BAMBOO: A WIN FOR BELIZE

By Hilly Bennett

On the heels of BELIZE INVESTMENT SUMMIT 2022, a first, BELIZE INVESTMENT SUMMIT 2023 is fast approaching. This year’s summit will be held in the beautiful peninsula of Placencia from August 30 - September 1. There is already over one hundred million in projected investments in the pipeline. Since the 2022 theme “Belize is Open for Business” it is clear that investor confidence has been restored as a myriad of international and local investments and Public Sector Private Sector partnerships in the Jewel have been accomplished.

The Prime Minister, Honorable John Briceño announced the innovative investment by some Jamaican investors in the growing and producing bamboo. The investors have raised almost five hundred million dollars in hopes of planting twenty to thirty thousand acres of bamboo trees. Briceño told the media that “there is this bio products, bamboo bio products. A group out of Jamaica, they have set up a new industry by growing bamboo…to produce pulp, and also the waste is used to produce energy.” The group is looking to source land in the Toledo District and the Stann Creek District where idle lands from the citrus industry exist.

Bamboo is wild grass (not trees) that grow across the world including Belize. It can provide income generation for the local communities and it can help tackle climate change as hinted by Prime Minister, John Briceño. “It can sequester carbon faster than similar fast-growing tree species, such as Chinese fir and eucalyptus when properly managed” said Coosje Hoogendoorn, Director General of International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), based in Beijing, China. Hoogendoorn, in a presentation at COP16 in Cancun, Mexico said that “Bamboo is a remarkable resource for driving economic development, and is readily available in many of the world’s poorest countries.” Its strength and flexibility materials can withstand floods, storms and earthquakes. It is stronger than steel weight for weight, and its roots can reduce soil erosion by up to 75 percent. Hence, bamboo products can be used to alleviate the ill effects of climate change in the areas of Monkey River, Silk Caye, Goff’s Caye and other coastal areas suffering from soil erosion.

Alvaro Cabnera, INBAR’s regional coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean, suggested that “apart from mitigating climate change effects, people can make money by building a sustainable industry that requires little investment.” This type of investment is aligned with Belize’s Sustainable Development Goals. It signals the creation of jobs, and a lot of opportunities. This is a far cry from

5 FEB 2023 the cold embrace of the investment climate under the Barrow regime. The result was the loss of investors confidence.

As Belize opened its doors for business, the investment confidence was restored. The Prime Minister, John Briceño, expressed the support of his

Government for the project. The Bamboo Investment is surely a win for the economy, business, environment and country and people. This is another indicator that the PUP Government continues to work in the best interest of the country and people.

Bamboo a win for Belize!

The Belize Times

For Sale By Order Of The Mortgagee

The Development Finance Corporation of Bliss Parade, City of Belmopan, Cayo District hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as mortgagee under Deed of Mortgages or Charges between those hereinafter named and the said Corporation which mortgages or charges are recorded at the Land Titles Unit or the Lands Registry, respectively and that the said Development Finance Corporation will, at the expiration of two (2) months from the date of the first publication of this notice, sell the properties described in the Schedule hereto.

All offers to purchase the said properties must be made in writing to the said Corporation at its Headquarters Office or District Offices.

Schedule

Parcel No. 419, Block No. 4, Tower Hill Registration Section containing 30 acres of land situate in Orange Walk District, held under a Land Certificate being the freehold interest of ARMANDO SERGIO CARRILLO surety for DARIO AZIEL CARILLO.

Parcel No. 495, Block No. 4, Tower Hill Registration Section containing 9.20 acres of land situate in Orange Walk District, held under a Land Certificate being the freehold interest of ARMANDO SERGIO CARRILLO, ARMANDO TOMAS CARRILLO & DARIO AZIEL CARILLO (jointly) surety for DARIO AZIEL CARILLO.

Parcel No. 1033, Block No. 1, Corozal Central Registration Section containing 555.6 square yards situate on 16th of June Street, Corozal Town, Corozal District, Belize, held under a Land Certificate being the freehold interest of BENJAMIN JOSE ANTONIO ACOSTA

DATED