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Belizeans will be granted special access to the Corozal Free Zone this Tuesday for Christmas shopping, following a decision by the Government of Belize aimed at supporting consumers during the holiday season. Under the arrangement, Belizean shoppers will be able to enter the Free Zone to purchase selected goods, excluding alcohol and cigarettes, at duty-free prices, a move officials say will help ease the cost of living for families during the festive period. The Corozal Free Zone, normally reserved for non-Belizean shoppers and commercial buyers, has been periodically opened in the past for special shopping access. While free-zone access for Belizean shoppers has been discussed in recent years, it has not been regularly permitted for general Christmas shopping during the past several seasons, making this week’s opening a notable exception this year. Cabinet discussions earlier in the week focused on inflation and other household cost pressures facing Belizean families, leading to the decision to open the Free Zone temporarily. Government officials stressed that security preparations and logistical planning have been prioritized to ensure a safe and orderly experience for Belizean shoppers. Minister of National Defence and Home Affairs, Florencio Marín Jr., spoke about these arrangements and the coordination between law enforcement and border agencies ahead of Tuesday’s opening.
Florencio Marin Jr, Minister of National Defence and Border Security: “We have been assured that all the different departments, because it’s not just security, remember we have the customs, we have the immigration, we have the free zone authorities, everyone is working together to be able to have a smooth operation on the day for Belizeans to go and to be able to shop in the free zone.”
Local business leaders and consumer advocates have welcomed the decision, noting that access to the Free Zone could provide more choice and lower prices for holiday purchases.
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