PM Briceño Leads Global Discussion on Small States at IMF-World Bank Meetings

Belize’s voice on the global stage was amplified today as Prime Minister John Briceño chaired a high-level discussion focused on advancing development priorities for small states.  The Prime Minister led the event, titled “Delivering for Small States: From Strategy to Results,” during the 2026 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group in Washington, D.C.  The session spotlighted the World Bank’s newly introduced Small States Strategy, which places a strong emphasis on job creation while addressing the unique structural challenges and economic shocks that small economies frequently face.  In his remarks, Prime Minister Briceño pointed to the mounting pressures confronting small states, including limited fiscal space, increasing energy and food costs, and the growing impact of climate change. He stressed the need for targeted and flexible development solutions that reflect the realities of smaller, more vulnerable economies like Belize.  Belize’s delegation to the Spring Meetings includes Francis Fonseca, Osmond Martinez, Ambassador Stuart Leslie, Financial Secretary Joseph Waight, Ambassador Nestor Mendez, Deputy Financial Secretary Zita Magaña, Central Bank Governor Kareem Michael, and Financial Services Commission Director General Claude Haylock.