Belize's Battle With Corruption: A Country In Crisis

Belize is a democracy that has experienced regular rotations of power through competitive elections. However, government corruption is a significant concern, alongside a high rate of violent crime. There are also issues with police brutality and human trafficking.

Belize has struggled with corruption, and there is little political will to address the problem. Anticorruption laws are poorly enforced, and officials often engage in corrupt practices without consequence. Political parties are considered the most corrupt institution in Belize, with around 64% of respondents believing that most or all members are involved in corrupt practices.

Despite these issues, Belize's freedom of expression, assembly, and academic freedom are generally respected.

Police brutality

Belize is a democracy that has experienced regular rotations of power through competitive elections. Civil liberties are mostly respected, but government corruption is a concern, as is the high rate of violent crime.

Belize is among the countries with the highest per capita murder rates in the world. While there was a 24% decline in recorded homicides in 2020, likely due to lockdown restrictions, by the end of 2021, recorded homicides had increased by 23% compared to the same period in 2020.

Cases of police brutality continue to be reported, and authorities have been slow to address this persistent problem. The Police Amendment Act, passed in April 2018, was designed to improve disciplinary procedures and increase penalties for police misconduct. Between January and August 2021, 14 police officers accused of misconduct were dismissed from the country's police force. However, critics highlighted that only low-ranking officers were terminated, and higher-ranking officials should also be scrutinised.

In July 2021, 14-year-old Laddie Gillett was shot and killed by a police corporal in Placencia Village, Stann Creek District. The incident sparked protests for justice and a campaign for police reform. Activists in Belize City, across from the Supreme Court building, demanded that the police officer responsible be charged with murder instead of manslaughter.

In another incident in August 2022, Derrick Uh, a 20-year-old resident of Cristo Rey, was found dead in a police van. He had allegedly been forgotten in the back of the van for 14 hours after his arrest. Prime Minister John Briceno described the incident as a tragedy and demanded answers. The Opposition leader, Shyne Barrow, called for accountability, saying:

> "The Briceno Administration must do everything to ensure no other Belizean will ever perish while in custody of those charged with protecting our citizens and administering justice."

The United Democratic Party (UDP) has also called for a transparent and impartial investigation, condemning the "gross negligence" of the arresting officers.

The National Student's Union of Belize (NSUB) has also spoken out, recognising that such "barbaric actions" shouldn't have been taken by those whose oath is to serve and protect people. They, too, are demanding a thorough investigation to bring justice for Uh's death.

Human trafficking

Belize has been recognised as a democracy that experiences regular rotations of power through competitive elections. However, government corruption and violent crime rates are significant concerns. Authorities have been slow to address persistent problems of police brutality and human trafficking within the country.

• Convicting and sentencing two traffickers.
• Expanding the Anti-Trafficking (A-TIP) Police Unit, leading to more investigations.
• Improving data collection and case monitoring.
• Opening a shelter for unaccompanied children at risk of trafficking, in collaboration with an international organisation.
• Prioritising anti-trafficking funding and implementing the National Action Plan (NAP).

Despite these efforts, the Belizean government has faced criticism for failing to adequately address certain issues related to human trafficking. For instance, official complicity in trafficking crimes remains a concern, and reports of such complicity are common. Additionally, the government has been criticised for inadequate oversight of labour recruitment and insufficient investigations into allegations of trafficking. Furthermore, measures to reduce the demand for commercial sex have been deemed insufficient.

The A-TIP Police Unit, in collaboration with various government departments and NGOs, plays a crucial role in combating human trafficking in Belize. They have established Standard Operating Procedures, requiring A-TIP agents to accompany immigration officers during operations to identify suspected traffickers. The unit has also been working to improve victim identification and confirmation procedures, resulting in more accurate data.

Belize has also been working to enhance the protection and support provided to victims of human trafficking. The government has modified its victim identification procedures and coordinates with various departments and NGOs to ensure that victims have access to necessary services. The Anti-Trafficking in Persons (ATIPS) Council, chaired by the Ministry of Human Development, Families, and Indigenous Peoples' Affairs, plays a pivotal role in coordinating the country's response to human trafficking and remains committed to improving collaboration and coordination in protection, prosecution, prevention, and partnerships.

While Belize has demonstrated increasing efforts to combat human trafficking, there are still areas that require further attention and improvement, particularly regarding official complicity, labour recruitment oversight, and demand reduction for commercial sex.

Corruption in the United Democratic Party

Belize is a democracy that has experienced regular rotations of power through competitive elections. However, government corruption is a concern. A series of high-profile cases of misuse of public funds and corruption made headlines in 2020, with several scandals and court rulings involving the ruling United Democratic Party (UDP).

UDP Corruption Scandals

In 2020, several prominent corruption and fraud cases connected members of the UDP. John Saldivar, the leader-elect of the party, resigned after allegations that he had received payments from a US businessman accused of fraud. Saldivar remained an area representative for Belmopan and an active legislator.

Another case involved businessman Nestor Vasquez, the owner of television station Channel 7 and a prominent UDP member. Vasquez resigned from the boards of several national agencies after being accused of charging personal expenditures to the state-owned Belize Telemedia Limited.

In July 2020, a Belizean businessman was ordered to pay $120 million in connection with a massive real estate scam. A 2019 US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filing had previously highlighted government officials' ties to the scheme.

Electoral Corruption

In addition to these scandals, there are concerns about the potential impact of unregulated campaign financing on the transparency of the political process. Belize's "first-past-the-post" electoral system has entrenched the two largest parties, the UDP and the People's United Party (PUP). While smaller parties have competed, only the PUP and UDP have won seats in parliament.

In 2019, opposition parties and civil society groups brought a case to force a revision of Belize's malapportioned constituencies. However, their request for an injunction to stop the 2020 elections was denied.

Lack of Political Will to Address Corruption

Belize continues to struggle with corruption, and there is little political will to address the problem. Anticorruption laws are poorly enforced, and there is limited public ability to challenge officials' financial disclosure statements. For example, no one has ever been prosecuted under the Prevention of Corruption in Public Life Act, which has been in place for over 20 years.

Corruption in the People's United Party

Belize is a democracy that has experienced regular rotations of power through competitive elections. However, government corruption is a concern. The country has a high rate of violent crime, and authorities have been slow to address persistent problems of police brutality and human trafficking.

In 2020, a series of high-profile cases of misuse of public funds and corruption made headlines, with several prominent scandals and court rulings involving the ruling United Democratic Party (UDP). The following year, in September 2021, a former UDP minister, Rene Jaime Montero, was charged with corruption for allegedly using ministry employees, heavy machinery, and fuel for his personal farms. Montero allegedly fled the country after his arrest warrant was issued.

Political parties are considered the most corrupt institution in Belize. Approximately 64% of respondents to a survey believe that most or all members of Belizean political parties are involved in corrupt practices.

Belize continues to struggle with corruption, and there is little political will to address the problem. Anticorruption laws are poorly enforced; for example, no one has ever been prosecuted under the Prevention of Corruption in Public Life Act, which has been in place for over 20 years.

In 2022, Belize's prime minister, Johnny Briceño, said that his government would introduce legislation to tackle corruption and protect whistleblowers. The Protected Disclosures Bill would offer protection to whistleblowers in both the public and private sectors.

Corruption in the Belize Defence Force

Belize is a constitutional parliamentary democracy that has experienced regular rotations of power through competitive elections. However, government corruption is a significant concern, with a 2020 report noting that "Belize continues to struggle with corruption, and there is little political will to address the problem. Anticorruption laws are poorly enforced". A series of high-profile cases of misuse of public funds and corruption were reported during the year, with several prominent scandals and court rulings involving the ruling United Democratic Party (UDP).

The Belize Defence Force (BDF) is the country's military force and is responsible for protecting Belize's sovereignty. It operates under the Ministry of National Defence and Border Security and consists of a Service/Support Battalion, two Regular Battalions, and one Volunteer Battalion. The BDF has a history of different names and organisational structures dating back to 1817.

While there are no specific reports of corruption within the BDF, the organisation has been implicated in cases of human rights abuses and violence. In 2020, the BDF received between 50 and 70 allegations from female members of sexual assault and abuse of authority committed by senior male superiors. The allegations included reports of rape and resulted in an internal investigation. However, there were no credible indications of any discipline imposed, and the government's response was perceived as inadequate.

Additionally, the BDF has been implicated in cases of excessive force and brutality. During the first half of 2020, 55% of the complaints received by the Office of the Ombudsman were filed against the Belize Police Department (BDP) for abuse of power, harassment, brutality, arbitrary search and entry, and unlawful imprisonment. The human rights ombudsman also received complaints against the Belize Central Prison for allegations of inhumane treatment, refusal to provide information to families, denial of the right to communicate, and denial of proper medical care for inmates.

The BDF, along with other security forces, has also been accused of arbitrary arrests and detentions. In March 2020, the government instituted a 30-day state of emergency in Belize City, allowing the BDF and the police to target criminal gang elements. During this period, there were reports of excessive force, property damage, and the targeting of law-abiding citizens.

While the BDF's involvement in these incidents suggests a lack of accountability and potential corruption, further details are needed to establish direct evidence of systemic corruption within the organisation. The issues highlighted indicate a broader problem of human rights abuses and a lack of oversight within Belize's security forces, which the government has been slow to address.

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