How GOB can find $63 million for teachers — If it stops protecting the hustle

Published by [email protected] at May 13, 2025

Posted: Tuesday, May 13, 2025. 6:46 am CST.

By Horace Palacio: Prime Minister John Briceño says the government can’t afford the $63 million needed to meet teachers’ salary demands. He warns that honoring the proposed 8.5% raise would force the government to cut social programs — as if the choice is between supporting teachers or feeding the poor.

Let’s cut the nonsense. Belize’s problem is not a lack of money. It’s a lack of will to collect it properly and spend it responsibly.

If the Government of Belize (GOB) wants to find $63 million, here’s a start — and it doesn’t involve new taxes, just cleaning up the mess everyone already sees:

Crack down on widespread tax evasion in the retail sector

Let’s talk about the Chinese-owned groceries and stores across Belize. Thousands of them operate under cash-based systems, underreport sales, and often use creative bookkeeping to dodge GST and business tax. Go to any town or village and you’ll see it — no receipts, no audit trail, no accountability.

The GOB knows this. The tax department knows this. But enforcement is weak — or selectively applied. Implementing a national point-of-sale system with mandatory digital receipts, random audits, and real-time tax tracking would recover tens of millions in lost tax revenue from this one sector alone.

Strengthen Customs — and shut down the hustle at the border

Belize loses millions annually to under-invoicing and smuggling at customs. Importers — especially bulk goods importers — routinely declare false values, pay lower duties, and grease palms to move containers faster and cheaper.

It’s an open secret.

Installing mandatory cargo scanning systems, digital customs declarations linked to real foreign invoices, and deploying independent anti-corruption monitors at major ports could recover tens of millions more. If we plugged just 30% of the leakages, we’d easily be looking at $25–30 million annually.

Audit land deals and reclaim undervalued transfers

The land hustle is another scandal. Political allies have been gifted or sold prime land at pennies, only to flip it for massive profits — often tax-free. A comprehensive audit of government-issued land deals over the past 15 years would likely reveal tens of millions in lost public revenue.

Cancel fraudulent or politically tainted transfers. Recover or tax the gains. Reclaiming just 10% of misallocated land could fund teacher salaries for years.

Slash the fat at the top: High salaries, double dipping, and ghost posts

If GOB wants to talk about fiscal responsibility, start at the top.

Ministers, CEOs, and politically appointed board members draw massive salaries, travel perks, and benefits. Some sit on multiple boards, collecting stipends on top of their fat contracts. Meanwhile, teachers — the backbone of the country’s future — have to march in the sun for a few extra dollars.

Cut the double-dipping. Freeze luxury vehicle purchases. Audit statutory bodies and eliminate ghost posts. This alone could free up another $10–15 million.

Tax luxury where it hurts the least

Instead of squeezing the poor, tax what won’t kill the economy:

A 1–2% luxury tax on yachts, imported vehicles over $100K, and second homes valued over $1M
A special duty on high-end alcohol and tobacco products
A small digital service fee on social media ads bought in Belize

These changes wouldn’t hurt the average Belizean, but could add millions to public revenue.

Teachers aren’t asking for charity. They’re asking for fairness. They held the country together during the pandemic. They teach the children of every corner of Belize — underpaid, overworked, and still showing up.

So when the Prime Minister says the country can’t afford to pay them, he’s not telling the whole story.

Belize can find the $63 million — but only if the government stops protecting the corruption, tax dodging, and insider deals that drain public money before it ever reaches the people.

Fix the leaks. Audit the insiders. Tax the luxuries.

And pay the teachers.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author, Horace Palacio, and do not necessarily reflect the views or editorial stance of Breaking Belize News.

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