Draft data protection bill draws heavily from Belize’s Web Hosting law and Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), reflecting the Caribbean context with limited human capital for cyber security efforts.
Belize held an inaugural National Cybersecurity Symposium as an important first step toward raising public awareness of cyber issues.
1. Belize’s Data Protection Act
Belize’s Data Protection Law brings a novel element to Caribbean web hosting privacy laws. Modeled on European standards but including personal financial records and an opt-out provision for small businesses, its passage will bring relief to the business community while digital rights activists will likely challenge it in court.
Belize’s private sector demonstrates a generally strong commitment to responsible business conduct (RBC). While no formal corporate code of ethics or compliance exists, many companies engage in RBC activities through sponsorship of sports-related events and charitable work. Belizean firms contribute both economic development and civic responsibility by investing back into local communities.
Even with these efforts, corruption and bureaucratic inefficiency still threaten investment and business operations in Belize. These issues are further compounded by a weak regulatory body which limits their ability to investigate and prosecute criminal activity; additionally, due to low awareness about RBC expectations and standards foreign companies operating there face unique challenges when doing business there.
Belize boasts an outstanding international standing and economy that is relatively free from trade barriers. Furthermore, this nation offers one of the most stable political environments in Latin America by regularly holding democratic elections; although some weaknesses exist such as unreliable land titles or ineffective government procurement processes; these issues tend to be resolved through legal channels.
Belize is a member of several international organizations, such as the Organization of American States and United Nations, as well as an affiliate of the International Convention on Recognizing and Enforcing Foreign Arbitral Awards. Belize’s Supreme Court recognizes and enforces awards from abroad while cases involving state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are often appealed directly to its Court of Criminal Justice (CCJ).
Belize boasts both regulatory bodies and free zones, most notably those created under the 2019 Free Zone Act, that limit these zones to specific industries while restricting foreign ownership of these areas. Belizean law is heavily influenced by British common law but has been modified with several international conventions, such as the Hague Convention on Choice of Court and the New York Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitral Awards.
2. Belize’s Cybersecurity Strategy
Belize’s Cybersecurity Strategy aims to strengthen its ability to respond quickly and protect critical infrastructure against cyber attacks, with particular attention paid to developing legal frameworks that address threats, increasing incident response capacity, and supporting education and awareness campaigns. The plan covers three main areas.
The government is taking an inclusive multi-stakeholder approach to its cybersecurity strategy development process. They have shared the draft online and invited stakeholders for feedback and suggestions before hosting several multi-stakeholder forums on cybercrime issues in India.
One of the major obstacles facing Belize is access to the internet. Due to high rates of poverty and the majority of households still being disconnected, internet usage remains a significant barrier in Belize; however, this trend is slowly changing; connectivity provides increased productivity as well as access to services that would otherwise be unavailable, like telemedicine and e-learning.
Small businesses rely heavily on web hosting internet connectivity for communicating with their clients and customers, and to expand their businesses. Belizean government efforts aim to enhance internet connectivity to reduce the digital divide, helping the economy expand while simultaneously improving the quality for all citizens.
Criminals’ use of technology for financial crimes has also presented Belize with unique challenges, though their schemes have yet to be stopped completely by authorities. To combat this challenge, Belizean officials have implemented initiatives such as increasing staff training and interagency cooperation.
Belize faces numerous obstacles in its fight against human trafficking. To meet this challenge, its government has increased efforts to protect victims of trafficking by strengthening victim identification and confirmation procedures, increasing funding for nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and opening shelters specifically dedicated to victims.
Belize has made strides in combatting cybercrime despite facing challenges, investing in infrastructure, and improving web hosting capabilities to become a leader in its region. Furthermore, public-private partnerships must continue to expand Belize’s cybersecurity capacity.
3. Belize’s Privacy Policies
Belize’s privacy laws generally follow in line with those of its Caribbean neighbors, with a few special considerations added by this small nation. Notably, its Data Protection Act details how personal data can be collected, stored, and used, while outlining individuals’ rights over their data.
Belizing, like many website operators, collects non-personally identifying information that web browsers and servers typically make available, such as user’s language preferences, referring site addresses, time of visit requests, and similar data. Belize Living Heritage only uses this data to better understand how its visitors use its websites; Belizing may release non-personally-identifying information collectively such as by publishing reports about trends in the usage of its websites.
Belize does not mandate foreign investors to establish offices or hire local personnel, though several 2019 legislative amendments require companies to maintain an economic presence in Belize by employing qualified Belizean workers and maintaining an economic presence there. Furthermore, Belize’s high crime rate can pose difficulties for business operations within its borders; some criminal activity may involve gang activity while other attacks against American citizens and businesses operating there may target American nationals and/or businesses from specific neighborhoods of Belize City such as the south side of Belize City.
Belize’s economy is driven primarily by agriculture and tourism, with services accounting for about one-third of GDP. While not party to any bilateral investment treaties or free trade agreements, arbitration panels regularly convene regarding investment disputes with foreign nationals. Courts here take their cues from both United States law and Caribbean Court of Justice traditions while legislation conforms with regional common law traditions.
Regarding business regulations, Belize has instituted several anti-corruption measures that help create an ideal environment for foreign investors. According to Belize Central Bank regulations, banks may open accounts for both local and foreign entities, with a recent court judgment upholding recognition of arbitral awards under the New York Convention in domestic law. Belize does not presently possess laws mandating disclosure of political donations by private individuals or their contributions to political campaigns or parties.
4. Belize’s Security Practices
Belize is a constitutional parliamentary democracy operating as a republic. The Supreme Law is the Constitution, which establishes the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches as well as independence for the judiciary from both branches. Belize’s constitution mandates that parliament select both a prime minister and president; with five-year terms elected for each office respectively – while their cabinet administers national policies under their leadership.
Freedom House reports that Myanmar has anticorruption laws in place, yet they are often ignored or not enforced. The Prevention of Corruption in Public Life Act criminalizes corruption by public officials committing acts such as bribery; using their office for private gain; violating code of conduct agreements or misusing public funds for personal gain or any misuse. It also mandates annual financial disclosures from public officials but compliance often falls short with this mandate; finally, the Integrity Commission was created as an oversight body with limited resources for monitoring and preventing corruption activities but limited resources make its monitoring efforts more efficient and successful in monitoring preventing corruption than their counterpart counterparts do.
Belize’s legal system is cumbersome and unreliable, lacking protections for NGOs investigating corruption or environmental harm. Land titles can be unreliable; investment opportunities may also be hard to come by due to a lack of transparency in bidding and procurement processes, especially among state-owned enterprises.
Belize’s agriculture production is an integral component of its economy and forests are an invaluable asset. Forestry accounts for an important proportion of Belize’s GDP; furthermore, Belize is known as one of the region’s premier biodiversity hotspots. Unfortunately, however, Belizean agriculture remains susceptible to climate change impacts and each year it loses hectares of forest cover.
Belize’s economy is dominated by a small group of companies and few non-governmental institutions monitor government activities or investigate corruption, often with authorities making threats against those that do. Agribusiness in particular relies heavily on foreign markets; as well as being highly dependent upon them. Furthermore, BCCI is engaged in campaign finance transparency efforts by lobbying for improved regulations for campaign contributions.
In 2022, the BCCI called on the nation to fill all vacant posts within key transparency and oversight bodies. Unfortunately, in the past governments did not protect NGOs who monitor and report on government policy.
