Belmopan, 13th April 2023.
The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño, met on 11th April 2023.
- Cabinet discussions centred on the effects of global inflation on the cost of living in Belize. Following a meeting with the Chinese retail community, Cabinet has issued instructions for meetings with major importers and wholesalers with a view to eliminating gouging or bloating at every level of the supply chain. While inflation is a global pandemic, Cabinet realizes that it must do everything in its power to mitigate the impact on our people.
- Following two weeks of intervention with the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association and Belize Sugar Industries, Hon. Kareem Musa, Cabinet subcommittee chair, tasked with charting a path forward for the sugar industry, briefed Cabinet. Minister Musa reported that both sides have expressed the determination to reach a fair and transparent resolution to the impasse for the good of the industry and that serious discussions between parties are ongoing based on good faith, and not tension.
- Cabinet was advised that the process to resume the payment of performance-based increments to public officers, effective 1st April 2023, has commenced. There was unanimous agreement that moving forward, increments must be based on actual performance, and every discussion with the Joint Unions must include the implementation of a comprehensive and objective appraisal system.
- Cabinet gave its support for the adaptation of the recommendations by the Ministry of Tourism & Diaspora Relations, in conjunction with the Belize Tourism Board, to amend the agreement between Government and Belize Island Holdings Limited, in relation to the Harvest Caye Cruise Port in Southern Belize, to improve and define future growth and development of the Harvest Caye Port.
- Cabinet gave its recommendation for amendments to the Law Revision Act to better reflect the current state of law with respect to Money Laundering and the Terrorism Prevention Act. These amendments will be introduced at the next sitting of the House of Representatives.
- Cabinet gave its approval for the ratification of the World Trade Organization Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, which will establish new global rules for eliminating harmful subsidies and protecting global fish stocks.
- Cabinet endorsed the updated National Climate Change Policy, Strategy and Master Plan, the Low Emission Development Strategy, and the National Climate Finance Strategy as national documents. Additionally, Cabinet gave its approval to provide support for the coordination, mainstreaming, and implementation of appropriate climate change mitigation and adaptation measures to pursue low-carbon and climate-resilient development pathways.
- Cabinet requested that a subcommittee comprising Sustainable Development, Energy, Natural Resources, Rural Development and Agriculture meet to follow up on the strategies for water resources management, including aquifers (ground) and surface water.
- Finally, Cabinet reminds all motorists to drive safely, and with care and attention.
Ends
