By Belize Live News Staff: The National Evangelical Association of Belize (NEAB) has come out strongly against the upcoming Caye Caulker Referendum on marijuana legalization, saying the move goes against the government’s earlier commitment to hold a national referendum first.
In a statement, NEAB said the government’s decision to proceed with a local vote on the island undermines public trust and contradicts promises made in 2022, when church leaders gathered 23,000 registered voter signatures in just three weeks to demand a national referendum on the issue, a record in Belizean history.
At the time, the government postponed the national vote, citing lack of funds, but assured religious leaders that no marijuana legislation would advance without national consultation. NEAB now argues that proceeding with a local referendum based on only 350 signatures is a “breach of that commitment.”
The Church also raised serious concerns about the involvement of the Minister of Police, who also oversees New Growth Industries and has been actively promoting marijuana legalization. NEAB called this a “blatant conflict of interest,” warning that marijuana continues to be linked to gang violence, drug trafficking, and crime in Belize City.
“We warned in 2022 about drug-related violence and cartel activity,” NEAB stated. “Now, automatic weapons are being fired in our streets. Marijuana is a primary root cause of crime.”
The association further cautioned that plans for a cash-based marijuana industry could open the door to money laundering and criminal infiltration, threatening Belize’s strong international financial standing. Belize currently holds a 38 out of 40 score under AML/CFT/CPF standards from the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), a record NEAB says could be “jeopardized by marijuana commercialization.”
“Strong families produce strong individuals, strong communities, and a strong nation,” the group concluded. “May God help us wake up from delusional promises from politicians seeking to benefit from increased drug use.”
