Mexican Ambassador Hosts Media Workshop

The new Mexican Ambassador to Belize, Carlos Quesnel Melendez, has hit the ground running. This morning, he hosted the media to breakfast and spoke on some of the projects that will be the focus during his tenure. Quesnel Melendez intends to strengthen bilateral agreements with Belize as it relates to education, health and culture. Also high on the list, is the fostering of economic ties with nearby Mexican cities, with emphasis on tourism. Following a presentation, the Mexican Ambassador fielded questions from the media on a number of issues, including insurance when traveling across the border.

Carlos Quesnel Melendez

Carlos Quesnel Melendez, Ambassador of Mexico to Belize

“Regarding your first question, about the first par insurance, I would like to emphasize that this is something, a measure that was aimed initially for Mexicans it was an internal, local regulation. It is different in Belize, because it Mexico we have the insurance and it was enacted last year. It wasn’t addressed to anyone particular, but Mexicans. This insurance must be issued by a Mexican company, but it can also be issued by a Belizean company. So you can have the insurance but you can buy it here through a Belizean company that has partnership with a Belizean company and that makes the process easier. The price, there is a price for the insurance but it depends on the value of vehicle and the amount of time or the period of which the car going to be. If somebody has a more comprehensive insurance on a car there in Mexico, they don’t need to get a new one. We will be looking at more ways to facilitate Belizeans by car.”

Javier Aguilar

Javier Aguilar, In Charge of Economic Affairs, Mexican Embassy

“In Mexico, we didn’t have an obligation to have a report for insurance and that changed last September. It is also important to say that the implementation for this gradual. Right now the only vehicles for which this apply are for vehicles which are 2008 and more recent models and also the amount of value passes one hundred and sixty two thousand pesos. If your vehicle is an older model, then you don’t have to comply with it this year. But this will be changing through to 2018, I think, where all vehicles regardless of the model and value will have to.”

He also said that Mexico will be collaborating with Belize on the training of police officers.