And so while unemployment is a huge social issue, the major economic issue is the continued contraction of Belize's gross domestic product. It was a sharp downturn in the first and second quarter, and that trend continued in the third quarter, when the country's overall economic performance was down by 13.2%, when compared to the same period last year:
Jacqueline Sabal - Statistician II, SIB
"For the third-quarter months of July to September 2020, Belize produced goods and services totaling 578.9 million dollars. This represents a decrease of 87.8 million dollars or 13.2% when compared to the third quarter of 2019. For the first 9 months of 2020, the country's GDP was estimated at 1,878.5 million dollars. This was a decline of 316.2 million dollars or 14.4%, from 2,194.7 million dollars in the first 9 months of 2019. This significant decrease in the country's level of production was the result of prolonged dry weather, combined with the devastating economic effects of COVID-19. The pandemic was especially detrimental to the services sector, during the second and third quarters of the year. If we look at what each sector contributed to the total GDP in the third quarter of 2020, the sector with the largest contribution was the tertiary sector, which accounted for 60.5% of production. The secondary sector accounted for 16%, the primary sector, 9.6%, and the remaining 14% was in taxes. Looking specifically at the third-quarter GDP at constant prices, over a 7-year period, the graph highlights fluctuations in the GDP, from 2015 to 2019, followed by a significant 13.2% decline in production in the year 2020. During this period, the tertiary sector declined considerably, overshadowing increased production in both the primary and secondary sectors. Looking first at the primary sector, output increased to 55.5 million dollars during the 3rd quarter of 2020. This represents a growth of 18%, or 8.5 million dollars when compared to the 3rd quarter of 2019. Within the primary sector, agriculture, hunting, and forestry grew by 17.7% or 7.5 million, totaling 50 million dollars. The fishing industry also increased by 20.5% during the quarter, as marine exports increased by 0.9 million dollars, totaling 5.5 million dollars."
Belize's primary and secondary sectors performed very well, but the tertiary sector was down by a cumulative 18.6%.
Four More COVID Deaths
And, from the economy - contracting due to COVID - to the latest numbers, where, sadly, the deaths keep adding up.
Tonight, there are four more deaths to report - bringing the total number to 183 deaths since March.
Here's a clip of the the daily report from HECOPAB's Kathleen Azueta-Cho outlining hose deaths:
Notably, there were 1363 tests done today, and 506 came back positive.
Faber Asks For Bi Partisan Approach To Tackle COVID
As those numbers show, the cases continue to increase - and today the leader of the opposition called for the resumption a unified bi partisan effort to come up with containment strategies:
PUP Ladies Lead With New Speaker and President
And while Faber announced the UDP's shadow ministers and senators today, the PUP is expected to unveil its new House speaker and Senate President on Friday.
Former Senator Valerie Woods will be named as Speaker, while Carolyn Trench-Sandiford is expected to take up the post of the President of the Senate.
Woods will be replacing Laura Tucker-Longsworth and Trench-Sandiford will be replacing Darrell BRadley.
Rodwell and Oscar Rural Electrification Superheroes
They've been complaining from the opposition bench about the need rural electrification for the better part of a decade and on Monday, Minister of Public Utilities and Logistics Rodwell Ferguson and Minister of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government Oscar Requena got to show out.
It followed a meeting of stakeholders in the U.A.E funded emPOWER Project. It's part of the Government of Belize's strategic plan to fulfill its nationwide sustainable strategy of 100% access to modern and affordable electricity coverage.
The first step, the planned June 2021 installation of 400kW of solar photovoltaic and battery storage will serve the villages of Indian Creek, Medina Bank, and Golden Stream in the Toledo District. The hope then is the eventual achievement of universal energy access.
The emPower Project is being carried out in partnership with the Government of Belize.
Trappy's Chapel
And finally tonight, It's a shining new White Chapel for Santa Elena's Cemetery. It was inaugurated this morning by the council of the twin towns and promises to provide a solution for final religious rites carried out during the pandemic. And this morning Mayor Earl Trapp spoke to Cherise Halsall via zoom and told her that the Chapel's ribbon-cutting brought them quite a few accolades.
Trapp also told us that the Non-denominational Chapel can be booked ahead of time by contacting the council. He hopes that during this period it will function not just for funerals but for more general worship as well.
