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THE COUNTRY, IN PRINT
Belize News
A little ink. A little wonder. A whole lot of Belize.
25 October 2026The daily editionFree to read · Est. 2026
A NOTE FROM THE DESK
Current reporting discovered through Belize Search and local newsrooms, read and selected for this edition. Our briefs explain the details and why they matter; follow each publisher for the complete report. Publication dates are separate from edition dates. Earlier collections remain unchanged in the archive.
Agriculture officials have reviewed the 2025/2026 vegetable season with growers and other stakeholders as the 2026/2027 season opens, Greater Belize reports. The ministry is asking farmers to coordinate with extension officers and follow the planting calendar to reduce oversupply and maintain availability. It promises technical and marketing support, but the report supplies neither a crop-by-crop calendar nor a new funding allocation. The meeting is a planning step, not evidence that prices or harvest volumes have already improved.
Why it matters: Coordinated planting can help growers avoid selling into a glut. Farmers should obtain crop-specific guidance from extension officers rather than treat a general seasonal announcement as a planting timetable.
A correction to our October 22 brief: Love FM now reports that Belize Tax Service director general Michelle Longsworth corrected her earlier interview, saying the MSME amnesty programme ended in September, not October 31. That earlier October date should not be relied upon. The clarification says qualifying participants received a one-year business-tax exemption from their certificate's issue date; it also describes follow-up with businesses that failed filing obligations. The report does not establish a new October 31 compliance deadline.
Why it matters: An incorrect deadline can affect business decisions. This is a substantive source correction, not a renewed offer: participants should confirm their certificate dates and filing position directly with Belize Tax Service.
San Pedro's mayor says restrictions on large downtown trucks have improved traffic and pedestrian safety more than a year after introduction, The San Pedro Sun reports. Dump trucks, sand trucks and container vehicles remain restricted, with permission available for authorised deliveries and council work. Operators have challenged the measure's authority and effect on their livelihoods; the report says cargo also moves by barge to construction areas. The reported improvement is the mayor's assessment, not a published traffic-count study.
Why it matters: Residents, builders and delivery firms need to distinguish a continuing restriction from a blanket ban. Special permission remains relevant, while claims of safer streets should be tested against residents' experience and traffic evidence.
Prime Minister John Briceño says an expanded visitor card will let Mexican nationals visit throughout Belize for up to seven days without entry fees, Greater Belize reports. He describes attracting a share of existing Free Zone visitors as an opportunity, not a confirmed rise in arrivals. Waiving Customs charges on visiting vehicles is still being worked on, and vehicle insurance would remain payable. The report does not provide an application checklist or establish that every proposed border concession is already operating.
Why it matters: Hotels and tour operators could reach more nearby visitors, but travellers need confirmed eligibility and border instructions. A projected market is not a booking total, and proposed vehicle concessions should not be assumed at the crossing.
San Pedro footballer Malick Bowden is part of Belize's 14-player under-15 squad for the October 24–30 tournament in Baku, The San Pedro Sun reports. Belize's group includes Costa Rica, Curaçao, Liberia, Morocco and the Philippines. The eight-a-side format leads into performance tiers rather than immediate elimination. The report traces Bowden's development through island youth programmes and notes that more than 30 players tried out nationally. It is a squad and tournament preview, not a report of match results.
Why it matters: International youth competition gives local players experience beyond their club fixtures. Bowden's pathway highlights the role of community programmes; readers should use tournament updates, not this preview, for scores.
The National Evangelical Association of Belize is urging congregations to report alleged sexual crimes to police rather than handle them only within church leadership, Love FM reports. Its October 22 statement calls for a review of safeguarding procedures and says some leaders have offered counselling. The appeal follows charges against pastor Kevin Tzib, who has pleaded not guilty. Claims that earlier complaints were dismissed remain allegations; the association's statement is not a court finding against him or other church leaders.
Why it matters: The practical issue extends beyond one case: institutions need clear routes for reporting suspected crimes and supporting affected people. Safeguarding action and the presumption of innocence are separate obligations.
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