CONCERNS YOU MAY HAVE
There may be abuse of the Discounts
This is a purely good-will program, so you need to keep your own interests in mind, even while doing good. You are free to set your own rules and limitations and to display them close to the Gold Decal (sticker). For example, if you are a small store, you may want to give a certain percent of discount (e.g. 20%), only on food items, up to a maximum of a certain amount. Then you may want to keep a register to write the Golden Citizen's name, Social Security number, Date and Amount of Purchase, so that they are not doing their children's shopping. If you are a restaurant, you may want to give a discount only on slow days or only on food and soft drinks and not on alcoholic beverages.
Am I forced by law to enter or continue in the Program?
No, you are not. This is a purely good will program for the benefit of Belize's Golden Citizens. If your business closes or if you need to withdraw from the program, you may send in the form Withdrawal of Commitment to the address indicated so that you may be taken off any future listings. You can then also take down the Gold Decal, so Golden Citizens will know that you are no longer participating in the program.
How big a discount or service do I have to give?
Every business is different, every product line has a different profit margin, every day there is a different flow of clients. What you give as benefit to the Golden Citizen can only be determined by you. You may want to give a big discount on certain items while on others you may want to give a lower discount and on others none. If you are a restaurant, you may want to give discounts throughout the week or only on slow days. Some restaurants offer a free birthday dinner. A very small restaurant may want to have a Golden Citizens Day every week with a 50% discount.
Other Concerns:
Feel free to ask your local Social Security officers or Alba Franco at 822-2163 in Belmopan.
PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES: (Click to "open" or "save" documents.)