Cabinet Brief 30th November 2021

The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño, met in regular session on 30th November 2021.

• The Minister of Education, Culture, Science & Technology informed Cabinet that plans are in place for the reopening of schools for some level of in-person learning in January 2022. In this connection, all schools are required to apply for green light status from the ministry prior to the opening of schools in January.

• With the increase of flights into Belize and the start of the 2021 tourism season, during which record high arrivals are anticipated at the Philip Goldson International Airport, Cabinet gave the approval for the Ministry of the Blue Economy and Civil Aviation to employ eight new persons to begin training as air traffic controllers.

• Cabinet deliberated on the status of the sugar industry in northern Belize and discussed the ongoing impasse between the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association and Belize Sugar Industry Limited (BSI/ASR) regarding the Commercial Agreement and views it as critical that the 2021-2022 sugar cane harvest begins in December 2021. In this regard, Cabinet issued a statement explaining its position and recommendations to the stakeholders.

• Cabinet recommended the introduction of a Loan Motion at the Sitting of the House of Representatives scheduled for Friday, 3rd December 2021, for a US$2.5 million loan from the Caribbean Development Bank to assist government with the financing of emergency restoration of critical infrastructure as a result of damages caused by hurricanes Eta and Iota.

• Cabinet welcomed the report on Belize's participation at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Twenty-Sixth Conference of Parties (COP26) that was held in Glasgow, Scotland, which saw the strong participation of Belize as an advocate for greater action to address pressing and urgent needs to confront the increasing impacts of climate change on the development of the nation. Additionally, Cabinet applauded the selection of the National Climate Change Office to the Adaptation Committee of the UNFCCC, and Dr. Kenrick Williams, CEO in the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change & Disaster Risk Management to the Board of the Adaptation Fund.

• Cabinet was updated on the status of vaccinations and the number of vaccines available in Belize. Currently, there are more than 319,108 vaccines available. As of 29th November 2021, 209,176 persons or 48.6 percent had received at least one dose of the vaccine and 194,398 or 45.1 percent have been fully vaccinated. This represents about 67 percent of the adult population vaccinated, an indication that the nation is moving in the right direction.

Cabinet also approved free testing for all students returning home during the month of December through the land borders.

Considering the discovery of the new COVID-19 variant, OMICRON, Cabinet gave its approval for new regulations to be implemented for persons from countries where this new variant has been detected who are entering Belize through the airport and through land borders and seaports of entry. These will be a part of the updated Public Health Regulations which will be released later this week.

• Finally, as the holiday season draws near, Cabinet continues to encourage those not yet vaccinated to do so, and reminds Belizeans who have been fully vaccinated for more than five months, that booster shots are now available. The public is reminded to maintain physical distance, wash hands regularly, and wear a mask or face covering in public.