Concerns Mount Over Security and Corruption at Corozal Free Zone

Finally, from the new office of Minister Oscar Mira, there is the matter of the Corozal Free Zone – the setting for a trade war of sorts.  Concerns have mounted over citizen security and some levels of corruption taking place in the zone.  Mira agrees that the matter is heightened and needs urgent attention.  While acknowledging this, he is still unsure as to how this issue would be addressed.

Oscar Mira, Minister of Home Affairs and Enterprise: “It’s a very delicate situation in the Free Zone. I haven’t really sat down with the CEO of the Free Zone and the management of Board of the Director of the Free Zone as yet. I do have a meeting pending with them this week for them to give me a briefing as to what is happening at the Free Zone. What I can say is that I want to make sure that I work hand in hand with the business community of the Free Zone. The Free Zone is a viable contributor for business in Belize. It’s also a contributor for many jobs that happen in the North. I get to understand that over a thousand workers are employed in the Free Zone. So it contributes to a lot of jobs and it is something that we must look very carefully at. I do want to address the situation of safety and security in the Free Zone, and that is something that I’m going to speak with the Board of Management and the CEO of the Free Zone this week.”

Jose Abelardo Mai was the previous minister responsible for the Free Zone./