Belize

For the 7th consecutive year, the Fortis Belize Holiday Hamper Drive delivered food, household items, and toys to hundreds of families in need in San Ignacio and Santa Elena, showing community support during the Christmas season

The Belize Marine Rescue & Educational Center was inaugurated, a cutting-edge facility dedicated to rescuing endangered marine life, including manatees, and promoting wildlife conservation, education, and community engagement

Belize has launched a new digital customs and immigration declaration system for travelers, allowing users to submit details online ahead of time, starting with a three-month pilot at Philip Goldson International Airport

The Belize Senate unanimously approved an amendment to the Marriage Act raising the legal marriage age to 18, eliminating parental consent for minors, in a move hailed as a transformative human rights milestone to combat child marriage

Tropical Storm Sara caused severe flooding in western Belize, inundating several communities and damaging infrastructure; prime Minister John Briceno pledged aid for affected residents and measures to prevent future flooding

A new website has been launched to improve public access to court information, judgments, and updates; the Senior Courts of Belize announced it as part of ongoing judicial modernization efforts

The North American Taiwanese Medical Association NATMA, conducted a five-day medical mission in Belize, treating nearly 1.800 patients and performing 56 surgeries to support underprivileged communities

This year’s Strategic Alliances International Partners Conference has begun; under the theme “Unlocking Climate Finance and Disaster Risk Financing for Sustainable Development" it also pursues a stronger collaboration with international partners

The Belize Fisheries Department has officially reminded the public of regulations for the Queen Conch season, which runs until June 2025; the restrictions include a ban on harvesting or possessing conch

PM John Briceño, while attending the UN Summit for the Future in New York, met with World Wildlife Fund CEO Carter Roberts to discuss raising funds for Belize's environmental initiatives, focusing on protecting the country’s marine and coastal resources

A new a digital education program has been introduced in Belize, aimed at teaching computer science and robotics to around 10.000 students across 40 primary schools; currently, over 200 teachers are being trained

The country is moving to end child marriage by proposing amendments to its Marriage Act to raise the legal age for marriage from 16 to 18, also eliminating provisions allowing minors to marry with parental consent

Belizean composer Errollyn Wallen has become the first Black woman to be appointed Master of the English King’s Music; she is known for her prolific work, which includes compositions for prestigious events like the Paralympic Games