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The IMF recently reported that Belize’s economy is in a slowdown and with ballooning debt, the prognosis is not encouraging.   So what is the Ministry of Economic Development doing about it? Minister of State Tracy Panton spoke about the report today:

Hon. Tracy Panton - Minister of State - Investment, Trade & Commerce
"Well yes there are concerns and I don't know that the IMF at least in my history has ever given a good report on Belize or any other countries they have done their assessments. There are serious issues that we have to face, certainly looking at the debt servicing, in terms of our super-bond payments we're now moving from a situation where we're only going to be paying interest payments to making principle payments. That bug issue has not gone away for us, the whole issue obviously of corresponding banks situation which still a very delicate situation in this country and really is very important to us to solve as part of a regional dialogue because it's not only Belize but certainly other members of the region as well facing the same challenges. For us I'm trying to broker the relationships to bring more foreign direct investment in Belize is critical so that we can have foreign hard currency if you will to stimulate more business and also be able to generate the kind of resources we need to deal with some of the commitments and some of the relationships in moving Belize forward. We have a part to play, certainly there are other financial institutions in this country that have a part to play but I think if we all do our part we will be able to turn it around, hopefully turn it around quickly and be able to imbue the kind of confidence we need to imbue in our partners such as the IMF." 

The 15 day IMF Article IV consultation concluded on May 26th….