BCCI Good Governance Agenda
As the leading private sector organization in Belize, the BCCI prioritizes the promotion of good governance and the elimination of corruption.
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Good Governance Agenda 2026–2030
The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) is proud to present the Good Governance Agenda 2026–2030, a comprehensive framework for strengthening Belize’s democratic institutions, enhancing transparency, and fostering meaningful collaboration between government, the private sector, and civil society. Building on the BCCI’s Business Policy Roadmap 2025, this Agenda translates principles into actionable proposals grounded…
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Tobacco Control Bill, 2025: What Businesses Need to Know
Disclaimer: This article provides a preliminary overview of the Tobacco Control Bill, 2025, which has yet to pass the House of Representatives. It has been prepared to inform the private sector and the wider public of the Bill’s key provisions and implications. Readers are encouraged to consult the full text of the Bill for a…
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Environmental Protection Regulations, 2025 Phase 1: Import Registration and Fees
Effective January 7, 2026, the Department of the Environment (DOE) initiated the phased rollout of the Environmental Protection (Ozone Layer Protection) Regulations, 2025 (SI No. 95 of 2025). This initial phase establishes updated import protocols for the logistics, retail, and appliance/electronics sectors regarding refrigerants and cooling equipment. Commercial Import Requirements: Commercial entities importing controlled substances…
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Trade License Act 2024: Enforcement Deferred
In a December 23, 2025 press release, the Government of Belize advised that the Trade License Act, No. 19 of 2024, has not come into force for the 2026 trade licensing year. As a result, the Trade License Act, Chapter 66 (Revised Edition 2020) remains the applicable law. For 2026, only businesses operating in towns…
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Why is the Attorney General ‘Suing’ the Ombudsman?
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. The Belize Chamber of Commerce & Industry does not take a position on the dispute discussed, nor on any ongoing legal proceedings. Dissatisfied with the Ombudsman’s decision, the Ministry of the Attorney General (AG) filed an appeal in the High Court against the Ombudsman. This legal…
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Right to Privacy for Businesses upheld by the High Court
The High Court of Belize in February handed down a judgment in the case Belize Sugar Industries Ltd v The Attorney General of Belize & others which dealt with an application by BSI challenging the constitutionality of the Sugar Industry (Import/Export) Regulations, 2023. In the judgment handed down by Justice Goonetilleke, it was determined that…
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Do We Need a Senate?
The Senate, the unelected upper chamber of the National Assembly, serves a crucial purpose, as outlined in the 2000 Political Reform Commission (PRC) report: “the key reason behind having a Senate is to have a more sober debate on bills brought from the House that would hopefully lead to substantive amendments improving legislation.” Whether the…
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Is the Cabinet Broken?
Our government comprises three branches: the executive, responsible for setting the lawmaking agenda; the legislature, tasked with creating policies; and the judiciary, ensuring a check on overreach by holding everyone accountable. In theory, these branches are supposed to be separate with some autonomy. However, in Belize, policy primarily originates from the Cabinet, and the judiciary…
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New Rights, Old Ideas
Do you know your rights? As many of us know, the constitution lays out the basic rights every Belizean citizen is supposed to be entitled to. However, many of us may not know that to some, these rights are insufficient. Considering the ongoing constitutional reform process, it is worth looking at a few ideas that…
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Belize Senate: Considerations for Reform
The National Assembly of Belize is divided into two Chambers, the House of Representatives (the lower chamber) and the Senate (the upper chamber). The role of the Senate is to debate and approve Bills coming from the House of Representatives. At specific parts of the Constitution, the Senate is required approve the ratification of treaties,…
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Campaign Finance Reform
The Belize Chamber of Commerce has developed a piece of draft legislation aimed at changing the way political campaigns are financed in Belize. Principally, the Bill seeks to establish a National Campaign Fund, outline the functions of the Fund and how it will be managed, and prescribe penalties for non-compliance. The document is a summary…
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Section 62 and 63 of the Constitution of Belize
Please see link to full section HERE.
