By Breaking Belize News Staff: Prime Minister John Briceño says the Government is moving ahead with major procurement reforms, including a Central Procurement Unit, a public electronic portal and stiffer penalties for persons who deliberately try to circumvent the system.
Briceño said the proposed Central Procurement Unit is separate from the immediate review of the Ministry of Defence, but forms part of a broader reform process that Government has been developing with assistance from the Inter-American Development Bank.
According to the Prime Minister, the new system would require ministries to publicly list procurement needs and awards through one portal. He said that would make it harder for repeated payments to be hidden below a threshold because the public would be able to see what each ministry is doing.
Briceño said Cabinet is expected to receive a presentation on the Central Procurement Unit next week. He said the system is intended to be more open, transparent and focused on value for money. He also said there may be jail time for persons who deliberately try to bypass procurement rules.
The Government Press Office, this week, confirmed that Briceño chaired a special Cabinet meeting on July 7, 2026, where ministers and CEOs were briefed by the Financial Secretary, Contractor General and Auditor General on procurement best practices, the Finance and Audit Reform Act, Stores Orders and related regulations.
The post PM says procurement reform will include central portal and possible jail time for abuse appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: Prime Minister John Briceño says the Government is moving ahead with major procurement reforms, including a Central Procurement Unit, a public electronic portal and stiffer penalties for persons who deliberately try to circumvent the system. Briceño said the proposed Central Procurement Unit is separate from the immediate review of the
The post PM says procurement reform will include central portal and possible jail time for abuse appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
