Food In Belize

3. Every overseas company shall do the following: in every prospectus inviting subscriptions for its shares or debentures in Belize, state the country in which the company is incorporated; conspicuously exhibit on every place where it carries on business in Belize the name of the company and the country in which the company is incorporated; cause the name of the company and of the country in which it is incorporated to be stated in legible characters in all bill heads and letter paper, and in all notices and other official publications of the company; and if the liability o ... [Read More]

Investment Climate

As with most countries in the region, corruption remains a problem in Belize. Belize's first step to combat corruption in public life came with the enactment of the Prevention of Corruption in Public Life Act in 1994. This act makes provision for the prevention of political corruption and to provide for the public disclosure of the assets, income and liabilities of persons in public life, such as the Governor-General and members of the National Assembly, which includes the Prime Minister and Cabinet members. It also seeks to strengthen the code of conduct prescribed in the constitution. In addition, the government hired a parliamentary commissioner on June 25, 1999. The parliamentary commissioner, known as the Ombudsman, has the primary responsibility of investigating any administrative action and complaints of official corruption and wrongdoing. However, the Ombudsman has yet to conduct an investigation of official corruption or wrongdoing by an elected official. ... [Read More]

V. Country Narratives -- Countries A through G

Cyprus is a destination country for women trafficked from Eastern and Central Europe for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Traffickers who forced women into prostitution continued to fraudulently recruit victims for work as dancers in cabarets and nightclubs on short-term "artiste" visas, for work in pubs and bars on employment visas, or for illegal work on tourist or student visas. There was increasing evidence of Chinese women being trafficked for sexual exploitation in Cyprus. The Government of Cyprus does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. Cyprus made some progress in its anti-trafficking efforts over the past year. The new police anti-trafficking unit produced successful results and showed vigilance in combating the problem. Government recognition of the problem improve ... [Read More]

Press Releases

Seven schools will be built in the Stann Creek district in the following areas: Hopkins (one building), Silk Grass (two buildings), Gales Point (one building), Valley Road (one building), and Dangriga (two buildings). Six of these schools will have three classrooms in each building and restroom facilities while one school will have two classrooms and restroom facilities. Water wells will be built in Pomona, Maya Center, Santa Cruz and Sittee River. Two additional wells will be repaired. Medical Readiness Exercises will occur February 26 through April 22 to provide medical treatment in several areas including dental and eye care. ... [Read More]

Belize

U.S. Department of State [Read More]

Visiting Belize

The Belize Customs Department generally uses original commercial invoices and product catalogs to determine the value of goods coming into the country. For instance, the valuation unit of the Belize Customs Department uses the U.S. National Automobile Dealers Association (N.A.D.A.) publication, commonly known as the Blue Book, to valuate used vehicles being imported into Belize. However, there are occasional reports of harassment, pilferage, and requests for bribes in order to facilitate lower valuations.Under the post-importation inspection scheme, duly authorized customs agents will review the customs declaration forms submitted by the local importers and verify that the declared prices on the invoices are indeed correct. This scheme is intended to recover the tremendous loss of customs revenue as a result of under invoicing. ... [Read More]

Background Notes

Belize's principal external concern has been the dispute involving the Guatemalan claim to Belizean territory. This dispute originated in imperial Spain's claim to all "New World" territories west of the line established in the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494. Nineteenth century efforts to resolve the problems led to later differences over interpretation and implementation of an 1859 treaty intended to establish the boundaries between Guatemala and Belize, then named British Honduras. Guatemala contends that the 1859 treaty is void because the British failed to comply with all its economic assistance clauses. Neither Spain nor Guatemala ever exercised effective sovereignty over the area. Negotiations proceeded for many years, including one period in ... [Read More]

Attorneys in Belize

- food processing and packaging equipment: the GOB considers the agro-processing sector as one of its top priorities for economic development. The local demand for food processing and packaging equipment is increasing due to local and foreign investment in agribusiness ventures. Trade statistics for 2000 show that Belize imported close to $127 million (28.5 percent of total imports) worth of machinery and transport equipment, although this covered a wide range of uses well beyond food processing and packaging. Nonetheless, the potential in this sector is significant, particularly if and when local industrial electricity rates are reduced. ... [Read More]

Belize (08/04)
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