By: Omar Silva, NP Staff Writer

Belize City, Thursday 16th March 2023

The Belize government has introduced a new bill aimed at regulating non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and non-profit organizations (NPOs) in an effort to counter money laundering and the financing of terrorism. The Non-Profit Organization Bill 2023, introduced on March 10, would require NGOs and NPOs to comply with the Financial Action Task Force's recommendations.

While the government sees the bill as necessary for national security, the Belize Network of NGOs (BNN) has expressed concerns about the lack of consultation with the NGO community. According to Senator Janelle Chanona, who represents NGOs, the BNN and other registered NGOs have been participating in a process led by the Financial Intelligence Unit to create a national assessment for tourism and money laundering and best practices for NPOs.

However, the introduction of the bill caught the NGO community by surprise, as they were not consulted beforehand. Senator Chanona notes that the bill would impact a wide range of sectors, including sports, religion, and politics, and believes that it is critical for everyone to be fully informed and aware of the bill's contents before it becomes law.

Under the proposed legislation, NGOs and NPOs that do not comply could face fees and fines. The NGO community is calling for a delay in the bill's consideration until meaningful consultations are held. They are committed to gathering feedback, questions, and recommendations from other stakeholders to present to the government for consideration.

The government has not yet responded to the BNN's request for more time, and the bill is scheduled to be considered by a House Committee on March 16. The committee will make recommendations to the rest of parliament, and the bill could become law by the end of the month.

While both the government and the NGO community agree that it is important to counter money laundering and the financing of terrorism, the NGO community is concerned that the proposed legislation could compromise civil society's freedom of expression, civil liberties, and sustainable development work. They hope that the government will consider their concerns and work with them to strike a balance between national security and safeguarding civil society.