Government rejects Portico Definitive Agreement; Invites Royal Caribbean Group for new negotiations

Published by [email protected] at July 3, 2023

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Posted: Monday, July 3, 2023. 5:29 pm CST.

By Breaking Belize News Staff: According to a recent press release from the Government of Belize (GOB), they have officially announced their decision to terminate the UDP Portico Definitive Agreement. This agreement had been established under the former UDP Administration. Prime Minister John Briceño shared this decision during a House of Representatives meeting held on June 16, 2023.

As stated in the press release, the UDP Portico Definitive Agreement, authorized and executed in 2020, was not fulfilling the best interests of Belize’s citizens. This significant decision was the result of comprehensive discussions within the Cabinet and advice received from internationally recognized legal experts.

Despite this decision, the press release emphasized the government’s recognition of the key strategic stakeholders’ importance to the project. It read, “Recognizing the standing of key strategic stakeholders such as the Royal Caribbean Group ─ a global leader among cruise lines ─ and Boskalis, a world-class dredging company, the Cabinet decided that the government should negotiate or develop a new agreement with these parties. The focus of this agreement should be transparency and the prioritization of Belize’s citizens’ best interests.”

On June 23, 2023, the Royal Caribbean Group underscored its commitment to Belize’s economy, promising to significantly address the current shortcomings in the country’s cruise infrastructure and contribute more substantially to Belize’s tourism industry.

In response to this commitment, the GOB press release expressed a positive outlook. It noted, “The government is inspired by this continuous commitment as it strives to enhance Belize’s citizens’ economic opportunities and quality of life. This will be done by fostering investments that underpin long-term, sustainable human development.”

The press release also confirmed that all future cruise port agreements will undergo a thorough evaluation and must receive approval from both the Cabinet and the House of Representatives. The press release concluded with a firm declaration: “This transparent procedure stands in stark contrast to the previous administration’s obscured and discreditable UDP Portico Definitive Agreement.”

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