The problem with Belize?

From Belize

A report called “Doing Business 2014” sponsored by the World Bank says that Belize ranks 106 out of 189 countries in terms of “how easy or difficult it is for a local entrepreneur to open and run a small to medium-size business when complying with relevant regulations.” This is two notches down from last year, below the regional average for Latin America and the Caribbean which is 100, and far below Mexico which ranks 53rd and Guatemala which ranks 79th.  

The problem with Belize?  Well, the study says that doing business in Belize is just plain difficult, from dealing with construction permits to registering property, to paying taxes, to getting electricity, it’s all just plain difficult in Belize.  In terms of ease of starting a business Belize is ranked 167th – which is way below the regional average; in terms of getting credit, Belize is ranked 130th, and in terms of protecting investors, Belize is ranked 138. 

Belize continues to make international headlines for all the wrong reasons as the country is losing ground to organized crime, drug trafficking and corruption. Authorities have recently uncovered criminal networks involved in the trafficking of illegal narcotics, counterfeit merchandise, timber, exotic animals, humans, and weapons. Corruption is on the rise with a number of scandals across different government ministries, several involving the illegal sale and distribution of Belizean nationality documents and passports to people from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, as well as the alleged misappropriation of government funds.

I didn't want to just pick on Guatemala.