Does any one have any idea why the town board is asking for a police record check when applying for a Trade License?
It seems that they are just trying to make things as hard as they can for people to earn a living.
I can understand them asking for this if I was applying for a liquor license, but I want one for a small workshop.

Dont get me wrong, I do not have a record, but was told it can take up to 3 months to get a police record check, what am I to do while waiting?, will the town board pay me for lost income? Also the wording on the application reads "A police record must be present along with your application" So does that mean that all people who do not have a police record must break the law and get arrested so they can produce a police record?

Would like to know what other people think of this.

It doesn't take that long and I'm happy to see they are asking, we've had some scoundrels working on the island and some scandal , this move might help.
Tour guides have to have the police records to renew their lic. annually and 6 weeks is max. time, usually if you are willing to go directly to Belize City and apply its much quicker.
I had a laugh also when I was told i needed a police record to be a tour guide :-) but of course it means a record that you don't have a record. :-)
I think it only cost 12 dollars belize and 2 photographs.
My best advice is be polite but persistent at the same time...
and dont seek advice from around the bar at the local pub.

$12BZ and 6 weeks, picked mine up last week.

Thanks for the info guys will apply for a "police record" :-)
today.

Merry Christmas.

"will the town board pay me for lost income/"

Yes of course the town board will pay you for lost income..their main concern is that expats such as yourselves are not inconvinenced in the least.

You can get a police record on the same day if you go to Belmopan to apply. Typically it takes 3 weeks if you apply here on the island.

I wholeheartedly agree with Elbert on this one - absolutely it is about time for the town to begin actually "vetting" people before granting trade licenses. We have seen so many fugitives from foreign lands here doing business lately. I for one am sick and tired of having to try and make a living in my home town when criminals from elsewhere swoop in, buy a trade license (pay off whoever they need to) and then chip away at my little piece of the pie.

If we are renewing our old license, do we have to get a police report?

After 23 years here in Belize and 10 of those teaching in a high school in Corozal,I do not consider myself as an expat,even though I am. I just wanted to know why a police record check is needed to apply for a trade license. When you try to do things here legally, you always come up against so much red tape. No wonder they are so many illegal businesses here on the island.
As for remark about them paying for lost income, I was being flippant.

We all have to get police records when we apply for certain privileges - it is true for Born Belizeans, naturalized Belizeans, Belize residents and foreigners. Many employees require police records to accompany applications for a job vacancy.

It's not a big deal. You fill in a form at the police station and pay your $12. You need to supply 2 passport sized identical photos.

Don't worry, it doesn't sound like special treatment against an ex-pat, but rather new protocol at the town council.

It would be less annoying if they announced new protocol and enforced all of the new proceducres all of the time.

We applied for a trade license renewal but haven't been asked for a police record..... yet.