The government has released a detailed account of all the topics which were discussed in yesterday's Cabinet Meeting.
They received a briefing from Samantha Matute-Tucker, the Assistant Solicitor General, about the progress made to identify and protect the rights of the Maya customary laws and land tenure, in consultation with the Maya People or their representatives.
The Cabinet also approved its first fiscal incentive to Caye Chapel Company Limited. They want to develop Caye Chapel into a luxury destination, branded as a Four Seasons Resort, including a 100-room hotel that would employ over 400 Belizeans. The Government says that the owners have already invested over 100 million Belize dollars and expect to receive revenues of more than $125 million annually over the next five years.
Michel Chebat, the Minister of Health and Wellness, also gave Cabinet a report on the June 30 roll-out of the Government's vaccine campaign. Since that time, 12,340 vaccines were administered countrywide. As of July 5th, 93,275 persons have received their first vaccine and 34,341 have received both doses.
The Minister then turned to the COVID situation in the Toledo District. Since July 2nd, the villages of Barranco, Conejo, and Midway were placed on a 2-week lockdown. Since then, food hampers have been delivered to villagers every four days and a weekly stipend of $150.00 is being given to every household in the affected villages.
Cabinet also gave its approval for the establishment of an entertainment and recreational park with Designated Processing Area (DPA), in the area where the casinos are located at the northern Belize border with Mexico. This will allow for the area to be transitioned into a Special Border Entertainment and Recreation Zone. The government believes that this would take advantage of the opportunity that exists in developing the tourism potential in the area.
Jose Mai, the Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise, also informed his colleagues that on July 8th, he will lead a delegation to Chetumal, Mexico discuss trade and agriculture with his Mexican counterparts.
Finally, the Prime Minister informed the Cabinet that he will be traveling to the US to meet with the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres. Topics expected to be discussed include climate change, Belize's work on the Economic and Social Council, security, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Guatemalan claim to Belizean territory. During his absence, Deputy PM Cordel Hyde will act as Prime Minister.
