March 3 (Reuters) - Debt-strained Belize has not requested an International Monetary Fund bailout programme, the Fund’s top official in the country said. Belize’s government and the IMF are currently holding online talks as part of what would normally be considered a regular review of the central American country by the fund. The discussions have taken on greater significance however following recent rating agency warnings that the country, which has a debt-to-GDP ratio of more than 120% and already postponed some debt payments last year, is heading for default in May. “The virtual mission is expected to conclude next week and we will communicate at the end of the discussions. The authorities of Belize have not requested an IMF programme,” said IMF Mission Chief for Belize Jaime Guajardo in an emailed statement. Belize voters overwhelmingly elected center-left opposition leader Johnny Briceno to succeed longtime Prime Minister Dean Barrow last November The election came at a time of widespread discontent over the state of Belize’s economy, which was in the doldrums long before measures to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus decimated tourism, the main driver of prosperity. Belize is a serial defaulter but Briceno’s government wants to press ahead with measures to stimulate the economy. It means the likely requirements of an IMF programme would prove difficult to balance. (Reporting by Rodrigo Campos in New York and Marc Jones in London; Editing by Andrea Ricci)