Two major infrastructure projects in Belize—the Coastal Highway Upgrading Project and the Philip S.W. Goldson Highway and Remate Bypass Project— have resulted in transformative improvements to the country’s road network and delivered significant benefits for people in surrounding communities.

Both projects were implemented under the United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Fund (UKCIF) with support from the Government of Belize, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

To mark this final milestone, the three partners hosted project Exit Workshops on November 10 and 11, 2025. The event brought together stakeholders from government ministries, civil society, implementation partners, and community representatives to reflect on the design, implementation, lessons learned, and impact of each project by also visiting key sites from both projects. Community representatives participated actively in the discussions, citing how the projects had benefited their communities and sharing constructive feedback and suggestions.  

During the workshops, Carlos Pol, Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Economic Transformation, commended both initiatives, and the support from CDB and FCDO, stating, “These projects are helping to deliver economic benefits in Belize, in line with Belize’s own plans, and demonstrate the power of strategic partnerships.”

While attending the event, Evondale Moody, Chief Engineer in the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing, stated, “The completion of the Coastal Plain Highway and the Philip Goldson Highway showcases how strategic investments and sound engineering can enhance national connectivity, strengthen climate resilience, and improve the quality of life for all Belizeans.”

Glen McCarvell, Portfolio Manager, Economic Infrastructure Division, CDB, also spoke during the event and highlighted, “The upgrades to the Coastal Highway and the Philip S.W. Goldson Highway have significantly reduced travel times and enhanced road safety provisions for over 100,000 Belizeans. CDB is proud to celebrate this achievement.”

Designed with climate resilience in mind, the infrastructure incorporates flood-resistant features and improved drainage systems, strengthening Belize’s ability to adapt to climate-related challenges, such as hurricanes, floods, and heavy rain. 

Beyond the investment in physical infrastructure, the projects also helped advance social inclusion and livelihood opportunities for communities.  For example, following two initial livelihoods studies, over 100 entrepreneurs and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) from communities in both project areas benefited from impactful entrepreneurial training with support from BELTRAIDE and collaboration with Belize Social Investment Fund (BSIF). Approximately 160 MSMEs were registered, including a high proportion of women-led businesses, and 48 of which were able to showcase their products and services at two expo events. 

The Philip Goldson Highway project further contributed to social development with a component tackling key gender-based violence and human trafficking risks through a school-based campaign and toolkit, which can now be rolled out to other local schools. Considerations for persons with disabilities were also made in the projects.  

Cherianne Clarke, Social Development Adviser, UK FCDO, added, “The UK is proud to have supported these projects, not only investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, but investing in people so that they can improve their lives and livelihoods.”

The significant achievements under both projects have gained regional recognition, with Belize’s UKCIF projects featured at the inaugural Caribbean Sustainable Infrastructure Conference (CSIC 2025) held earlier this month in Bridgetown, Barbados. This spotlight underscored that it is possible to deliver climate-resilient and inclusive infrastructure in the Caribbean that improves lives and livelihoods. It also reflected the shared commitment of the UK, Belize, and CDB to advancing sustainable and inclusive development.
 

###

Photo caption: Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and Ministry of Infrastructure, Development & Housing (MIDH) staff attend the Exit Workshops. Left to right: Kendra Butler, Operations Officer, Social Analyst, CDB;  Julian McBarnette, Operations Officer, Environmental Sustainability, CDB; Dennisha Maxime, Monitoring and Results Specialist, CDB; Cherianne Clarke, Social and Gender Advisor, UK FCDO; Whitfield Clarke, Operations Officer, CDB; Evondale Moody, Chief Engineer, MIDH; Glen McCarvell, Portfolio Manager, CDB; and Kamilah Cardona, Project Engineer, MIDH.