Belmopan, April 1, 2026.
The Cabinet met on 31st March 2026.
- Cabinet gave its approval to impose a one-year moratorium on the issuance of new licenses to use the 66-foot reserve and seabed to construct docks/piers and overwater structures in coastal/marine urban and coastal/marine peri-urban areas. This moratorium is to allow the Government to undertake a comprehensive nationwide inventory of existing structures and review and strengthen the regulatory framework to enhance monitoring, compliance, and enforcement mechanisms for effective management of the reserve and seabed.
- Cabinet gave its endorsement of a Water Sector Adaptation Plan for Belize and approved a roadmap to prioritize the necessary actions and implementation strategy to identify vulnerabilities, gaps, and priority actions to develop a 10-year programme to include all pertinent ministries and sectors.
- Cabinet gave its approval to consolidate the National Adaptation Plans of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, Health, Fisheries, and Coastal Zone into a single Multisectoral National Plan aimed at addressing escalating climate risks, safeguarding development gains, and building long-term resilience. This will strengthen Belize’s capacity to identify and address climate risks in a coordinated manner while embedding climate resilience at the core of Belize’s national development planning, allowing for enhanced access to climate finance.
- Cabinet gave its approval for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade to sign the Protocol amending Article 84 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas which underpins trade in goods within the CSME, including the list of conditions to be complied with and the rules that must be satisfied for goods to qualify as being of Community origin. Furthermore, Cabinet authorized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade to seek the ratification of the protocol from the Senate.
- Cabinet approved the inclusion of aviation personnel on the approved list of skills categories under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). Cabinet directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade to notify the CARICOM Secretariat of this decision and to coordinate with the Immigration Department and the relevant aviation authorities to ensure this decision is reflected in national administrative procedures with respect to the issuing of CSME Skills Certificates.
- Cabinet gave its approval of proposed modifications to the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Belize Compact, including the reallocation of US$20 million of MCC Funding from the Education Project to the Energy Project. In addition, the Government committed to provide counterpart financing to support the Compact.
- Cabinet endorsed a proposal for the Government of Belize to partner with the Institute of Innovation and Growth and the Global Event Partners to host the first Belize International Energy forum in September 2026. This Forum will bring stakeholders together to explore low-carbon development strategies aimed at achieving high shares of renewable electricity generation within a decade.
- On 17th March 2026, Cabinet gave its support and approval of a Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Country Work Programme. This pivotal, actionable roadmap will be designed to integrate disaster risk management into every facet of national development by establishing a comprehensive, multi-year strategy to enhance Belize’s ability to plan, implement, and monitor disaster risk management initiatives. This Work Programme is for the period 2026 to 2030.
- Cabinet was apprised of the status of the technical review of the recommendations submitted by the People’s Constitution Commission (PCC), which outlined a structured methodology to ensure that the recommendations from the PCC are defined and legally assessed in a roadmap for appropriate constitutional reform.
- Finally, Cabinet wishes all Belizeans a safe and happy Easter.
Ends
