Cabinet Brief

PRESS RELEASE

Belmopan 2^nd November 2023.

The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño, met on 31^st October 2023.

• Cabinet approved the removal of all fees charged in public hospitals. This will ensure universal access to quality healthcare by eliminating financial barriers and enhancing healthcare accessibility for all citizens, especially those from low-income families.

• Cabinet welcomed the update from the Minister of Education on the status of the Education Upliftment Project: Together We Rise and gave its approval for the expansion of the project to 12 additional secondary schools across the country. The rollout to the additional schools will commence in the 2024 academic year and will see those schools receiving the benefits of fully paid tuition and fees, uniforms for first form students, and a daily healthy meal for those who need it.

• Cabinet continued its discussion on how to transform and grow the Belizean economy by focusing on strengthening the primary and secondary sectors, as envisaged in Plan Belize, by developing human resources and job productivity, technological interventions, financing, and infrastructure for the productive sectors. The Cabinet agreed to pursue well-designed policies and approaches to achieve rapid and sustainable of socio-economic development and growth for the benefit of all Belizeans.

• Cabinet gave its approval for a revised regulatory framework for Belize’s broadcasting industry for the development of a new Belize National Broadcasting Policy to modernize the industry. This will allow broadcasters to keep up with the rapid advancements in technology and practices to clearly outline approved policy directives relating to a wide range of issues surrounding the broadcasting industry in Belize.

• Cabinet gave its approval for the Belize Port Authority to update the relevant regulations related to fees for the licensing of vessels and light dues. This is in an effort to upgrade Belize’s aids to navigation (lighthouses, beacons and buoys) to strengthen maritime safety and security in accordance with Belize’s international obligations, and to expand emergency maritime radio frequencies nationwide.

• Finally, Cabinet encourages all Belizeans to pay close attention to the weather, especially those in flood-prone areas across the country, as large amounts of rainfall are expected across in the coming days.

Ends