Belmopan. 18th November 2021. 10:50 a.m.
The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño, met in regular session on 16th November 2021.
• Cabinet gave its approval for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Immigration to support a recommendation by the CARICOM Secretariat to migrate from the present system, that use on-premises infrastructure, to a cloud-based platform to provide online services for the Caribbean Community.
• With the increase of flights into Belize and the start of the 2021 tourism season where record high arrivals are anticipated at the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport, Cabinet gave the approval for the Ministry of Immigration to employ six additional immigration clerks and to increase overtime payment for immigration officers from 50 to 75 hours.
• Cabinet gave its approval for the Attorney General’s Ministry to present amendments to the Law Revision Act, Chapter 3 of the Substantive Laws of Belize primarily to allow for the publication of the revised edition of the laws of Belize to be done electronically. The final draft of the bill is to be tabled at the next sitting of the House of Representatives.
• Cabinet was updated on the status of vaccinations and the number of vaccines available in Belize. Currently, there are more than 373,868 vaccines on hand. As of 15th November 2021, 208,168 persons or 48.3 percent had received at least one dose of the vaccine and 190,031 or 41.1 percent have been fully vaccinated. Additionally, 4,020 booster shots have been issued since the start of the booster shot program and is now opening booster shots to everyone. Also, the free testing sites, which were scheduled to close at the end of November, will continue to operate countrywide until the end of the year.
• The Minister of Health & Wellness also informed Cabinet that this year alone the ministry issued close to $700,000 in food assistance to persons who had to go into isolation due to COVID-19.
• Cabinet approved recommendations from the Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations to make certain adjustments to the current COVID-19 public health measures to take effect 22nd November 2021. These measures will be published shortly by the Ministry of Health & Wellness.
• Finally, Cabinet wishes all Belizeans a safe and happy Garifuna Settlement Day and asks that everyone wears masks, maintains physical distance, washes hands regularly, and for those not fully vaccinated to do so as soon as possible. Vaccines save lives.
Ends
