“… good laws… without enforcement… have little effect.”

Gap Analysis Report: Belize’s anti-corruption laws need stronger enforcement and transparency

By William Ysaguirre (Freelance Writer)

BELIZE CITY, Wed. June 24, 2026

   According to a Gap Analysis Report prepared by the Belize Policy Research Institute (BELPRI) in partnership with the Global Financial Integrity (GFI), Belize’s anti-corruption laws need stronger enforcement and greater transparency, with active public oversight for stronger public institutions,

   Belizean workers’ unions, the media and other civil societies got a first look at the draft report at a public consultation on governance and integrity hosted by BELPRI and the Belize Network of Non-Governmental Organizations (BNN) at Bricks & Books in Belize City on Tuesday morning, June 23.

   Global Financial Integrity helped fund the research, and Claudia Marcella Hernandez of GFI presented a review of Belize’s anti-corruption legislation, of what works and what needs to be strengthened for greater accountability and compliance. The review showed that Belize on a whole has good laws, as Belize has signed on to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). Reducing corruption is also one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Other international standards include the OAS Inter-American Convention Against Corruption and the Transparency International – National Integrity System. The review found that on a whole, Belize has good laws, but without enforcement, they have little effect.

   The Prevention of Corruption Act needs to be modernized, BELPRI director Dylan Vernon, PhD, recommended. He proposed that the requirements for declaration of assets by public officials be strengthened and expanded. The Freedom of Information Act could also be improved by stronger enforcement to ensure compliance, he suggested. He also recommended that the requirements for disclosure of beneficial ownership be strengthened for greater transparency, and he noted that the integrity of public officers could be bolstered through the establishment of comprehensive legislation to protect whistleblowers. The need for new laws to regulate campaign finances was also highlighted, along with the suggestion that anti-corruption safeguards be incorporated into the Constitution through amendments.

   The report suggests that the Good Governance Unit could coordinate how the various institutions communicate and work together for stronger enforcement of our integrity laws, and recommends that formal mechanisms be established to coordinate inter-agency information sharing. It was also mentioned that key agencies need to build their capacity for financial investigation, by developing expertise in forensic accounting and tracing assets, and oversight bodies should be given the resources to strengthen their independence. The report further indicates that there is room for improvement in the way the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) works with law enforcement and prosecutors, for better cooperation.

   The researchers scrutinized Belize’s current system of safeguards to protect the integrity of public office, and proposed that these legislative and institutional reforms be accompanied by key policy and governance initiatives. Their report recommends that the Ministry of Public Governance develop a National Anti-Corruption Strategy or Integrity Agenda. It also noted that the system of public sector ethics should be strengthened with integrity training, and the existing digital governance tools and e-procurement systems need to be expanded. Other observations were that public procurement practices need greater transparency and open contracting, and civil societies’ and the media’s capacity for oversight should be supported. According to the report, countries in the region are confronting the same challenges, and Belize’s efforts could be further strengthened through regional and international cooperation.