The Department of the Environment (DOE) has received Cabinet’s endorsement for the extension of the time-frame for the implementation of Belize’s Plastics Regulations, 2020.

As a result of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, and subsequent National State of Emergency to address the ongoing health crisis in April 2020, actions to implement the permitting of licensing systems required in the legislation was disrupted. As such, an extension period is required to implement the relevant sections of the regulations.

See the full press from the Department of the Environment (DOE) as follows:

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE WORLD BANK

World Bank Financing for Belize to Assist Over 13,000 Poor and Vulnerable Households in Response to COVID-19 Impacts

WASHINGTON, July 14, 2020 — Belize will strengthen its response to the economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic with US$12.4 million from the World Bank. The funds will be used to provide social assistance to poor and vulnerable households impacted by the crisis.

“The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to serious economic and social challenges for Belize,” said Tahseen Sayed, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean. “The World Bank mobilized a rapid response to support the country’s efforts in mitigating the impacts on the poor and most vulnerable populations.” 

The funds will support Belize’s social protection response to the COVID-19 emergency, implemented by the Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation (MHDSTPA). The financing will provide support for existing beneficiaries of Belize’s main poverty reduction social protection program, Building Opportunities for Our Social Transformation (BOOST). It will also support poor households not receiving other social assistance or employment income through a temporary Belize COVID-19 Cash Transfer (BCCAT) Program. This program will target households screened through a poverty assessment tool and who meet set criteria, including households with pregnant women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Specific details on eligibility criteria and the scope of the emergency social assistance will be published by the Government of Belize prior to roll-out. In total, over 13,000 households in need are expected to receive cash transfers through this emergency response.

These funds were accessed under the Contingency Emergency Response Component (CERC) of the Climate Resilience Improvement Project (CRIP). CERCs allow funds to be reallocated from existing projects to address emergency response needs.

PRESS RELEASE

Labour Complaints Tribunal

Belmopan. July 15, 2020. 4:10 p.m.

The Ministry of Labour, Local Government and Rural Development hereby informs of the establishment of the Labour Complaints Tribunal.

In accordance with the Labour Act, Chapter 297 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011, Section 200, “A Labour Complaints Tribunal shall be established for the purpose of providing a fair and impartial appeal process arising from complaints of unfair dismissal or wrongful termination.”

Additionally, in accordance with paragraph one of the Schedule of the Labour Act, the Honourable Minister of Labour, Local Government and Rural Development has appointed the following persons as members of the Labour Complaints Tribunal for a period of three years with effect from March 1, 2020:
• Ms. Sheena Pitts, Attorney-at-law – nominated by the Minister and the Chairperson of the Tribunal
• Ms. Ashanti Arthurs-Martin, Attorney-at-law – nominated by the Chief Justice
• Ms. Marissa Longsworth, Attorney-at-law – nominated by the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Ms. Ella Waight – representative of the worker nominated by the National Trade Union Congress of Belize
• Ms. Anne Marie Thompson – Commissioner of Labour, ex-officio

As the Labour Department continues to collaborate with employers and employees to promote good industrial relations, fairness, impartiality and tripartism, the Department looks forward to providing full support to the Tribunal for the mutual benefit of all.

The Ministry thanks all its stakeholders and partners who have contributed to making this a proud accomplishment for Belize.

Ends

From the time Leanne Sinai was a young girl, she was a music lover who would walk around singing and humming to any beat that would pop in her head. As a lover of music, Leanne welcomed every opportunity to belt out a tune and as she grew older, it became evident that her passion was music.

Over the years, as Leanne became comfortable with singing for an audience, she would occasionally record covers of hit songs and share the result on her Instagram page. After high school, Leanne left her home in Belize City to study in Costa Rica.

She shares a love of music with her boyfriend, David Godinez, who is currently living in Houston, Texas. These unprecedented times have created a bridge that’s thousands of miles long, so they decided to collaborate musically as a way to remain connected by the heart.

Their musical collaboration paved the way for Twin Flames which produced two singles, ‘Liar’ and ‘Destiny’. Naturally, the result of the collaboration is a dream come true for Leanne who has always wanted to create her own music. Twin Flames’ singles, ‘Liar’ and ‘Destiny‘, can be found on popular music platforms such as YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify, and Sound Cloud.

Leanne believes that all musicians need to promote and market their music in order to be successful, but getting that legitimately done can be quite costly and can prove to be a challenge for new and upcoming artists. 

This is truly an “against all odds” story and one that we are proud and excited to follow on what we’re sure will be a path to stardom for Twin Flames! Congratulations!

From the office of the Director of Health Services:

COVID-19 UPDATE

A further 77 samples were processed today for SARS CoV2, this has allowed us to identify a further two cases bringing our total to 30.

These last two cases are that of a male and female, Belizeans caught entering the border illegally via La Union. They are asymptomatic and have been in the mandatory quarantine area from when they were caught.

We therefore have 9 active cases that have been and remain under quarantine, 8 Belizeans and one Honduran.

Our active surveillance continues, particularly as we move into a weekend.

Now more than ever, we need to continue to stress the relevance of all the prevention measures and we continue to underscore the importance and relevance of working along with the authorities in the identification of those crossing the border illegally.

As we have stipulated in different forms, we run the risk of a second wave and community spread with all the illegal border crossings and we do require a community effort if we are to continue the containment of further cases.

PRESS RELEASE

Taiwan Donates COVID-19 Antibody Rapid Test Kits to Belize

Belmopan. July 1, 2020. 5:30 p.m.

The Embassy of Taiwan today, July 1st, donated 5,000 COVID-19 antibody rapid test kits to Belize.

These test kits are developed by Taiwan’s Excelsior Bio-System Incorporation and can deliver reliable results in just 10 to 15 minutes with 100 percent sensitivity and 95 percent specificity. These kits can be used to screen potential carriers of the virus who were infected more than seven days prior to testing. This medical assistance will help strengthen the capacity of the Government of Belize to ensure a smooth and safe re-opening of the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport scheduled for August 15, 2020.

H.E. Remus Li-Kuo Chen, Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Belize, handed over the test kits to Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow.

The Government of Taiwan has also donated PCR analyzers and PCR test kits, 640,000 surgical masks, six thermal imaging cameras, 10,000 N-95 masks, 700 infrared forehead thermometers, 2,000 protective clothing, 4,000 isolation gowns, two automated temperature measurement systems, 10,000 nasal swabs and five ventilators in support of the efforts of the Government of Belize to contain COVID-19. Additionally, Taiwan has provided financial aid to Belize in the past few months.

The Government of Taiwan remains committed to assisting the people and Government of Belize in the fight against COVID-19 and appreciates Belize’s staunch support of Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organization and its annual World Health Assembly.

Through its Embassy in Belize, the Government of Taiwan will continue to work closely with its partners in the Government of Belize to weather this catastrophic pandemic.

Ends

Active surveillance continues by the Ministry of Health and today, the Director of Health Services announced that they have identified 4 new cases of COVID-19 as a result of repatriation.

Today, 95 samples were processed which identified four persons who arrived in-country last week, two through the Northern Border entry point and two on the repatriation flight this past Friday.

All four persons are asymptomatic and immediately entered mandatory quarantine upon arrival.

Surveillance efforts continue through the Ministry of Health.

As of Wednesday, July 1, 2020,  the State of Emergency (SOE) in Belize expires, and with it ends the curfew that had been enforced across the country of Belize as a result of the rise of the coronavirus pandemic. However, since COVID-19 is still a threat to Belizeans and the Belizean economy, regulations will be in place to ensure that safety protocols are being adhered to.

Some of the major changes in this new relaxed norm are as follows:

• No more Curfew
• Land Borders to remain closed
• Only legal way to travel to Belize is through the International Airport
• Face masks must still be worn
• Social distancing must still be exercised (6 feet apart)
• Bars, nightclubs, restaurants, cafes and all other businesses are now allowed to re-open
• The only time face masks are not required is when someone is at home, driving in their vehicle, persons participating in church services, when eating at a restaurant, while exercising, and participating in sporting events
• Failure to use face masks in public places can result in an arrest and charge

Here are two of the recent Statutory Instruments put in place regarding Public Health and Quarantine.