PM Briceño Rejects Claims He Misrepresented US Congressman’s Letter

Prime Minister John Briceño has dismissed claims circulating on several online blogs suggesting that he misrepresented the contents of a letter of commendation sent to him by U.S. Congressman Carlos A. Gimenez.  The issue arose after the Prime Minister appeared on The Morning Show on Monday where he addressed concerns about foreign investment in Belize, including ongoing discussions surrounding the Stake Bank Resort project. During that appearance, Briceño indicated that he was not concerned about criticism tied to the investment climate and referenced a letter he had received from Congressman Gimenez.  Following that interview, several online commentators claimed that the Prime Minister had misrepresented the contents of the correspondence. However, the letter itself, dated March 13, 2026, commends the Belizean government for what the congressman described as “decisive leadership” in supporting U.S. agricultural investments in Belize and strengthening bilateral cooperation. 

In the letter, Congressman Gimenez noted that strengthening U.S. agricultural investments in Belize was “a strategic necessity for a more profitable and resilient Belizean agricultural sector,” while also encouraging the government to continue protecting significant U.S. investments already operating in the country.   Responding to the criticism, Prime Minister Briceño maintained that his comments accurately reflected the intent of the letter and said the narrative being pushed online was misleading.

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “I said but here we have a congressman that gave us raving reviews in working with the private sector in this issue with agriculture. I did not link that to Stake Bank in the least. But we know what’s going on with the Stake Bank that an individual is paying for thes and when you look at some of these pages where they’re taking you they are pages that have just popped up or hardly anybody watches. The truth of the matter is that that has gone to court. And the truth of the matter is that the Supreme Court or the upper court from Belize have ruled in favor that the government does have a right to be able to acquire in the best interest. Now, Mr. Feinstein and his team, if they want to appeal that’s their right and they have done that. They’re going to the Court of Appeals. We have a judicial system that’s fair, a judicial system that works. And so we are not concerned.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs Francis Fonseca weighed in on the broader context of the controversy, referencing what he described as a coordinated effort by members of the Feinstein family associated with the Stake Bank project to elevate criticism of the Briceño administration on the international stage.  Fonseca said the government is aware of the strategy but remains focused on navigating the situation while continuing its engagement with international partners.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs: “In terms of the letter, if you talk to people around the US capitol, those are standard types of letters that go out when constituents come to people and ask for support on particular issues. So we view it in that light, but we’re treating it with seriousness and we’re treating it respectfully. I would not disagree with anything you’ve said, the way you’ve framed the question. I would not disagree with the framing of the question. And that’s why we’re responding to it. We understand that it’s clear, obviously, that the Feinstein group has engaged lobbies on their behalf. They are engaged in a very negative and I think dangerous campaign against their country Belize. I find that very disappointing and in many ways disgusting. But we understand, we are dealing with it. We have to remain professional, we have to deal with it at a diplomatic level. And we’re doing that, we’re doing that in a responsible way, as I said, by responding point by point to every allegation they have made and making it very clear to the US State Department and to the Congress”

The matter comes amid ongoing national discussions about foreign investment and development projects, with government officials maintaining that Belize remains open to international partnerships while safeguarding the country’s economic and environmental interests./