port, complementing recent expansion at the Big Creek Port. And, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has committed to linking Northern Belize with the multi-billion-dollar Tren Maya Initiative in Southern Mexico. Tourism, the up-market high-end brand, is Belize’s preferred niche and the BTB is resolved to exceed the 2019 overnight arrivals next year, two years ahead of the global trend.

And our resolve to further suppress crime and violence on our streets and in our communities has never been stronger. A new radar will help in the fight against transna tional drug trafficking. New intakes to the Police and Defense Forces will augment the already elevated cadres of law enforcement officers and expanded training in preven tion and prosecution is being funded.

Pride, confidence, resolve. This is our mantra at 41 writ large and bold across every Belizean sunrise.

Hoy celebramos la independencia de un pueblo…un pueblo del cual estoy muy or gulloso de reclamar como: “mi pueblo” Belice. Un pueblo pequeño que hace cuarenta y un años obtuvo su independencia política pacíficamente… sin derrame de sangre. Este gran objetivo se logró con mucha astucia diplomática y apoyo internacional. Y en el año 1981 se logró una identidad para nosotros los beliceños. Compatriotas beliceños, como solía decir el Padre de esta gran nación, hoy en el 2022 estamos, como pueblo, logrando lo que es un objetivo muy real y práctico. Después de la pandemia estamos recuperando y empezamos a lograr lo que llamamos la independencia económica.

La libertad económica, que hoy es lo que cuenta y es de suma importancia para la sobrevivencia y dignidad de nuestro pueblo. Para nuestros conciudadanos, poder trabajar o poder ganarse la vida en su propia empresa, por muy pequeña que sea, es un sueño y una aspiración general. Es por lo que este gobierno ha tomado la responsabilidad de crear un entorno…un ecosistema propicio. En los dos últimos años es exactamente lo que hemos estado haciendo y hoy podemos declarar que el plan está funcionando. Con nuestro Plan Belice se le está creando la oportunidad a todo beliceño para poder trabajar de un modo u otro. Con esto se está logrando la independencia real de nuestra población. En 1981 George Price, el padre de la patria nos brindó la independencia política. Hoy perseguimos la inde pendencia económica que el tanto anhelaba para todo beliceño. Esto, paisanos míos, me hace retomar los pensamientos del Apóstol de la independencia de Cuba, el célebre Jose Martí, que dijo que “La Felicidad general de un pueblo descansa en la indepen dencia individual de sus habitantes” y que “una nación libre es el resultado de sus pobladores libres”.

And so, to every Belizean student, from kinder to university, to every Belizean work er, from the public officer to office staff to those in the fields, to every Belizean Homemaker and retiree, to our entrepreneurs and artists, I salute you today. This happy birthday is your collective achievement. This is your day. By your pride, your confidence, your resolve, you show the world that small is special, that undeveloped is rich and that third world is first rate.

And so with the guidance of our creator, let us march forward to 42 and beyond, with that singular Belizean faith, that unshakeable belief that the greater glories of tomorrow are sowed today.

To Belizeans at home and abroad I say Long live Belize.

¡Que viva Belice!

Happy Independence Day!

MEMORIES OF MY TIME WITH THE FATHER OF THE NATION, RT. HON. GEORGE PRICE

ideas with his tested experience as the ultimate guide. He always re minded me “not to get ahead of the people.” He reminded us often that serving the people meant lifelong selflessness, constant innovation with humility, and communicating with “economy of words and clarity of language.” When we worked to gether on a project or fiscal budget and eventually reached consensus, he would say “OK Agreed, now go pray.”

He was the more disciplined mind and body that aimed to keep

us in Government on the right path. My memories of his favourite words are “Stay clear of opinions without facts”, “Capitalism needs a Social Con science”, “Creation Must Continue” and “A Government Must Govern.”

PM Said Musa and I worked across the world with him accomplishing much together. On his passport, his occupation was listed as “Labourer.” Many of the accomplishments are tak en for granted today, hydroelectricity with cross country transmission lines, expanded Social Security, Internation al Financial Services, the challeng ing rebuilding after many hurricanes,

LIQUOR LICENSE NOTICES

Notice is hereby given that Huizhen Liang is applying for a Shop Liquor Li cense to be operated at “Happy Cor ner Shop” located at # 15 Orange Street, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Shu yan Li is applying for a Convenience Store Liquor License to be operated at “Friendly Snack Shop” located at #162A Freetown Road, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Liqing Zhang is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Heng Loon Grocery” located at #44 Tigris Street, Belize City, Belize District un der the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Xue Liang Deng is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “TanKee Grocery” located at # 27 George Street, Belize City, Belize District un der the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Ximei Liu is applying for a Convenience Store Liquor License to be operated at “New Way Shop” located at # 3B Neal Pen Road, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Jian You Li is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Chung Sing Shop” located at # 1 Freetown Road, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxi cating Liquor License Ordinance Re vised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Muammer Koc is applying for a Restaurant Li quor License to be operated at “Ce lebrity Restaurant” located on Marine Parade, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Huan Chao Liang is applying for a Con venience Store Liquor License to be operated at “Yu Cheng Xiao Shop” located at #139 Cemetery Road, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Li cense Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Chun Hua Huang is applying for a Pub lican General Liquor License to be operated at “J. Mall” located in Hattieville Village, Belize Dis trict under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edi tion 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Hay Tuen Tong is applying for a Con venience Store Liquor License to be operated at “Tong Hay Tuen Fast Food” located at # 28 A Bay men Avenue, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Li quor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Zhong Yuan Mo is applying for a Publi can Special Liquor License to be operated at “New Asia Restaurant ” located at # 15 Vernon Street, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Xin Chan Su/You Wei Tang are apply ing for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “New Glory Shop” located at #19 New Road, Belize City, Belize District under the In toxicating Liquor License Ordi nance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Yan Jun Tan is applying for a Shop Li quor License to be operated at “TJ Supermarket” located at # 3654 Citron Street, Belmopan City, Cayo District under the Intoxicat ing Liquor License Ordinance Re vised Edition 1980.

even Belize’s Taiwan policy today. Each trip included morning mass. My most memorable trip with him was with PM John Compton of St Lucia and then Chairman of The Ba nana Association Don Tony Zabaneh, by train, from London to Germany with a stop in Brussels to lobby for the ACP Banana Trade Preferential Quota, a post-colonial guilt remnant. While many hours, none were bor ing, as Don Tony and I learned a lot about the personal and political lives of these dedicated Prime Ministers. Our relationship was close but disciplined, framed in frank and candid conversations. I kept learn ing from the Rt. Hon. George Price right up to a few days before his passing and was at his side with Aunt Susie, PM Musa, Nephew Senator Winston and Ms. Leni Jo

as he entered into a coma. George Price, the man was always secure in himself, way ahead of his time and truly “continued creation.” Our family was blessed and uniquely honoured to have been a small but intimate part of this great man’s life.

If the Rt. Hon George Price was here, he would probably say “Agreed, now go and pray.” May God continue blessing his soul!

ATTORNEY GENERAL’S MINISTRY VACANCY NOTICE

Suitably qualified applicants are invited to fill the position of:

DIRECTOR OF LEGAL ADVICE AND SERVICES CENTER

Applicants for the position of Director – Legal Advice and Services Cen ter must be:

a) an Attorney-at-Law qualified to practice law in Belize b) versed in preparing, vetting and drafting legal documents c) rendering legal advice to members of the public on legal issues d) in good health.

e) a person who conducts himself at all times, both in his profes sional and in his personal life, in a manner that will maintain public con fidence.

Experience and training required:

a) Minimum of eight (8) years’ experience as an Attorney at Law; b) Bachelor of Laws Degree from a recognized institution; c) Legal Education Certificate or its equivalent; and d) Minimum of three (3) years’ experience in management.

Salary: pay scale 25 of $47,624 x 1,644 - $78,860 per annum

Interested persons may download an application package from the Attor ney General’s Ministry Website – www.agm.gov.bz or submit in writing to:

The Secretary, Judicial and Legal Services Commission

Ground Floor, Sir. Edney Cain Building

Thru’ the Office of the Solicitor General Attorney General’s Ministry

Belmopan City, Cayo District Belize, Central America Tele phone number: 822-2504 or 822-0519

email address: agsecretary@agm.gov.bz

Deadline for receipt of applications: September 30, 2022

Applicants must submit proof of qualifications and two reference con tacts along with application.

Note: Only suitably qualified applicants will be acknowledged. The Com mission is not bound to make an appointment from among those persons who apply.

Cashier at Al Madina Store, located on West Collet Canal, Belize City, Belize. Call cell # 624-8554 for more information.

Institution: Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)

Country: Belize

Project: Solid Waste Management Project II (SWMPII)

Sector: Waste Management

Abstract: Monitoring Specialist for the Solid Waste Management Project II(SWMPII).

Loan No.: 3684/OC-BL

Deadline: October 12, 2022

The Government of Belize (GOB) has received financing from the Inter- American Develop ment Bank (IDB) , towards the cost of the Solid Waste Management Project II and a Non - reimburs able Technical Cooperation Agreement - Innovation in the Solid Waste Management Sector in Belize and intends to apply part of the proceeds for a Monitoring Specialist.

The Objective of the consultancy is to support the Belize Solid Waste Management Authority in the efficient and effective monitoring of the Solid Waste Management Project II.

The Belize Solid Waste Management Authority, the Executing Agency, now invites interested eligible individual consultant to submit Expressions of Interest indicating qualification and experi ence required to provide these consultancy services listed below.

A) SCOPE OF SERVICE

The responsibilities of the Monitoring Specialist include, but are not limited to:

1. Review and regularly updated (monthly) the Program Operating Manual (POM) including the Environmental and Social Management Plan, Project Execution Plan (PEP), Annual Operating Plan (AOP) and other program documents to ensure complete and comprehensive understanding of the intended goals, activities and results of the program. The specialist shall undertake his/her work with the guidance of the POM and in accordance with the loan contract, Annual Work Plan and IDB policies;

2. Monitor the day-to-day program activities with t he support from the Procurement Offi cer and Financial Specialist, and the Project Assistant.

3. Implement the Monitoring and Evaluation Operational Guidelines for the SWMP II among key stakeholders.

4. Assist the BSWaMA and the MoNRP&M so that their information needs on the execu tion of the SWMP II are satisfied.

5. Identify and prioritize relevant information needed to achieve the project’s goals.

6. Coordinate and assist in the collection and management of information and data pro duced and required by BSWaMA.

7. Prepare and distribute project reports regarding implementation progress and project’s achievements.

8. Ensure that the Director is kept abreast of all Project related updates and interventions

9. Contribute to the improvement of project implementation through feedback to executing entity.

10. Conduct field visits to project intervention areas and other relevant locations to the proj ect.

11. Coordination support for the independent project evaluation at project close as neces sary;

12. Monitor the deliverables due dates of each contract and follow up with the consultant as necessary.

13. Daily monitoring all project activities in order to detect and assist in resolving problems/ bottlenecks that may arise during a process.

14. Disseminate project results to key stakeholders.

15. Identify and report the lessons learned during project execution.

16. Participate in all meetings regarding the execution of the project.

17. Prepare the following reports to facilitate the monitoring of the progress of SWMP II and the TC and the fulfillment of the indicators identified in the Results Matrix:

i) a minute after every executing team meeting/conference call, assessing project man agement and implementation matters.

ii) a semi-annual Progress Report within 30 days after the end of each six-month period.

iii) Pluri-annual Execution Plan (PEP)

iv) an Annual Operational Plan by November 15 of each year.

v) Portfolio Review presentation of results twice yearly as stipulated by the IDB.

vi) Progress Reports as required.

vii) Final report for the TC.

18. Responsible for the timely updating of all project planning tools (PEP, WBS, etc.)

19. Perform other related work as may be required.

B) QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

1. At least five (5) years general work experience.

2. Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in management, economics, engineering, public poli cy, Project Management or similar. Master’s degree in any of the above or related field will be considered an asset.

3. Knowledge in monitoring concepts and tools (MS Project or similar) for program im plementation will be an asset.

4. Working experience with internationally funded projects, is a plus.

5. Knowledge in the use of MS Excel, MS Word, and MS Project.

6. At least three (3) years experience in monitoring social or infrastructure programs, including the gathering and analysis of data.

7. Managerial experience.

8. Speak and write fluently in English.

The Ministry of Natural Resources, Petroleum and Mining now invites eligible individual con sultants to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested individual Consultants must provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualification and relevant experience to perform the Services.

Consultants will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the Inter-American Development Bank: Policies for the Selection and Contracting of Consultants financed by the InterAmerican Development Bank - GN-2350-15, and is open to all eligible candidates as defined in the policies.

The individual consultant will be selected in accordance with the Selection of Individual Con sultants method set out in the Consultants Policies.

Further information can be obtained at the email address below during office hours: Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. local time.

Expressions of interest may be submitted by hardcopy or electronically. Submission must include a signed application letter, Curriculum Vitae (CV), copies of academic qualification, and the names and contact information of three professional references no later than October 12, 2022, at 2:00 PM Belize local time. Email application must be submitted via one consolidated PDF docu ment. Only complete packages will be processed. Packages must be sent to the address below: Bougainvillea Orchid Belmopan, C.A.

Ministry of Natural Resources, Petroleum and Mining

NOTIFICATION OF CONTRACT AWARD

Financing Institution: Inter-American Development Bank/ Government of Belize

Procurement Type: Consulting Services

Sector: Water & Sanitation

Country of project (or Beneficiary country): Belize

Project name: Solid Waste Management Project II

Loan/Credit/Grant No.: 3684/OC-BL

Contract/Bid No. : SWMP #1/2021

Bid/Contract Description: Contracting of Firm for the Preparation of Ten der Documents and Supervision of the Design and Construction of the Additional Cell at the Mile 24 Sanitary Landfill

During the selection process for the consulting services indicated above, under the Quality and Cost Based Selection Method (QCBS) the consulting firms listed below submitted proposals. The scores evaluated for the Technical and Price Proposals of each consulting firm, and their final scores follow below.

List of consulting firms

Name and nationality of the consulting firm: Hydea S.p.A. (Italy)

Technical proposal score: 76 pts (weighted: 60.8 pts)

Price proposal: US$411,140.00

Price proposal score: 100.00 pts (weighted: 20.00 pts)

Combined final score: 80.8 pts

Rank: 1st

Name and nationality of the consulting firm: Hydroplan Ingenieur- Gesellscaft mdH. (Germany)

Technical proposal score: 68.17 pts

Price proposal: Not open. Return Price proposal score: N/A

Combined final score: N/A Rank: N/A

Name and nationality of the consulting firm: Anthony Thurton & Associates/ AECOM (JV) (Belize/UK)

Technical proposal score: 60 pts

Price proposal: Not open. Return Price proposal score: N/A

Combined final score: N/A

Rank: N/A

Any Consultant is entitled to a debriefing to ascertain the grounds on which its proposal was not selected, by making a formal request at the address listed below.

Awarded Bidder:

Name of the awarded bidder: Hydea S.p.A.

Contract Price: US$411,140.00

Country of Awarded Bidder: Italy

Scope of the contract: The objective of the consultancy is to prepare pre liminary design and bid documents for the Design Build construction of an additional cell at the Mile 24 Regional Sanitary Landfill with its axillary leachate treatment systems, assist the Owner in the bidding process, and perform the function of the Design Build engineer supervisor for the provisions of the final designs and construction of an additional cell at the Mile 24 Regional Sanitary Landfill.

Date contract signed: August 31, 2022

UNDB Reference number: IDB-P619341-12/20

Address: Solid Waste Management Authority Ministry of Natural Resources, Petroleum and Mining

Attn: Project Director 3013 Bougainvillea Street, Belmopan, Belize C.A.

Tel: (501) 802-1527

E-mail: CayetanoLU@gobmail.gov.bz

WHY BELIZE NEEDS A PEOPLE’S CONSTITUTION

I. We didn’t Create our Constitution

Belize became an independent nation state in 1981 with a constitution first passed in the parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, its former colonizer.

That constitution was agreed in a Consti tutional Conference in London in April 1981 between the British government and a Belize delegation from which both the Premier and the Opposition were absent.

Those unprecedented absences were caused by the fact that the coun try was then under a State of Emergency, which had been declared by the colonial Governor at the request of the Premier, and ultimately backed by British armed forces in the territory.

The country was deeply divided about independence itself, and in the end the Opposition demanded that Belize should NOT become indepen dent until a negotiated settlement was signed with Guatemala, and it boy cotted the constitutional conference.

That was no way to say hello to the independent Belize.

At independence, British troops remained in Belize at our request to defend against a Guatemalan invasion. And we depended on the USA to restrain its client state, Guatemala. This meant that we could not adopt any policy or take any action that would upset those countries. Soon not just our foreign relations but our social and economic policies were being dic tated by the USA. Belize, underdeveloped by colonialism, began life as an independent country becoming ever more dependent on global capitalism and its current extreme form, neoliberalism.

Belizeans had no real say in the making of the Belize Constitution, True, there were meetings held in all district towns by a committee of the Na tional Assembly, but these were mechanical actions attended by a very few who were given no information, and most of the comments were about national symbols and other cosmetics. In truth, that “consultation” was just a formality, as people were never given the power to change the colonial constitutional framework. Belizeans had fought against colonialism because they did not want to be governed by Britain, yet they felt they had to swallow the colonial structures wholesale, including having the Queen as Head of State, or lose the protection of the British soldiers.

In fact, the Queen had no say on that issue (or anything else). What changed the decades-old insistence of the British that it could never have its soldiers defend an independent country? Two things: Belize’s hard bar gaining and its gaining international support, and the insistence of the USA that the soldiers remain—not to defend us against Guatemala but to de fend Guatemala against supposed Cuban infiltration, a thing that terrified the USA when all of Central America was in war. Indeed, UK Prime Minis ter Thatcher lamented in her autobiography that “this has now become a virtually permanent commitment,” when President Reagan told her in 1982 to keep the troops in Belize longer (they were set to leave that year).

The Belize Constitution shaped by the colonizer was basically a revised self-government (colonial) constitution, maintaining the same legislative, executive and judicial systems and with no changes in the vital social rela tions of property, labour, communal rights, or economic and social rights. Over the years several amendments have been made to the constitution, some of which expanded citizens’ rights or oversight of government, but the substance of the colonial constitution has remained the same. The most substantive citizen participation took place during 1999 with the Polit ical Reform Commission, but its limiting structure produced limited propos als. There is no sense in repeating the same mistake today.

II. The Power of the Colonial Mind-set

British colonialism was especially good at getting colonized people to swallow their propaganda and believe that the British Empire was a benign, civilizing force, despite the overwhelming evidence of Britain’s leading role in the slave trade and slavery, and in the terrorism, mass murder and ruth less exploitation it inflicted on the peoples of Africa, Asia and the Caribbe an. And so every year we witness the sorry spectacle of peoples in their former colonies dribbling over their “honours” like MBE, which means member of the British Empire! They were especially good at confounding people in Belize, as we were taught that slavery was “not as bad” here, and that slaves fought shoulder to shoulder alongside their masters, prefer ring slavery under the British. I know of no other former slave society (and Belize began life as a slave society) that actually celebrates a day when the slave masters won the right to continue enslaving the people for forty more years.

And it was forty years, until 1838, although in theory slavery was

abolished four years earlier, in 1834. The enslaved people were forced to work 45 hours each week for their masters under a so-called “apprentice ship system”. This had a dual purpose: to serve as compensation to the slave-owners, allowing the British state to pay only half of the compensa tion that was agreed, and, more importantly, to acclimatize the “emanci pated” people to the move from chattel slavery to wage slavery under a new capitalist order. The “stipendiary magistrates” that were created to oversee the apprenticeship system and in theory protect the apprentices became in fact the enforcers of the new labour laws that were passed to keep the workers as virtual slaves to their employers.

And I am sure it was not planned, but it also took us forty years after independence before we officially gave recognition to the commemoration of Emancipation Day. Have we been in apprenticeship all these years?

Our independence so far could indeed be likened to apprenticeship. We were told that we were free, independent, emancipated, and given a Constitution that maintained all the colonial concepts about how to orga nize a capitalist society. And we were trained to continue with the same institutions and the same societal codes, the same racism and sexism and classism that were shaped by the colonial master. And, by and large, we have been faithful to our masters’ bidding. We have not really been inde pendent; we have not been free.

III. What is Needed for a People’s Constitution

The news that the government has formed a People’s Constitution Commission, and that it has heeded the voices of those clamouring to be in it, is heartening. It sounds good, “People’s Constitution”, but it is left to be seen whether this is just a pretty slogan or whether the people will be given a real chance to make the Constitution theirs. This could be a real moment of emancipation for a people kept powerless for centuries or it could be just another road show.

We may now have the opportunity, if the constitutional consultations are carried out in accordance with the principle that it is the fully informed and consulted people who will define the shape and content of the People’s Constitution. Not some twenty-odd people appointed on a commission by government, not the Cabinet or the leaders of political parties or other organizations, but the people. This means that before a draft constitution is put to a referendum the people must be given a complete draft text and allowed to make specific suggestions on whether to keep or change every single article in it. This is the “by the people” part of democracy that is almost always missing. It is not good enough to say that you are doing this for the good of the people. It must in fact be done by the people. The people must be agents of change, not merely the objects.

For such an exercise to be successful, people must be given all the relevant information and allowed every chance to question and comment. We must be informed about how our Constitution works and what limita tions it has had on our achieving the goals of freedom justice and equali ty. We must be informed about other possibilities, other constitutions and structures designed to achieve greater justice.

We must learn what it is a Constitution can accomplish and what must be left for more detailed negotiations. For example, our present Constitution has a very good Preamble (that part was inserted by us Beliz eans and is unique in the former British Caribbean colonies). It demands respect for social justice and for an equitable distribution of wealth, calls for an adequate means of livelihood for all, equal access to health and education for all, and for the elimination of social privilege, and even de mands policies that “prohibit the exploitation of man by man or by the state”. Wow! If all that were in fact abided by what a wonderful world this would be. But the meat of the Constitution, the articles about how the state and the society is structured, do not provide for the attainment of these worthy goals, because the meat of it was written by the colonial masters.

That is why the consultation process must allow for people to study and opine on all these matters, to hear different views and make up their own minds. This is hard work, both for the Commissioners and others who will be conducting the consultations and for the people who will be deciding. But we must be prepared to work hard if we want a better Belize for all. We were lucky that we did not have to engage in armed struggle, like many peoples did, to win independence. But the manner in which we achieved it means that it was a very imperfect and incomplete emancipation. We are still in apprenticeship. At independence there were two slogans that resonated: Independence is the Beginning, and To day Independence, Tomorrow Liberation. Liberation and Emancipation Now! We can’t wait for tomorrow’s noon.

Assad Shoman, 21 September 2022.

United Women’s Group APPOINTMENT WITH HISTORY!

"Destiny call us to do more- to feed the hungry, to house the shelter less, to teach the illiterate, to foster the rule of law within the nation and among the nations. Destiny calls us to support a just and honourable peace - with security - and to live in understanding, goodwill and cooperation with the nations of the world."

"Such is the nature of the challenge which confronts us - this, our ap pointment with history". -- Excerpt taken from the speech named "Appoint ment with History" spoken by Hon. George Price in 1962 in his second year of office as First Minister.

UWG chapters throughout the country participated in various Service Day activities in their respective constituencies.

HOW NATIONAL MSME POLICIES HELP ME

The Belizean Entrepreneur: My BELIZEAN Business IS a SUCCESS

I tell you, now I really understand what the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ is and how the reform is helping micro and small entrepreneurs like me. The new MSME policy and strategy the government approved, the many changes being carried out by different government departments, international organizations and the financing sector, plus the Roadshows, are all helping entrepreneurs to move ahead with their dream business plans.

Remember I told you that my Grandma Rose had inspired me to ‘think big’ and come up with my business ideas. Well, I decided to make good use of almost ALL the benefits being offered to entrepreneurs right around this time, by setting up two businesses, which I will grow locally during the first two years, and in the long term will expand for an international market:

1. Production and sales of “Puff-up Fried Jacks” using Grandma’s super-secret recipe; and

2. Setting up “Amass Sun Belize” online store, helping micro and small businesses to sell their products and services.

The Road Show was fantastic for meeting other innovators such as myself, with whom I will partner by retaining their services, so that I can focus on the most interesting part of my company’s work. Entrepreneurs who source eco-friendly products, businesses that offer accounting, website design and support with transactions for example for land processing, and local producers whose products are the first I have signed up to get on my online store, are some that I met at the Roadshow.

Interestingly, at the Roadshow I met the BelizeOn people who explained how their drop-box service works; it is already of great help in getting my clients’ products and grandma’s Puff-up Fried Jacks distributed to different parts of the country, so I don’t have to worry about that part of business. I am also negotiating a partnership with them to market some of my exclusive clients’ products locally, because BelizeOn has an appealing Belizean products section: https://belizeon.bz/collections/ products-made-in-belize.

In Belize City I also found out about Founders Hub Belize; they offer ‘office spaces’ for connecting, collaborating, coworking with others for a flat fee: https://founders-hub-belize.business. site/. This has allowed me to meet with my clients in a very clean professional setting without having the expense and bother of having to set up and maintain an office myself.

The Roadshow organizers were so helpful with all the information, training and connections I needed. By now, my businesses are up and running and I am getting excellent reviews with the professional way I am operating. Some of the ways they helped me included:

1. Getting signed up with the Virtual Knowledge Center (VKC) early on and getting some excellent training including how to write proposals and how to fill out the applications online. I am still getting continuous technical assistance from Beltraide helping me to build “My Dream Businesses”. The Roadshow helped me to link up with different organizations and suppliers to make producing, packaging and marketing “Puff-up Fried Jacks” much easier.

2. Applying online for my business certificates with the Belize Companies and Corporate Affairs Registry (BCCAR).

3. Registering my businesses on shorturl.at/IKLMT so that my businesses can be promoted.

4. Introducing me to Belize Intellectual Property Organization (BELIPO) so I have now protected my business trademarks.

5. Registering with the Social Security Board to pay my self-employed contributions and contributions for my employees.

6. Registering with the Belize Tax Service and applying for 4 years of tax exemption.

7. Registering for and applying with Beltraide and the Customs Department for duty-free exemptions on imports and getting in my first shipment of packaging supplies for my products.

8. I signed up with Government as a supplier to be able to apply for any procurement bids that my company may be able to bid for. I also sent my brochures of the products I can sell to the different government Ministries since they are ‘buying Belizean’ products.

9. I got a start-up grant and am busy setting up my online e-commerce site to help other Belizeans sell their products in Belize and abroad.

10. I also obtained a loan needed to buy equipment and to cover other start-up costs. I was able to use as collateral the contracts with producers and first list of buying customers, and my grandma’s secret recipe provided the extra boost for being approved.

11. I opened my bank accounts and do online banking; my bank also provided a credit card which helps for making foreign payments. I also got a digital wallet from one of the banks, so I don’t have to run around with cash money.

12. With all the excellent training and support I have received I now have an accounting system in place so that once I am ready to expand - using my excellent credit score and solid accounting support - it will be a breeze to get more financing.

I can feel the success of “My Dream Businesses”, but how could I go wrong with all the support for MSME’s that is out there – training, automated registration(s), automated payments and other digital payment services, accessible financing because of amended qualifying conditions and alternative collateral requirements, tax and duty exemptions, affirmative action on public tender bidding and purchasing from MSMEs and technical support throughout the business life cycle.

The approval by Cabinet of a Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (MSME) Policy and Strategy 2022-2025 in early August and the National MSME Road Show are timely and well aligned with the #planBelize mandate of supporting small business growth.

I am fortunate to be able to launch “My Dream Businesses” at precisely this time, when the business climate is just right in Belize.

This feature series has been produced by the Public-Private Desk in the Office of the Prime Minister, technical secretariat to the Economic Development Council (EDC), Belmopan, August 25, 2022.

CÓMO ME AYUDAN POLÍTICAS NACIONALES DE MICRO, PEQUEÑAS Y MEDIANAS EMPRESAS

El empresario Beliceño: Mi negocio BELICEÑO YA es un ÉXITO

Les cuento que ahora realmente entiendo qué significa la 'Facilidad para Hacer Negocios', y cómo es que la reforma está ayudando a los micro y pequeños empresarios como yo. La nueva Estrategia y Política Nacional de MiPyMEs que aprobó el gobierno, los muchos cambios que están llevando a cabo diferentes departamentos gubernamentales, las organizaciones internacionales y el sector financiero, además de los Roadshows, están ayudando conjuntamente a los empresarios a seguir adelante con los planes para los negocios de sus sueños.

Recordarás que te dije que mi abuela Rose me había inspirado a "pensar en grande" para desarrollar mis ideas de negocio. Pues, decidí aprovechar de casi TODOS los beneficios que se les ofrece a los empre sarios en este momento, en forma de establecer dos negocios, los cuales creceré localmente durante los primeros dos años, y a largo plazo los expandiré para un mercado internacional:

1. La producción y venta de "Puff-up Fried Jacks" usando la receta súper secreta de la abuela; y 2. El establecimiento de la tienda en línea "Amass Sun Belize", ayudando a las micro y pequeñas empresas a vender sus productos y servicios.

El Road Show fue una oportunidad fantástica para conocer a otros empresarios, con los quienes me asociaré al contratar sus servicios, para poder concentrarme con la parte más interesante del trabajo de mi empresa. Los empresarios que obtienen productos ecológicos, las empresas que ofrecen servicio de contabilidad, el diseño de sitios web y el apoyo con transacciones, por ejemplo, para el procesamiento de tierras, y los productores locales cuyos productos son los primeros que he inscrito para vender en mi tienda virtual, son algunos que conocí en el Roadshow.

Curiosamente, en el Roadshow conocí a las personas de BelizeOn que explicaron cómo funciona su servicio de buzón; ya es de gran ayuda para que los productos de mis clientes y los Puff-up Fried Jacks de la abuela se distribuyan a diferentes partes del país, por esta razón no tengo que preocuparme por este aspecto del negocio. También estoy negociando una asociación con ellos para comercializar algunos de los productos exclusivos de mis clientes a nivel local, porque BelizeOn realmente tiene una sección atractiva de productos beliceños: https://belizeon.bz/collections/products-made-in-belize.

En la ciudad de Belice también me enteré de Founders Hub Belize; ofrecen 'espacios de oficina' para conectarse, colaborar, y trabajar con otros por una tarifa fija: https://founders-hub-belize.business.site/. Esto me ha permitido reunirme con mis clientes en un entorno profesional y muy limpio sin tener el gasto y la molestia de tener que establecer y mantener una oficina yo misma.

Los organizadores de Roadshow fueron muy útiles con toda la información, capacitación y conexiones que necesitaba. A estas alturas, mis negocios están en funcionamiento y estoy recibiendo excelentes críti cas a causa de la forma profesional en que estoy operando. Algunas de las formas en que me ayudaron incluyeron:

1. Mi inscripción en el Centro de Conocimiento Virtual (VKC) desde el principio y obtuve una ex celente capacitación, incluso cómo escribir propuestas y cómo completar las solicitudes en línea. De hecho, aún estoy recibiendo asistencia técnica continua de parte de Beltraide, lo cual me está ayudando a construir "El Negocio de mis Sueños". El Roadshow me ayudó a vincularme con diferentes organizaciones y prov eedores, facilitando la producción, el envasado y la comercialización de "Puff-up Fried Jacks".

2. Mi solicitud virtual para mis certificados empresariales en el Registro de Empresas y Asuntos Corporativos de Belice (BCCAR)

3. La inscripción de mis negocios en shorturl.at/IKLMT para que mis negocios puedan ser promov idos.

4. Conocí el trabajo de la Organización de Propiedad Intelectual de Belice (BELIPO), por lo cual ahora he protegido mis marcas comerciales.

5. Mi inscripción en la Institución del Seguro Social (SSB) para pagar mis cotizaciones por cuenta propia y las cotizaciones de mis empleados.

6. Mi inscripción con el Servicio de Impuestos de Belice (BTS en inglés) y mi solicitud para 4 años de exención de impuestos.

7. Mi inscripción y solicitud con Beltraide y el Departamento de Aduanas para la exención de im puestos de importación, y el recibo de mi primer envío de suministros de embalaje para mis productos.

8. Me inscribí con el Gobierno como proveedor para poder expresar interés sobre cualquier oferta de adquisición por la cual mi empresa pueda pujar. También envié mis folletos de los productos que puedo venderles a los diferentes ministerios del gobierno, ya que están "comprando productos beliceños".

9. Obtuve una subvención para la configuración de mi sitio de comercio electrónico en línea para vender los productos beliceños en Belice y en el exterior.

10. También obtuve un préstamo necesario para comprar equipos y para cubrir otros costos iniciales. Pude usar como garantía los contratos con los productores y la primera lista de clientes compradores, y la receta secreta de mi abuela proporcionó el impulso adicional para ser aprobado el préstamo.

11. Abrí mis cuentas bancarias y ahora puedo hacer transacciones bancarias en línea; mi banco también proporcionó una tarjeta de crédito que me ayuda con los pagos en el extranjero. También obtuve una billetera digital de uno de los bancos, por lo que no tengo que andar con dinero en efectivo.

12. Con toda la excelente capacitación y el apoyo que he recibido, ahora tengo un sistema de con tabilidad establecido para que esté listo al expandir el negocio - utilizando mi excelente puntaje de crédito y sólido soporte contable - será muy fácil obtener más financiamiento.

Puedo sentir el éxito de los "Negocios de mis Sueños". No hay manera de equivocarme con todo el apoyo que existe para las MiPyMEs: la capacitación, las inscripciones virtuales, los pagos automatizados y otros servicios de pago digital, la financiación accesible debido a las condiciones modificadas de calificación y los requisitos alternativos de garantía, las exenciones de impuestos y derechos y la acción afirmativa sobre licitaciones públicas, la cuota de compras a MiPyMEs, y el apoyo técnico durante el ciclo de vida completa del negocio.

La aprobación por parte del Gabinete de la Política y Estrategia de la Micro, Pequeña y Mediana Em presa (MiPyMEs) 2022-2025 a principios de agosto y el espectáculo itinerante nacional para MiPyMEs (Na tional MSME Road Show) son oportunos y están bien alineados con el mandato #planBelize de apoyar el crecimiento de las pequeñas empresas.

Tengo la suerte de poder lanzar los "Negocios de mis Sueños" precisamente en este momento, cuan do el clima de negocios en Belice esta tan adecuado.

Esta serie ha sido producida por la Oficina Público-Privada en la Oficina del Primer Ministro, secretaría técnica del Consejo de Desarrollo Económico (EDC), Belmopan, 25 de agosto de 2022.

About the EDC

The Economic Development Council in the Office of the Prime Minister is the Government of Belize’s official mechanism for public-private sector dialogue and has the mandate of promot ing and fostering an atmosphere of confidence, understanding, partnership and collaboration between the government and business community of Belize, on macro-economic issues that are important for increasing Belize’s competitiveness.

Acerca del EDC

El Consejo de Desarrollo Económico de la Oficina del Primer Ministro es el mecanismo oficial del Gobi erno de Belice para el diálogo entre los sectores público y privado y tiene el mandato de promover y fomentar mayor confianza y la comprensión, la asociación y la colaboración entre el gobierno y la comunidad empre sarial de Belice, en cuestiones macroeconómicas de importancia para aumentar la competitividad de Belice.

“Creating opportunities through dialogue, partnership and reform”

“Creando oportunidades a través del diálogo, los enlaces y la reforma”

to Belizean Patriots 2022Tribute

Belmopan. September 19, 2022. 6:00 p.m. Twenty distinguished Belizeans were honoured at this year’s Tribute to Belizean Pa triots ceremony on September 18, 2022, at Battlefield Park in Belize City.

The awardees are:

Order of Distinction

Mrs. Daisy Olga Marin - For contributions to Community Service and Entrepreneur ship

Meritorious Service Award – Male

1. Mr. Ivor Francisco Cacho - For contributions to music

2. Mr. David Lacey - For contributions to sports and community service

3. Mr. Jose Maria Asevedo - For contributions to education

4. Mr. Paulino Elmer Rodriguez - For contributions to the environment

5. Mr. Ray Palma - For contributions to sports and community service

6. Mr. Diodoro Novelo - For contributions to community service and agriculture

7. Mr. Faustino Yam - For contributions to culture

8. Mr. Anthony Thurton, Sr. - For contributions to entrepreneurship

9. Mr. Alan Usher - For contributions to service in the military

10. Mr. Fred Evans - For contributions to sports and community service

11. Mr. Philip Balderamos - For contributions to conservation

12. Mr. Rudolph Coleman - For contributions to community service

13. Mr. Alberto Nunez, Sr. (Posthumously) - For contributions to community service

14. Mr. Adelfino Vasquez (Posthumously) - For contributions to public service and community service

15. Dr. Baldomino Barbosa (Posthumously) - For contributions to medicine and cul ture

Meritorious Service Award - Female

16. Ms. Josephine Sutherland - For contributions to community service

17. Mrs. Susana Eiley - For contributions to community service

18. Mrs. Cruz Amparo Majil - For contributions to community service

19. Mrs. Maizie Williams - For contributions to community service

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has also been nominated to receive the Order of Belize in recognition of his outstanding friendship and support to Belize, which will be conferred on a date to be announced.

The National Honours and Awards Act, 1991, provides that each year on Indepen dence Day, or at such other times as may be deemed expedient, honours and awards may be conferred on persons, living or deceased, who have rendered outstanding and meritorious service to Belize, or who have distinguished themselves in other endeav ours worthy of national recognition.

Accepting for Mrs. Daisy Olga Marin

Mr. Paulino Elmer Rodriguez

Mr. Diodoro Novelo

Mr. Fred Evans

Accepting for Mr. Adelfino Vasquez

Mr. Anthony Thurton, Sr.

Mr. Rudolph Coleman

Ms. Josephine Sutherland

Mrs. Cruz Amparo Majil

Mr. David Lacey

Mr. Ivor Francisco Cacho

Mr. Ray Palma

Mr. Faustino Yam

Mr. Philip Balderamos

Accepting for Dr. Baldomino Barbosa

Mr. Alan Usher

Accepting for Mr. Alberto Nunez, Sr.

Mrs. Susana Eiley

Mrs. Maizie Williams

Mr. Jose Maria Asevedo

Melissa

Institution: Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)

Country: Belize

Project: Solid Waste Management Project II (SWMPII)

Sector: Waste Management Abstract: Project Engineer Loan No.: 3684/OC-BL

Deadline: October 11, 2022

The Government of Belize (GOB) has received financing from the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB), towards the cost of the Solid Waste Management Proj ect II and intends to apply part of the proceeds towards to hiring of a Project Engineer.

The objective of the consultancy is to assist the Belize Solid Waste Management Authority in the supervision of (i) consultancy for the Preparation of Tender Doc uments and Supervision of the Design and Construction of the Additional Cell at the Mile 24 Sanitary Landfill and (ii) supervision of the consulting firm or individual consultant contracted for the intermediate berm at the Mile 24 Regional Sanitary Landfill.

The Belize Solid Waste Management Authority, the Executing Agency, now invites interested eligible individual consultant to submit Expressions of Interest indi cating qualification and experience required to provide these consultancy services listed below.

A) SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

The responsibilities of the Project Engineer (PE) include, but are not limited to:

a. Supervision of the consultant hired for the Preparation of Tender Documents and Supervision of the Design and Construction of the Additional Cell at the Mile 24 Sanitary Landfill, including professional review of all submissions and transmittal to the Director and other key stakeholders.

As part of the professional review the PE must:

• Acquaint him/herself with the tailored solution preliminary proposed by the supervision of design and construction firm.

• Determine and acquaint him/herself with the format of the remediation cell proposed in the preliminary design: how the cell be made permeated; details on the clay barriers in the berms, porewater indicators, and hydraulic observation wells.

• Partner with the supervision of design and construction firm in conducting the preliminary waste survey.

• Review and approve the detailed site assessment generated by the supervision of design and construction firm.

• Independently review the elevation contours and perimeter drawings that will be submitted by the field surveyor and presented by the supervision of design and construction firm.

• Provide independent feedback on the supervision of design and construction firm’s conceptualized design and editing.

• Analyze the bill of quantities for the construction of the additional cell and request a detailed breakdown of items constituting the overall budget.

b. Supervision of the consulting firm or consultant hired for the intermediate berm including professional review of all submissions and transmittal to the Director and other key stakeholders.

c. Assist in the preparation of the tender documents for the intermediate berm and assist with the evaluation process.

d. Management and administration of the consultancy and construction contracts for the additional cell and the intermediate berm.

e. Keep track and document all relevant documents pertaining to the design and construction of both consultancies.

f. Verify that the design generated for both consultancies are in compliance with the Bank’s Environmental and Safeguards Compliance Policy and in particular with the ECP and local environmental laws and regulations.

g. Establish and maintain a close working relationship with all key participants and stakeholders involved in the design and construction of the additional cell and intermediate berm (including contractors, consultants, Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing, Office of the Contractor General, Ministry of Natural Resources, Petroleum and Mining, Inter-American Development Bank, Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Finance) to assist in effective oversight of the processes.

h. Assist in the evaluation of bids and recommendation for award of construction and supply contracts for the additional cell and intermediate berm.

i. Establishment of a task force to assist in the thorough review of all submissions/deliverables/outputs for the additional cell and intermediate berm. Organizing all meetings and activities of the task force.

j. Review, recommend/certify and submit all claims for payment by the consultant (s) for the additional cell and intermediate berm to the Financial Specialist/ Director for timely payment.

k. Preparation and submission to the Director monthly progress reports on the consultancies (additional cell and intermediate berm).and subsequent construction within one week after the end of each month

l. Conduct field inspection and participate in any formal discussions, site meetings related to construction and scheduling, or other meeting relating to the addi tional cell and intermediate berm and prepare and submit timely report of these meeting to the Director.

m. Preparation and submission to the Director of a Construction Completion Report within one month after the date of issue by consultants of a Certificate of Practical Completion of each works contract.

B) QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education: Prospective candidate will have at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Sanitary Engi neering, Geotechnical Engineering, or another related field. A Master’s degree in the above-listed fields will be considered an asset.

General Work Experience: At least seven (7) years of general work experience since obtaining the first academic degree.

Specific Work Experience:

• At least five (5) years work experience in earthworks/construction supervision.

• At least five (5) years of work experience in infrastructure project management, construction management and/or contract management.

• At least two (2) years work experience in solid waste management, design and/or operations would be an asset.

• Work experience with investment projects funded by IFIs would be an asset.

Skills: Experience using AUTOCAD would be an asset. Excellent oral and written command of the English language. Experience in Report Writing. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and MS Project.

The Ministry of Natural Resources, Petroleum and Mining now invites eligible individual consultants to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested individual Consultants must provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualification and relevant experience to perform the Services.

Consultants will be selected in accordance with the Selection of Individual Consultants method and other procedures set out in the Inter-American Development Bank: Policies for the Selection and Contracting of Consultants financed by the Inter-American Development Bank - GN-2350-15, and is open to all eligible candidates as defined in the policies.

Further information can be obtained at the email address below during office hours: Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. local time.

Expressions of interest may be submitted by hardcopy or electronically. Submission must include a signed application letter, Curriculum Vitae (CV), copies of academic qualification, and the names and contact information of three professional references no later than October 11, 2022, at 2:00 PM Belize local time. Email application must be submitted via one consolidated PDF document. Only complete packages will be processed. Packages must be sent to the address below:

Solid Waste Management Authority

Attn: Procurement Officer

3013 Bougainvillea Street, Orchid Garden Area City of Belmopan, Belize, C.A.

Tel: (501) 802 1527 PO Box 285

E-mail: GladdenM@gobmail.gov.bz

Serving the Productive Sector PRODUCE. ADD VALUE. EXPORT

The Productive Sector wel comes the announcement made by the Prime Minister in his Inde pendence Day presentation. The Belize Business Bureau endors es the increase of the minimum wage to five dollars, effective Jan uary 2023 because it gives strug gling families a fighting chance in these uncertain times. But more importantly, it makes economic sense because more money will be spent on the economy.

“Equity” for women in busi ness is important. The govern ment is having 60% of the loan portfolio assigned to women. This is important because it provides access to capital which in turn will increase equity in business ownership. Growing the business sector is important. In 1943 Mad am Liz championed equal pay for women at union meetings and in the 1960s, she fought for hous ing for women. It seems that Plan Belize will continue in the tradition of the PUP, empowering women.

Notice is hereby given that the below companies have been dissolved and struck off the International Business Companies Register with effect from the dates indicated:

would be up to one million duty exemptions per MSME. In the case of BPOs, they can take it in one year and other MSME op tions include taking it over four years. There is a need for a clear policy directive that registering as a small business allows access to that duty exemption rather than continued bureaucratic need for assessment, which is the old rec ipe for corruption. The traditional practice always penalized the mi cro business and increased the costs to them, to apply for some thing they invariable did not get.

Notice is hereby given that EQUIX GROUP LIMITED, has filed, in the course of the Action with Folio No. 1201/2018, which is currently pending before the District Court of Larnaka, Cyprus, a counterclaim against various defendants (including but not limited to HEGIR CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LTD and KEYFORCE MANAGEMENT LIMITED, both registered in Belize) seeking, inter alia, damages up to the amount of USD 20.161.423,00 on the basis of fraud and/or deceit and/or fraudulent misrepresentations and/or conspiracy with unlawful means as well as disclosure orders (Norwich Pharmacal orders).

THE BELIZE TIMES NOTICE

AGRI RESOURCES TECHNOLOGIES LTD.

ADWELL INC.

Granting small businesses a million-dollar duty exemption is a sure way to make them invest, expand their business and hire more people—job creation.

It is hereby further noted that if HEGIR CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LTD and KEYFORCE MANAGEMENT LIMITED wish to appear in the abovemen tioned proceedings, they can do so by filling a notice of appearance within 30 days either personally or via a lawyer.

If HEGIR CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LTD and KEYFORCE MANAGE MENT LIMITED fail to file a notice of appearance within the prescribed time frame, then it will be considered that they did not appear in the procedure which may proceed in their absence and that any subsequent by summons application, pleading, order, notice or step in the action shall be considered well served to them if it is posted on the board of the District Court of Larnaca for a period of five (5) days.

DATE

The duty-free exemption package offered by the govern ment with the four-year free from business tax and GST for small businesses, may be the biggest stimulus package for businesses ever. And this is being done with out spending collected govern ment taxes. With $400 million li quidity in the Belize market, small businesses need to be stimulated to borrow and invest. Both the banks and Social Security need to invest more in the productive sector.

Name of Company SD Technology Ltd. – 02nd September, 20

24th August, 2022 09th September, 2022

Belize Corporate Services Limited Registered Agent

Encouraging investment and job creation is our highest pri ority at this time. Belize needs to put its money and people to work. Belize needs to weather the storm ahead. The US housing market is looking at 30 years fixed mortgage at 6.28% in the USA when one year ago it was 2.84%. It appears the northern housing market is looking at a 30% cor rection. This is the highest rate hike since the 2008 meltdown.

Notice is hereby given that the below company has been dissolved and struck off the International Business Companies Register with effect from the dates indicated:

Icaza Belize Trust Corporation Limited Registered Agent

The discussion on the du ty-free exemption for small busi nesses needs some clarity. Dis cussion on this issue was that it BELIZE TIMES

NOTICEBBB welcomes the policy of 20% of public purchases as signed to small businesses and hopes this improves to 50% by 2025, making half of those being small businesses led by women. Truth and transparency build pub lic trust. It would be significant for all government contracts to be listed and available to public scrutiny, and as well as all salaries, positions of all contract workers and government employees. Be lize needs to become transparent.

NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT OF DISSOLUTION

Notice is hereby given to all interested parties that the company CORAL BAY ENTERPRISES INC. (“the Company”) incorporated under the IBC Act of Belize commenced dissolution on the 12th day of September, 2022; and

Martha Agustina Dominguez Garcia of Calle Federico Geraldino #71 Piantini, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic is the Liquida tor of the Company, and any claims against the company should be forwarded to the Liquidator within 30 days from commencement.

Sucre & Sucre (Belize) Limited Registered Agent

HEGIR CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LTD and KEYFORCE MANAGE MENT LIMITED can be provided with true copies of the relevant court doc uments, in Greek language together with a translation of them in English, upon request and after sending a relevant email (request for documents) to the following email address: Team7@harriskyriakides.law.

HARRIS KYRIAKIDES LLC

Lawyers of Claimant on Counterclaim

NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT OF COURT PROCEEDINGS IN CYPRUS AGAINST BELIZE DEFENDANTS SEP 2020

Notice is hereby given that the below companies have been dissolved and struck off the International Business Companies Register with effect from the dates indicated:

AGRI RESOURCES TECHNOLOGIES LTD.

ADWELL INC.

DATE 24th August, 2022 09th September, 2022

Belize Corporate Services Limited Registered Agent

Notice is hereby given that the below company has been dissolved and struck off the International Business Companies Register with effect from the dates indicated:

Name of Company SD Technology Ltd. – 02nd September, 20

Icaza Belize Trust Corporation Limited Registered Agent

Enabling a Green-Investment Environment for Belize

September 22, 2022 - Hon. Christopher Coye, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and In vestment, was invited to speak at the Green Climate Fund’s (GCF) Pri vate Investment for Climate Con ference in the Republic of Korea. This high-level session was geared toward bringing together a group of government ministers and develop ment organizations to discuss the importance of an enabling policy environment that will allow private markets for climate investment to develop citing specific actions.

During his presentation, the minister highlighted that Belize is synonymous with nature. Its natu ral capital, both marine and terres trial, is intact and although Belize has one of the highest climatic risk indices, we continue to do more than our fair share to protect the planet. The Government of Be lize (GOB) is working diligently to change our economic development outlook and ambition to a more cli mate-conscious sustainable devel opment pathway.

In becoming a resilient and ex port-led economy, the GOB has an chored several public sector initiatives, inclusive of public sector reforms; full implementation of the Paris Agreement and Nationally Determined Contribu tions’ commitments; diversification of our productive sectors; strengthening the Blue Ocean economy; upgrading

to digital infrastructure and education; scaling up investments in health and social protection systems; improved crisis response and preparedness, and most importantly, the transfor mation of the energy sector. To this end, Belize’s government undertook an extensive debt restructuring exer cise involving its external commercial

debt. Through a successful Blue Bond debt-for-marine-conservation swap, for example, Belize’s debt-to-GDP ra tio was reduced by 25% in 2021.

While Belize is fully committed to continued public sector development, it also has a focus on recognizing the private sector’s critical and efficient role in driving economic transforma tion. To do so, the GOB wishes to facilitate capital formation and eco nomic growth; provide protection to investors from unfair, improper or fraudulent practices; foster the de velopment of fair and efficient capital markets and develop a Public-Private Partnership Policy to mobilize private sector capital that supports largescale investment in infrastructure and other developmental projects that are aligned with the government’s policy priorities for public benefit.

Minister Coye expressed that with the right scale and the right part ners, Belize can conceivably reduce the cost of power in Belize to fuel its transformative economic ambitions and highlighted that the GOB is do ing its part legislatively and adminis tratively to create a more attractive investment climate.

SCLAN at 77th Session of UGA

As the 77th Session of the Unit ed General Assembly continues, the Spouses of CARICOM Leaders Ac tion Network held a meeting among its members to provide an update on current projects and trajectory for its 2023 work-plan.

Following the side event “Health Financing and Gender Equality”, the meeting also created a space for members to provide insight on the current events within their home countries and to explore areas for fur ther collaboration and partnership.

SCLAN is a non-governmental organization whose membership in clude Spouses of Prime Ministers and First Ladies from the Caribbean region who are committed to HIV, gender-based violence, teenage pregnancy, cervical cancer, and men tal health.

Thank you to all members who attended both in person and virtually. Your continued commitment will help us to achieve a Caribbean where no woman or child is left behind.

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

The US Government-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has selected Belize as one of only two countries in the world for a five-year government to government grant to fund a program aimed at reducing poverty and stimulating economic growth.

The Government of Belize (GOB) through the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment, have contracted a team of individual consultants to form a Compact Development Team in Belize that will work together with a U.S.-based MCC Team to conduct a diagnosis of the constraints to economic growth, prepare concept notes, develop project proposals, and plan for project implementation.

The Belize Compact Development Team will be led by a National Coordinator who will manage the team, engage key stakeholders across all sectors, and bear responsibility for the overall performance and work quality of the team. The Public Outreach and Stake holder Engagement Specialist will be a member of this team and will be working closely with the MCC GSI team lead assigned to the Belize country team.

Vacant Post

1.Public Outreach and Stakeholder Engagement Specialist

Remuneration: Competitive salary and benefits are offered, commensurate with academic level, work experience and other relevant strengths of the winning candidate. Kindly follow the below link for further details. https://med.gov.bz/

Interested candidates are requested to submit ONE PDF File that shall include: a) Letter of Interest indicating the post being applied for; b) the curriculum vitae, c) copies of university degrees, and d) the names of 3 references.

Subsequently the top 3 applicants for the post will be interviewed.

Deadline for application is 7 October 2022 at 4:00pm. Application can be sent via email to: econdev@med.gov.bz or hand delivered to the address indicated below:

Chief Executive Officer

Ministry of Economic Development Sir Edney Cain Building Ground Floor, Right Wing Belmopan City, Belize C.A.

Any request for clarification should be sent via email no later than 4 October 2022. Responses will be provided within three days.

In accordance with Article 8 of the Coto nou Agreement, Belize and the European Union held their annual political dialogue on September 20, 2022, at the Ministry of For eign Affairs of Belize.

Belize's delegation was headed by Hon. Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Immigration, and the dele gation of 12 ambassadors from the European Union (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Re public, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, The Netherlands, Romania and Sweden) was headed by Ambassador H.E. Marianne Van Steen.

The political dimension of the dialogue fo cused on matters related to the Post Cotonou Framework, for which approval is still pending, and Belize’s request for a Schengen Visa waiv er for Belizean nationals.

On the Development Cooperation Pillar, the progress of implementation of projects and programmes under the 11th European De velopment Fund was reviewed. The meeting noted that the identification process for the EU-Belize Multi-Annual Indicative Programme 2021–2027 is on track. Further updates were received on the progress of programming un der the EU’s regional sub-programmes with the Caribbean and Central America, both of which are accessible to Belize.

Trade and Investment Pillar discussions focused on the implementation of the EUEconomic Partnership Agreement and the challenges and opportunities therein. Closely linked to trade is the broader challenge of ac cess to affordable and sustainable financing. Belize highlighted the ongoing development of a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index that is expected to change the criteria for small is land developing states to access concessional financing.

Belize and the EU are like-minded on many critical global issues and share a commitment to work together on the rules-based order and multilateral matters. Other issues on the agen da included good governance, human rights (including the Belize Amnesty 2022), the im pact of COVID-19 on Belize’s economy, the COVID-19 immunization campaign in Belize, the impact of the Russian invasion in Ukraine on energy and food supplies, the Belize-Gua temala territorial differendum and the ongoing process at the International Court of Justice, and expectations of COP 27, particularly the

commitment by devel oped countries to provide the US$100 billion per year for climate financing to developing countries.

Belize and the Euro pean Union will continue collaborating on critical global, regional, and na tional issues.

The Strategy and Enterprise Risk Analyst will assist the Manager, Office of Strategy Management (OSM) in coordinating strategy management and enterprise risk management (ERM) activities. The Strategy and Enterprise Risk Analyst will support the annual strategy re fresh exercise, monitor, assess , and report on the execution of Central Bank’s approved strategic programme, and support the planning, organizing, and executing of the ERM framework

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. To support the Manager, OSM, in the annual review of Central Bank’s strategy

▪ Collects and analyses the historical performance against targets data

▪ Documents the proceeding and outcomes of the strategy review exercise

▪ Assists in designing and implementing the required measurement and reporting systems

2. To monitor and assess the timely execution of Central Bank’s strategy and strategic programmes

▪ Reviews action/project plans for Central Bank’s strategic programmes

▪ Liaises with management to determine causes and corrective action s for operational and programme performance variances

▪ Reports on progress of strategic programme execution and overall strategy execution

3. To assist the Manager, OSM, in managing ERM activities

▪ Assists in maintaining and operating Central Bank’s ERM framework in accordance with leading practices

▪ Prepares materials to communicate ERM requirements to all divisions and departments

▪ Assists in prioritizing and integrating functional plans into overall ERM plan for the Central Bank

▪ Assesses and reports on the adequacy of ERM Plans including Business Continuity Plans and Disaster Preparedness Plans

▪ Periodically assesses and reports on enterprise wide compliance with ERM framework, including Business Continuity Plans and Disaster Preparedness Plans

The applicants should possess the following:

Education and Experience

▪

A Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Management, or a related field from a recognized university with three (3) years relevant experience, or

▪ A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Management, or a related field from a recognized university with at least six (6) years’ relevant experience

Technical Knowledge

▪ Knowledge of the Central Bank of Belize Act and other banking legislation; Knowledge of strategy managem ent and the balance scorecard; Ability to engage with stakeholders to gather various types of performance measures and targets; Knowledge of ISO 31000:2018 and ability to define and apply risk prioritization and develop, implement, and maintain benchmark standards or scoring; Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.

Competencies

▪

Submit the following documents by Thursday, 28 September 2022:

▪ CBB Employment Application Form (available online)

▪

Strong Communication Skills; Results Orientation; Initiative; Thoroughness; Analytical and Critical Thinking; Managing Change; Performance Management; Building Collaborative Relationships; Strategic Thinking; Personal Credibility/Integrity.

▪ Curriculum Vitae

Three (3) current references (one must be from a previous employer)

▪ Certified copies of university transcripts, degrees, and any other personal certificates

STRATEGY and ENTERPRISE RISK ANALYST Human Resources Department Bank

VOLLEYBALL HISTORY:

Belize U-19 wins Bronze XIV CA volleyball

25-12 and took the decisive 5th set: 15-13. Mejia had led the attack hammer ing 28 hits, 3 blocks and serving an ace. Smith and Malcolm

Murillo scored 11pts each, and Tomas Góngora added 7pts. Belize profited from the pinoleros’ 48 errors but conceded 50pts on errors, which proved the margin of victory.

They had suffered a second loss: 11-25, 26-28, 22-25 to the eventual champions Costa Rica last Wednesday, even though Mejia scored 19pts, Murillo had 9pts, and Smith scored 8pts. They profited from the ‘ticos’ 21 errors, but con ceded 38pts on errors

They had upset the silver medalists, Guate mala, 3-2 in their debut match on Sunday, Sep tember 11, and overpowered El Salvador 3-1 on Monday, September 12.

Santa Rosa de Copan, Honduras

The Belize national under-19 men made history when they won the bronze medal at the 14th Central American U-19 volley ball championships organized by AFECA VOL at the Santa Rosa de Copan Gymnasium in Copan, Honduras last Thursday, Septem ber 16; It is the first time Belize has ever medaled at this level of competition.

The tournament’s Best Scorer - Eleazar Mejia led the Belize men to their 3rd win, dominating the hosts 26-24, 25-9 and 25-11. Mejia hammered 6 hits and scored 5 kill blocks, while Pres ton Smith scored 12 hits, 2 kill blocks and served an ace to tally 15pts. Malcolm Murillo scored 6 hits, Cyrus Samuels and Zepha niah Chaplin scored 3pts each, and Tomas Góngora added 2pts, Nicanor Requeña scored a hit. They profited from the catrachos’ 35 er rors, themselves conceded 21pts by unforced errors.

Eleazar won 3 individu al awards for Best Scorer, tallying 118pts, Best Server – serving 19 aces with only 12 service faults, and he also won 2nd Best Attack er, scoring 88 hits. Preston Smith won Best Opposite, having scored 71pts to rank as the 3rd top scorer. Team captain Nicanor Requeña won Best Setter having made 503 good sets with only 8 faults.

The Belize lost a heart breaker 5 set duel to Nic aragua last Tuesday, after winning the first 2 sets: 2515 and 25-19. The pinoleros tied the game by winning the next 2 sets: 25-17,

ATTORNEY GENERAL’S MINISTRY VACANCY NOTICE

Suitably qualified applicants are invited to fill the position of:

DEPUTY REGISTRAR

Applicants for the position of Deputy Registrar – Belize Intellectual Property Office (BE LIPO) must be:

a) an Attorney-at-Law qualified to practice law in Belize or the Commonwealth b) versed and trained in Intellectual Property laws.

c) in good health.

d) a person who conducts himself at all times, both in his professional and in his per sonal life, in a manner that will maintain public confidence.

Experience and training required:

a) Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in intellectual property;

b) Bachelor of Laws Degree from a recognized institution; and

c) Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in management

Salary: Based on qualifications and experience.

Interested persons may download an application package from the Attorney General’s Min istry Website – www.agm.gov.bz or submit in writing to:

The Secretary, Judicial and Legal Services Commission Ground Floor, Sir. Edney Cain Building

Thru’ the Office of the Solicitor General Attorney General’s Ministry Belmopan City, Cayo District Belize, Central America Telephone number: 822-2504 or 822-0519 email address: agsecretary@agm.gov.bz

Deadline for receipt of applications: September 30, 2022

Applicants must submit proof of qualifications and two reference contacts along with ap plication.

Note: Only suitably qualified applicants will be acknowledged. Commission is not bound to make an appointment from among those persons who apply.

FOR SALE BY ORDER OF THE MORTGAGEE

The Development Finance Corporation of Bliss Parade, City of Belmopan, Cayo District hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as mortgagee under Deed of Mortgages or Charges between those hereinafter named and the said Corporation which mortgages or charges are recorded at the Land Titles Unit or the Lands Registry, respectively and that the said Development Finance Corporation will, at the expiration of two (2) months from the date of the first publication of this notice, sell the properties described in the Schedule hereto.

All offers to purchase the said properties must be made in writing to the said Corporation at its Headquarters Office or District Offices.

SCHEDULE

Parcel No. 3544, Block No. 7, San Pedro Registration Section containing 549.72 S.Y. held under a Land Certificate being the freehold interest of DAVID AUGUSTO GONZALES.

Belize U19 bronze medalists

Belize U19 bronze medalists

Eleazar Mejia - Best scorer

MARSE and TaiwanICDF organize Lamb and Mutton Culinary Craft Workshop in CF

Amir of Quatar congratulates GovernorGeneral of Belize

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise (MAFSE), in col laboration with the TaiwanICDF Breed ing Sheep and Goat Production and Guidance System Enhancement Project (Sheep Project Phase II), held a “Lamb and Mutton Culinary Craft Work shop”, at the Food Processing Facility in Central Farm, Cayo District on Septem ber 15th, 2022.

The aim of this workshop is to train seed instructors and sheep farmers in culinary skills of lamb and mutton to in crease consumers’ interests in consum ing lamb and mutton product in Belize. The training included sessions of ingre dients identification and preparation, cooking process of stew lamb, lamb chop suey and barbecue lamb, which was facilitated by Mr. Frank Padron, Ex tension Officer of MAFSE.

There were total fifteen partici pants, including five extension officers (Livestock) from MAFSE, four employ ees from food processing unit and six sheep and goat farmers, successfully

trained in this workshop. It is expected that the MAFSE extension officers who attend ed the workshop will train sheep and goat farmers in their respective districts around the country by transferring the knowledge and technical skills.

The Governments of Belize and the Re public of China (Taiwan) are committed to working together to support Belizean farm ers and to strengthen the sheep and goat industry within the country.

INVITATION FOR BIDS

Ministry of Natural Resources, Petroleum, and Mining

Doha: Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Deputy Amir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani sent yes terday cables of congrat ulations to Governor-Gen eral of Belize H E Froyla Tzalam on the anniversary of her country’s Indepen dence Day.

Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H. E. Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani also sent a cable of congratula tions to Prime Minister of Belize H. E. John Antonio Briceno on the anniversary of his country’s Indepen dence Day.

Belize National Prayer

Almighty and Eternal God, who through Jesus Christ has revealed Your Glory to all nations, please protect and pre serve Belize, our beloved country.

God of might, wisdom and justice, please assist our Belizean government and people with your Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude.

Let Your light of Your divine wisdom direct their plans and endeavours so that with Your help we may attain our just ob jectives.

With Your guidance, may all our en deavours tend to peace, social justice, lib erty, national happiness, the increase of in dustry, sobriety and useful knowledge.

We pray, O God of Mercy, for all of us that we may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of Your most holy law, that we may be preserved in union and, in that peace which the world itself cannot give.

And, after enjoying the blessings of this life, please admit us, dear Lord, to that eternal reward that You have prepared for those who love You. Amen.

1. The Government of Belize (or GOB) acting through the Ministry of Natural Resources, Petroleum, and Mining, now invites sealed Bids from eligible and qualified Bidders for the Services mentioned below in the table.

Contract No. Name Contract Period 59 of 2022/2023 Loading, Trucking, and Other Heavy Equipment Services for the Belmopan Solid Waste Transfer Station Facility 36 months

2. Procurement will be conducted through open tendering in accordance with the provisions of the laws governing public procurement within Belize.

3. This invitation is open to all eligible Bidders as described in the Bidding Documents.

4. Qualification requirements are provided in Section II of the Bidding Documents. Prospective Bidders’ attention is drawn to the Instructions to Bidders in the Bidding Documents

5. A complete set of Bidding Documents in English may be obtained by interested Bidders by way of email application to the email address below.

6 The Bidding Documents will be emailed to the Bidder at the email address specified in the email application.

7 Bids must be delivered to the address below at or before October 14, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. Electronic bidding shall not be permitted. Late bids will be rejected. Bids will be publicly opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives, who choose to attend in person at the address below at 10:30 a.m. on October 14, 2022. Interested public/civil society entities and NGOs may also attend the Bid opening.

8 All bids shall be accompanied by a Bid Securing Declaration as specified in the Instructions to Bidders.

9 The Government of Belize will declare a firm ineligible, either indefinitely or for a stated period, to be awarded a contract funded by the Government of Belize, if it at any time determines that the firm has engaged in corrupt or fraudulent, coercive, or collusive practices in competing for or in executing a contract.

10. The address referred to above for:

(i) application for Bidding Documents, (ii) submission of Bids, and (iii) opening of Bids, is: Belize Solid Waste Management Authority, 3013 Bougainvillea Street, Belmopan, c/o Ms. Lumen Cayetano, Director, 828 4864, cayetanolu@gobmail.gov.bz

11 Bidders are required to submit as part of the bid “the Statement of Ethical Conduct and Fraud and Corruption”. In case of misleading information or non adherence to the Fraud and Corruption provisions of the Bidding Documents, the Bidder shall be pursued by the GOB.

COMMONWEALTH MASTER SCHOLARSHIP TENABLE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM –2023/2024

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) provides the UK government’s Commonwealth scholarship scheme led by international development objectives. Since 1960, the CSC has funded over 30,000 individuals to study in the UK and gain skills, acquire knowledge and build networks to tackle global development challenges.

Nominations are invited from suitable qualified candidates from Belize wishing to pursue Master Degree programmes in the United Kingdom commencing in September 2023. The award is being offered in either of the following six (6) categories:

1. Science and technology for development

2. Strengthening health systems and capacity

3. Strengthening global peace, security and governance

4. Strengthening resilience and response to crises

5. Access, inclusion and opportunity

6. Promoting global prosperity

CANDIDATE ELIGIBILITY:

• Candidates must be Citizens of Belize or have refugee status in Belize.

• Candidates must be a permanent resident of Belize.

• Candidates should hold or expect to hold, by September 2023, a first degree of upper second-class honors level or a second-class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification.

• Candidate must be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.

• Candidate must provide all supporting documentation in the required format.

• Candidates should be able to take up their awards by the start of the UK academic year in September 2023.

Awards are tenable at any UK institution of higher education which has part funding agreement with the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC). For a list of universities that have agreed to part-fund Commonwealth Scholarships, visit:http:// cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/apply/uk-universities/part-funding/.

Candidates are strongly encouraged to submit independent applications to their chosen institutions in the UK prior to, or at the time of their submission, without waiting for the results of the selection procedures.

HOW TO APPLY

All nominated candidates must first apply using the CSC’s Online Application System. Information on how to use the online application system is available at: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-masters-scholarships/.

In addition, you are required to submit duly completed applications with supporting documents to the Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of the Public Service, Constitutional and Political Reform and Religious Affairs, Ground Floor, Sir Edney Cain Building (Nominating Agency), Belmopan or email to ceo.secretary@mps.gov.bz.

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Academic merit of the candidate.

• Quality of the candidate plan of study.

• Potential impact of the work on the development of the candidate’s home country.

CLOSING DATE

The CSC’s Online Application System will open on Tuesday 6th September, 2022 – 18th October, 2022 Greenwich Meridian Time (GMT). All completed applications must be submitted online no later than 4:00 p.m. on 18th October, 2022. However, the deadline to upload all supporting documentation is 4:00 p.m. Greenwich Meridian Time (GMT) on 8th November, 2022.

A copy of the duly completed application package must be submitted to: Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of the Public Service, Constitutional and Political Reform and Religious Affairs, Ground Floor, Sir Edney Cain Building, City of Belmopan or emailed to: ceo.secretary@mps.gov.bz no later than 5:00p.m. on Monday, 31st October, 2022.

CONTACT US: Visit our website at https://www.publicservice.gov.bz

Follow us on The Ministry of the Public Service, Constitutional and Political Reform and Religious Affairs Facebook Page.

Ministry of Public Service, Constitutional and Political Reform and Religious Affairs Training Unit at 501-828-9128/ 828-4231 or Email: ceo.secretary@mps.gov.bz / sandra.cadle@mps.gov.bz

Please note that all applicants are recruited in line with the CSC’s anti-fraud policy and procedure which can be viewed at CSC anti-fraud policy and procedure - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

You must make sure you read all general conditions, information and guidelines for the Scholarships before starting an application; these can be found on the CSC Website Homepage - Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (fcdo.gov. uk).

NOTICE

GOVERNMENT OF BELIZE TREASURY BILLS NUMBER 10/2022

Tenders are invited for an issue of Government of Belize Treasury Bills. The amount of the issue will be $83,200,000.

The Bills will be issued in electronic form only evidenced by an electronic book entry in the Central Securities Depository of the Central Bank of Belize in multi ples of $200 and will be repayable at par 91 days after issue. They will be issued on Wednesday, 5 October 2022 and will be redeemed on Wednesday, 4 January 2023.

Each tender must be for $200 or a multiple of $200 and must specify to five dec imal places the amount, which is offered for each one hundred dollars face value of the Bills sought.

Members of the public who wish to participate in the auction must submit their bid to the Central Bank of Belize electronically or at the designated drop off box no later than 12:00 noon on Friday, 30 September 2022.

The Auction in the Central Securities Depository System (CSD) will be opened from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm on Wednesday, 5 October 2022.

Successful bidders should arrange to settle via the Automated Payment & Securi ties Settlement System of Belize (APSSS).

Bank: Central Bank of Belize Account: GLICORP0402627

The Government of Belize reserves the right to accept or reject any and/or all tenders in whole or in part.

CENTRAL BANK OF BELIZE

Notices are placed on Central Bank of Belize Website (www.centralbank.org. bz)

17 August 2022 BELIZE NATIONAL FIRE SERVICE TRIAL FARM, PLACENCIA AND INDEPENDENCE VILLAGE FIRE STATION BUILDINGS PROJECT October 3

The Government of Belize has committed funding to contract an experienced and qual ified contractor to be located in Placencia and Independence Villages in Trial Farm, Orange Walk District.

General requirements of the Bidders:

1) Bidder’s Company must be incorporated in the country of Belize a minimum of five years;

2) Bidders must have experience in works of a similar size, scope and nature;

3) Bidders must present two references from projects recently completed in the last two years

4) Bidders must confirm access to minimum resources (technical, financial, human resources)

5) Bidders are required to present Certificates of Good standing from the Companies Registry, the Belize Tax Service and the Belize Social Security Board.

Interested contractors please note that above requirements are mandatory, and this infor mation must be included within any final submitted bid. The deadline for submission of �������������������� ���� ���������������� ���� Monday, October 3rd, ������2.

Interested contractors may obtain bidding documents scope of works electronically at the email address below from Monday to Fridays starting Thursday September 15th 2022 between the hours of 9:00 am and 3:00 pm. Printing of documents is at the intend ed Bidder’s expense. National Fire Service ��������: ��r. Colin Gillett Fire Chief #3578 Sunrise Avenue, ������������ : ������ ������-1183 : chief@fire.gov.bz/seniorsec@fire.gov.bz

TNC Announces Its Third Global Debt Conversion in Barbados

Today, The Nature Conservan cy, the world’s leading conservation organization, announced an innova tive financial deal that will enable the Government of Barbados to redirect a portion of its sovereign debt service into marine conservation funding in support of the nation’s commitment to conserve approximately 30% of its ocean and sustainably develop its blue economy.

This project is the most recent in TNC’s “Blue Bonds for Ocean Conser vation" strategy, an ambitious plan to drastically scale up ocean conservation around the world. Barbados is the third country to partner with TNC on a Blue Bonds project, after the Seychelles and Belize. The Blue Bonds for Ocean Con servation strategy is an innovative ap proach to work with governments on refinancing a portion of their sovereign debt, securing long-term sustainable financing for large-scale protection and management of valuable natural resources that lives and livelihoods rely on. The Blue Bonds strategy com bines conservation finance with TNC’s science and marine planning expertise to help governments unlock funds at a scale that delivers against their con servation goals while also supporting the well-being of their communities and economies. The strategy is aligned with global goals to protect 30% of the world’s ocean, lands and freshwater by 2030.

Despite the ocean contributing an estimated $3 trillion per year to global GDP, marine conservation continues to be the least funded of the United Nations' sustainable development goals—a missed economic, climate and biodiversity opportunity.

“This climate crisis is one that re quires the urgent action of all. While we continue to push and wait on the international community at large to treat this situation as a matter of prior ity, we in Barbados have taken action of our own to combat its damaging effects,” said Barbadian Prime Min ister Mia Mottley. “With the help of The Nature Conservancy and the In ter-American Development Bank, this Blue Bonds project will allow Barba dos to secure and protect our marine environment and also help us expand our Blue Economy, both of which are of critical importance to our people and our very way of life. Through this innovative debt conversion project, our Government will commit to protecting and effectively managing up to 30% of Barbados’ waters. In short, this is a game changer."

Funding marine conservation and climate change adaptation activities is a challenge for most countries, and especially for Small Island Develop ing States (SIDS)—or “Large Ocean States”—like Barbados, which relies heavily on marine resources. Barba dos’ high debt burden had stifled the country’s efforts to invest in essential conservation and climate change ad aptation activities that would allow its nature-based economy to thrive. The

effects of COVID-19 on Barbados’ tour ism-led economy were devastating. Fur ther degradation of the country’s valu able marine and coastal environments due to severe storms—like Hurricane Elsa and another catastrophic "freak storm" in 2021—is likely to hamper the small island nation’s economy and coast al resilience. Barbados was determined to find new funding and capacity to en force environmental laws and commit ments and to expand protected areas.

“We believe that innovative debt transactions coupled with science and

marine planning, like our Blue Bonds for Ocean Conservation strategy, can achieve protection and improved man agement of more than 4 million square kilometers of the planet’s ocean—a 15% increase in the current amount of global marine protection,” said Jennifer Mor ris, CEO, The Nature Conservancy. “The Nature Conservancy pioneered this kind of approach in the marine space, and it is proving to be a powerful way to help governments achieve their conservation goals while supporting their economies and boosting resilience to the climate crisis.”

Through a new co-guarantee struc ture with a $50 million guarantee from TNC alongside a $100 million guarantee from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Barbados completed a $150 million debt conversion that will facilitate the expansion of the country’s marine

INVITATION FOR BIDS

protected areas from virtually zero to approximately 30% and improve man agement for all marine waters within its jurisdiction. This project is expected to free up approximately $50 million to support environmental and sustain able development actions in Barbados over the next 15 years, making both the country and the livelihoods of its people more resilient in the face of cli mate change.

IDB President Mauricio ClaverCarone said, “The IDB has been Bar bados’ long-standing partner for its ambitious climate and biodiversity agenda. Our catalytic role in this trans action demonstrates our commitment at the IDB to offer innovative financial instruments and technical advisory that increase the resilience of the re gion. With our expertise in internation al green financing, the IDB is ready to mobilize additional funds to increase resources for countries to enhance their ambition, and we remain at their side to support their efforts.”

For the full article go to www.na ture.org/en-us/newsroom.

Ministry of Natural Resources, Petroleum, and Mining

1. The Government of Belize (or GOB) acting through the Ministry of Natural Resources, Petroleum, and Mining, now invites sealed Bids from eligible and qualified Bidders for the Services mentioned below in the table.

Contract No. Name Contract Period 60 of 2022/2023 Loading, Trucking, and Other Heavy Equipment Services for the Dangriga Solid Waste Transfer Station Facility 36 months

2. Procurement will be conducted through open tendering in accordance with the provisions of the laws governing public procurement within Belize.

3. This invitation is open to all eligible Bidders as described in the Bidding Documents.

4. Qualification requirements are provided in Section II of the Bidding Documents. Prospective Bidders’ attention is drawn to the Instructions to Bidders in the Bidding Documents

5. A complete set of Bidding Documents in English may be obtained by interested Bidders by way of email application to the email address below.

6 The Bidding Documents will be emailed to the Bidder at the email address specified in the email application.

7 Bids must be delivered to the address below at or before October 14, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. Electronic bidding shall not be permitted. Late bids will be rejected. Bids will be publicly opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives, who choose to attend in person at the address below at 10:30 a.m. on October 14, 2022. Interested public/civil society entities and NGOs may also attend the Bid opening.

8. All bids shall be accompanied by a Bid Securing Declaration as specified in the Instructions to Bidders

9 The Government of Belize will declare a firm ineligible, either indefinitely or for a stated period, to be awarded a contract funded by the Government of Belize, if it at any time determines that the firm has engaged in corrupt or fraudulent, coercive, or collusive practices in competing for or in executing a contract.

10 The address referred to above for:

(i) application for Bidding Documents, (ii) submission of Bids, and (iii) opening of Bids, is:

Belize Solid Waste Management Authority, 3013 Bougainvillea Street, Belmopan, c/o Ms. Lumen Cayetano, Director, 828 4864, cayetanolu@gobmail.gov.bz.

11 Bidders are required to submit as part of the bid “the Statement of Ethical Conduct and Fraud and Corruption”. In case of misleading information or non adherence to the Fraud and Corruption provisions of the Bidding Documents, the Bidder shall be pursued by the GOB.

Belize Independence Day

Press Statement

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State September 21, 2022

On behalf of the government of the United States and the American people, I congratulate the people of Belize on the 41st anniversary of your independence.

Belize and the United States enjoy a strong partnership based on shared democratic values and close family and cultural ties. In the year ahead, we look forward to continuing our robust cooperation by strengthening citizen security, building disaster prepared ness, and addressing transnational crime. Through the Millennium Chal lenge Corporation compact develop ment process, we will work together to advance economic prosperity and pursue entrepreneurial paths to cli mate change resilience.

Today, as we celebrate our warm ties with “The Jewel,” we recognize our unshakeable commitment to dem ocratic ideals as paving stones to a shared future. On this special day, I offer my warmest wishes to all Beliz eans.

Cuba congratulates Belize on 41st anniversary of independence

Havana, Sep 21 (Prensa Latina) The Cuban Foreign Ministry to day congratulated the people and government of Belize on the occa sion of the 41st anniversary of its independence.

The Foreign Ministry reiterated, on its Twitter account, the willing ness to continue strengthening the bonds of brotherhood and bilateral cooperation.

Belize was a colony of the Unit ed Kingdom until September 21, 1981, when it achieved its indepen dence.

The end of colonialism in the nation, known at that time as Brit ish Honduras, was the result of the struggle of the nation’s founding fa ther, George Price, and the political platform he founded and led, the United People’s Party.

Havana and Belmopan have maintained close cooperation ties since the establishment of diplo matic relations on July 15, 1995, but since 1990 more than a thousand Cuban specialists in different areas have served in that nation.

Belize maintains its position of rejecting the economic, commer cial and financial blockade of the United States against Cuba and has requested on many occasions its lifting.

Request for Expression of Interest

Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Strengthening for 30 Targeted Producers’ Organizations

INVITATION TO BID

Institution: Ministry of Economic Development

Country: Belize

REHABILITATION OF NAGO BANK COLLECTION CENTER

Project: Resilient Rural Belize Programme

Loan No.: 2000002301

Deadline for Submission of Proposals: October 18, 2022 at 3:00 PM

Background of programme:

The Government of Belize (GOB), through a financing agreement with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Green Climate Fund (GCF), has embarked on a six-year Programme, Resilient Rural Belize (RRB), which aims to minimize the impacts of climatic and economic events on smallholder farmers while supporting sustainable market access for their produce. The programme will help farmers employ climate resilient agricultural practices and technologies; integrate profitable smallholder participation into the devel opment of select vegetables, fruits, and honey value chains; and support smallholder production capacity through investments in public and private climate resilient infrastructure and in the strengthening of smallholder farmer Producers’ Organizations (POs) and relevant GOB Departments.

Background on the assignment:

The Resilient Rural Belize Programme is committed to mainstreaming gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), to ensure that young people, women and men have equal access to, and control over, resources for development, benefits, and decision-making at all stages of development processes, projects, programs, and policies within the agriculture sector.

Objectives of the assignment:

The Programme is seeking to procure the services of a consultant to develop and implement a comprehensive GESI capacity building programme, differentiated for three groups, namely: i. the PMU staff and the Climate Smart Agriculture Extension Officers (CSAEOs), ii. the POs members, and iii. staff of the Department of Co-operatives (DOC) and of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise (MOA), including the Gender Focal Point of the Ministry.

The main objective of the assignment is to ensure the participation of 40% women and 20% youth (ages 15 to 24) in at least 30 targeted POs by the end of the Programme and guaranteeing GESI is fully integrated in the POs, by promoting equitable management of benefits by women and young people and their participation in capacity building and investments throughout all project interventions i.e. Organization Development Plans (ODP) and Business Plans (BP) design and implementation, Matching Grant Fund Agreement (MGFA) implementation.

The specific objective is to implement an integral GESI capacity building programme, aligned with the RRB GAP, aiming at supporting at least 30 POs to move towards gender equality, women empowerment and social inclusion (how to do it and expected benefits), ensure an equal participation, decision making and benefits of women and young people in POs.

Deliverables:

The Individual Consultant shall provide the following deliverables:

a) An Inception report to be submitted within three (3) weeks of contract signature. The report shall include as a minimum, the consultancy approach, training methodology and workplan, the draft of the proposed GESI capacity building programme for the different groups (PMU staff and CSAEO, POs and DOC/MOA staff, including the Gender Focal Point and IPs) and an outline of the training sessions.

b) A training completion report for each group, which shall include the presentations and training methodologies used, attendance register, photographs, issues identified during training and the commitments made by the different groups trained, as well as recommendations for future training (electronic and one original).

c) Develop a small booklet or handout (not a training manual) to share with the POs and Implementing partners on gender equality, women empowerment and social inclusion. This could be developed from the information used to conduct the trainings (elec tronic and one original).

d) Consultancy Completion Report (electronic and one original), which shall include results, issues faced during the assignment, lessons learnt, commitments achieved, as well as recommendations & affirmative actions for the inclusion of youth and women in the whole project and of how to assure women and youth are benefited from project services.

e) The report will also include recommendations relevant for the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) System.

Consultant’s qualifications and experience:

The Gender Consultant must possess a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Gender Studies, Anthropology, Social Psychology, Sociol ogy, Social Work, Art, Public Policy, Development Studies and/or Agriculture.

Specific Experience:

• Minimum five (5) years of experience in conducting GESI investigations, analysis of gender gaps in rural areas, facilitation of training processes with the government as well as community actors, and/or socio-economic surveys with a gender and social inclusion approach.

• Minimum three (3) years of experience with the use of participatory methodologies for trainings as well as women and young people empowerment.

• A minimum of three (3) years’ experience conducting training sessions on topics related to Youth, Gender Equality and Social In clusion.

• Consultant must be fluent in English language and at least fair in Spanish language.

Individual Consultants interested in receiving the Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) document for this consultancy should register their interest by sending an e-mail (with subject: Request for REOI – Gender Consultant to the Procurement Officer at nvernon. rrb@med.gov.bz giving full contact details of the Consultant. This will ensure that the Consultants receive updates regarding this consul tancy.

The REOI must be submitted via email only to the following address on or before October 18, 2022, at 3:00 PM (Local time).

Attn: Geraldo Flowers

Resilient Rural Belize Programme National Agriculture Showgrounds Belmopan City, Cayo, Belize

Email: geraldo.flowers@med.gov.bz

CC: nvernon.rrb@med.gov.bz

Department of the Environment Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST: CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR A LEGISLATIVE DRAFTER

Title of the Project: The Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) monitors the consumption of ozone depleting substances (ODS) mainly used in the Refrigeration & Air Conditioning (RAC) Sector as refrigerants.

Background

Belize became signatory to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer on January 9th, 1998 and has thus far sought to implement all national obligations under the Protocol. The Government of Belize has successfully phased out Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) sector and is currently implementing the Hydro-chlo rofluorocarbon Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) for the gradual phaseout of hydro-chlorofluorocarbon (HCFCs) in the Belize RAC sector. The National Ozone Unit (NOU) in the Department of the Environment (DOE), Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, is the focal point for the Montreal Protocol in Belize.

At the 19th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol held in Montreal, Canada, in 2007, the Parties agreed on the “Adjustment to the Montreal Pro tocol regarding HCFCs and to “accelerate the phase-out of production and consumption of HCFCs”, thus calling for urgent action towards the phase-out of this ozone depleting substances (ODS).

The Decision recognized the needs of developing countries such as Belize with regards to the agreed accelerated HCFC schedule and directed the Multilateral Fund’s Executive Committee to provide technical and financial assistance, paying particular attention to Article 5 Parties with low volume and very low volume consumption of HCFCs. The HPMP for Belize was approved on the 62nd ExCom Meeting of the parties. The HPMP provides funding for the Government of Belize to support the implementation of activities to phase-out remaining HCFC consumption under the Montreal Protocol.

Consultancy Description:

The Department of Environment through the Ministry of Sustainable De velopment, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management is seeking to engage a suitably qualified Belizean candidate request the submission of Expression of Interest from independent legal drafters to draft regulations under the Environmental Protection Act and the Refrigeration Technicians (Licensing) Act 2010.

Objective of the Drafting

The objective is to provide legislative drafting service to draft new regulations to reflect the commitments related to the Montreal Protocol.

Core Competency Requirements:

• Minimum Bachelor of Laws (LLB)

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience required for carrying out the TOR’s tasks. Experience must include (i) a legal background, (ii) experience in drafting laws and

• Excellent writing skills in English

• Ability to engage with a cross-section of stakeholders in the public and private sectors

• Experience in drafting concept documents

• Experience in drafting legislation will be an advantage

• Excellent communication skills as well as the ability to communi cate fluently in English (spoken and written)

The full Terms of Reference is available at www.doe.gov.bz. The selection of the consultant will be based on Consultant Qualification Selection (CQS) procurement method. Packages must be submitted electronically and must include a letter of interest, a curriculum vitae, and Financial Proposal and Technical Proposal no later than Friday September 23rd, 2022, at 5:00 pm. Only complete packages will be processed. Packages should be addressed to and emailed to:

Mr. Anthony Mai Chief Environmental Officer

Re: Expression of Interest- Legislative Drafter ozone@environment.gov.bz with copy to projects@environment.gov.bz

Department of the Environment Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST: CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR A MOBILE APPLICATION DEVELOPER

Title of the Project: The Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) Phase-out Man agement Plan (HPMP) monitors the consumption of ozone depleting substances (ODS) mainly used in the Refrigeration & Air Conditioning (RAC) Sector as refrigerants.

Background

Belize became signatory to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer on January 9 th, 1998 and has thus far sought to implement all national obligations under the Protocol. The Government of Belize has successfully phased out Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) sector and is currently implementing the Hydro-chlo rofluorocarbon Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) for the gradual phaseout of hydro-chlorofluorocarbon (HCFCs) in the Belize RAC sector. The National Ozone Unit (NOU) in the Department of the Environment (DOE), Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, is the focal point for the Montreal Protocol in Belize.

At the 19 th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol held in Montreal, Canada, in 2007, the Parties agreed on the “Adjustment to the Montreal Protocol regarding HCFCs and to “accelerate the phase-out of production and consump tion of HCFCs”, thus calling for urgent action towards the phase-out of this ozone depleting substances (ODS).

The Decision recognized the needs of developing countries such as Belize with regards to the agreed accelerated HCFC schedule and directed the Multilateral Fund’s Executive Committee to provide technical and financial assistance, paying particular attention to Article 5 Parties with low volume and very low volume consumption of HCFCs. The HPMP for Belize was approved on the 62 nd ExCom Meeting of the parties. The HPMP provides funding for the Government of Belize to support the implementation of activities to phase-out remaining HCFC consumption under the Montreal Protocol.

HCFC Phase-Out Management Plan has a combination of interventions such as technology conversions, technical assistance, awareness and monitoring of selected HCFC consumption. Refrigerant consumption in the Refrigeration Servicing Sector (RSS) not only depends on the installation of the RAC equip ment but also on the quality of the product and its servicing. The Mobile App aims to provide information, for technicians to work efficiently, safely and will allow the technicians to be more productive and give them an easy access to the information they need to perform their jobs.

Consultancy Description:

The Department of Environment through the Ministry of Sustainable Develop ment, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management is seeking to engage a suitably qualified Belizean candidate/Firm request the submission of Expression of Interest for the Mobile/Application Developer.

Objective of the Drafting

The task of the provider will be to develop, design and assist in the launch of a mobile application focused on Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning (HVAC). It will feature data specifically designed for Refrigeration Technicians.

Core Competency Requirements:

• The applicants should be a technology company with proven record of innovation in the mobile platform and application field. The company should have a proven record of applications on the market in both Android and Apple OS.

• The company should have a team of experts that include technology experts and coders, social media experts and mobile platform innova tion experts.

• The team leader should have at least 5 years of relevant technology and innovations experience.

The full Terms of Reference is available at www.doe.gov.bz . The selection of the consultant will be based on Consultant Qualification Selection (CQS) pro curement method. Packages must be submitted electronically and must include a signed letter of interest, a Concept Proposal, Financial Proposal and Estimated Timelines no later than Friday September 23 rd , 2022 , at 5:00 pm. Only complete packages will be processed. Packages should be addressed to and emailed to:

Mr. Anthony Mai Chief Environmental Officer

Re: Expression of Interest- Mobile App Developer ozone@environment.gov.bz with copy to projects@environment.gov.bz