The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Immigration hereby inform of the transition from the design phase of the new ePassports to the process phase of the new Electronic Passport Issuance and Control System (ePICS).

On November 4, 2021, a kick-off meeting was held with the project stakeholders including the Department of Nationality and Passports, Belize Police Department, the Office of the Accountant General, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Immigration, the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and E-governance, the Central Information Technology Office, the Office of the Solicitor General, the International Organization of Migration. Topics at this session included project management in reference to the scope of the project, deliverables, timelines, communication, and team roles.

Currently, the ministry is hosting a team from the Canadian Bank Note Limited (CBN). For the next two weeks, the CBN and the ministry’s teams will be engaged in technical meetings with the project stakeholders. This engagement includes visits to the offices in Corozal Town, Belize City, and Belmopan, the only three locations where Belizeans can currently apply for passports. When the new ePICS system comes online in August 2022, acceptance of applications will be extended to offices in Punta Gorda Town, Independence Village, Dangriga Town, and Orange Walk Town. Additionally, there will be an online portal for renewals.

The new ePICS system and ePassports will be incredibly secure and will allow for efficient processing through modern border management systems. It will be a symbol of national pride for Belizeans and will establish a bond of trust between Belize and those countries reading it. Furthermore, it will open Belizeans to travel globally with fewer restrictions.

The National Institute of Culture and History (NICH), the Belize Tourism Board, and the Ministry of Foreign Trade contributed immensely to the design phase of the new ePassports.

CBN has customers in 80 countries and a proven track record in addressing travel document security threats with technological innovations in design, manufacturing, printing, and biometrics technology. Their solutions are constantly evolving to counter new and emerging security threats and they work closely with the International Civil Aviation Organization to ensure that documents exceed international standards.

This initiative is in line with the strategic plans of the Ministry and the Department of Nationality and Passports, the Global Compact on Migration, the Government of Belize’s eGovernance strategy, and Plan Belize’s immigration policy as well as international and regional agreements that advance Belize’s development.

Outgoing Belizean Ambassador Diane C. Haylock on Tuesday (Dec. 29, 2020) was awarded the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon by Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu for her contribution to Taiwan-Belize relations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) issued a press release Tuesday stating that Wu gave a speech recognizing Haylock’s active promotion of exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and Belize in various fields such as politics, economy, and culture. Wu congratulated the ambassador, who took office in 2016, and wished her a smooth return to Belize, adding that he hoped she would regard Taiwan as her “home away from home.”

The ambassador expressed her gratitude for the prestigious medal and especially thanked President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) for valuing the friendship between the two countries. She said that Taiwan’s assistance to Belize has been deeply rooted in the hearts of Belizeans, particularly Taiwan scholarships given to students to cultivate talent and Taiwanese-funded cooperative hospitals to train medical personnel, both of which will help with the Central American country’s long-term development, CNA reported.
2019 marked the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Belize. MOFA stated that Taiwan and Belize have a stable and friendly relationship.

The ministry said the two sides have cooperated closely and have achieved remarkable results in the fields of infrastructure construction, public health, and medical care, information and communications, agriculture and fishery, economy and trade, education, and culture, with “outstanding results.” In recent years, the countries have successively signed cooperation agreements in the areas of clean government, mutual legal assistance, aviation, and economics, MOFA added.

Credit: Kelvin Chen, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

The public is notified of the 2022 Belize public and bank holidays specified in the First and Second Schedules to Holidays Act, Chapter 289 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011. The holidays will be observed on the following days during the year 2022 in accordance with section 3 of the said Act.

The Ministry of Health & Wellness hereby notifies the public that in an effort to help contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the curfew hours have been adjusted. Effective today, Monday, October 4, 2021, the curfew hours will revert to 9:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. daily.

Until further notice:

1. Restaurants, saloons, diners and other similar establishments allowed to operate may offer dining-in services by reservation only, for no more than fifty per centum of its seating capacity, with fully vaccinated persons only;
2. Restaurants that have proper ventilation or a restaurant that is an open-air restaurant, outdoor restaurant, or an al fresco dining restaurant that is allowed to operate, may offer dining-in services by reservation only, for no more than seventy-five per centum of its seating capacity, with fully vaccinated persons only;
3. Churches and casino are to remain closed;
4. Contact sports are not allowed.

Be reminded that the latest Public Health Statutory Instrument (SI No. 111 of 2021) takes effect today, October 1, 2021.

The principal Regulations of the new SI are amended to include:

• that neck gaiters, fishing face masks, ski masks, any closed tube of fabric or other similar face, neck or head covering that resembles any of the aforementioned types of masks or which is designed to expose only part of the face, are now prohibited.
• the owner or manager of a business, office or establishment may prescribe the types of face masks or other face (nose and mouth) covering which are permissible for entry into that business, office or establishment, but which shall not include any of the types of masks prohibited under this new SI.
• that any person who wishes to enter a public medical institution, government office or the office of a statutory body shall, prior to entering that office, present proof of immunization together with a valid identification card.
• that the Chief Executive Officer, Head of Department, or head of a statutory body, as the case may be, shall allow–
  • entry to a person, who works in that public medical institution, government office or office of a statutory body and who is not immunized, if that person presents–
    • (i) every two weeks, a negative rapid test or PCR test; or
    • (ii) an immunization card which shows that the person has received the first dose of a vaccine and the date for the second dose of the vaccine has not elapsed;

View the complete Statutory Instrument No. 111 of 2021 here.

Must-See Tourist Attractions in Belize

Belize is a tropical country tucked on the eastern coast of Central America and is known for its majestic mountains, exquisitely clear beaches, and sunny weather. Like many other countries around the world, Belize is a bucket list destination that has several popular tourist attractions that are a must-see when traveling to the coastal country.

The Great Blue Hole

If you are fascinated by mysterious natural phenomena, you should have a look at the Great Blue Hole situated a few miles from the coast of Belize. This massive underwater sink water hole is one of the largest of its kind. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, along with its surrounding areas on the coast in 1996. The Hole is so remarkable that it remains one of the world’s most distinguished scuba sites.

Belize Zoo

If you are a tourist that enjoys experiencing zoos from various countries, the Belize zoo is a must-visit. The zoo is 29 acres, making it relatively small compared to its counterparts, however, it boasts numerous animals of which some are only native to central America. The Belize zoo is a perfect outing for families with children because it’s filled with great activities especially created for the young. The zoo also consists of numerous accommodations ranging from cabanas, dorms, guest houses, and cabins. Other zoo activities include Sibun river canoe trips, savanna nature trails, and nocturnal zoo tours.

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

Jaguars are the largest cats native to the Americas and in Belize, these magnificent creatures have a monopoly over their land. The best place to catch a glimpse of these beautiful creatures is at the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. The Sanctuary was founded in the 1980s with the aim of protecting endangered species native to Belize. The sanctuary has also welcomed a number of other species including pumas, otters, and native birds. If you happen to be an avid hiker, the sanctuary has some trails to explore too.

Lamanai

Located along the west bank of the New River Lagoon, Lamanai is one of the oldest inhabited archaeological zones in the Mayan World. The archaeological park is the second largest site in Belize, covering about 860 acres/384 hectares. The word Lamanai means submerged crocodile in Mayan and the name is fitting because what you will encounter at the site are some artifacts depicting representations of crocodiles along with some other interesting pieces of history to marvel at.

Caye Caulker

About 20 miles north of Belize City, lies Caye Caulker, a 4-mile island with sunny beaches that are known for its hidden snorkeling and scuba diving spots. The island remains mostly unoccupied by the locals, and as for tourists, they prefer to visit the restaurants and shops located at the northern tip of the island. Other water activities available at the Caye Caulker Island include sailing, kayaking, and fishing.

Belize has many other amazing tourist attractions that will resonate with different types of people who love everything from seeing the sights to playing at grandrush.com. Whether you enjoy nature, water, shopping, eating, or site-seeing, Belize offers everything and more. Spoil yourself on your next holiday trip and visit Belize to experience a thrilling tropical adventure.

Best Restaurants to Experience in Belize

Traveling is never complete until you experience some local cuisine. What better way to explore a country than to eat at its most prominent restaurants? Belize is a coastal country and seafood is their most common cuisine, however, there are restaurants that also serve world-renowned cuisine ranging from Chinese, Indian, Italian, French, and many more. Have a look at the best restaurants you need to explore when you’re in Belize.

 Montagna Ristorante

This restaurant forms part of the Francis Ford Coppola’s luxury resort, the Blancaneaux Lodge in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve in Cayo. Montagna Ristorante is a posh restaurant that specializes in Italian dishes ranging from pasta, seafood, and brick-oven pizza. The aesthetic of the restaurant consists of an open thatched-roof dining room overlooking the beautiful forest that the resort is nestled in. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner and pair their dishes with the finest selections of wines from the Coppola vineyards.

Bistro at Maya Beach Hotel

This restaurant is owned by an Australian-American couple and lies on the Placencia Peninsula. The bistro overlooks the beach, giving it a serene feel. A favorite to the locals and tourists at large because they manage to incorporate traditional tropical Belizean cuisine and mesh that with some French notes which produce flavors that are phenomenal. If you’re looking to try out some unique dishes then this is the place for you.

Elvi’s Kitchen

Situated in San Pedro Belize. Elvi’s Kitchen is a well-known restaurant in the area because it serves common and classic Belizean dishes. Owned by chef Elvia Staines and her daughter Jennie, this restaurant has been in operation for almost 39 years. The most ordered meals at Elvi’s Kitchen are the fried chicken, crab claws, sweet corn, fried green plantain, and many more delectable dishes. Elvi’s Kitchen is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

El Fogon

El Fogon was opened by the Arceo-Eiley family in the early 2000s and they mainly specialize in Belizean cuisine. Situated in Ambergris Caye Belize, this area is commonly known for the Mestizo people who are descendants of the Mayan and the Spanish people. The word Fogon means “kitchen hearth” and all their food is cooked in a traditional outdoor oven which gives their food a rich textured smoky flavor.

Chef Rob’s Gourmet Café

One of Belize’s top chefs, chef Rob, owns this restaurant situated at his resort, Parrot Cove Lodge in Hopkins Village. This stunning restaurant overlooks the beachfront and serves its customers a worthwhile fine-dining experience that is not too common around Belize. Chef Rob’s Gourmet Café serves a four-course menu made with products that are sourced locally, which is why their menu is updated according to which products he has sourced on that particular day. Reservations are recommended at this restaurant because it does get busy and just like the Lucky Creek promotional games, you don’t want to miss out.

These are some of the best restaurants in Belize, but there are many more to explore that may match your preference. Whether you are vegan, vegetarian, or have specific dietary requirements, you will find a restaurant suitable for your appetite.