Will Barack Obama visit Belize?

Is Barack Obama coming to Belize? That’s the question that was put to the new United States Ambassador who began his diplomatic mission to Belize last month. Vinai Thummalapally is a former roommate of Obama, and that relationship is expected to translate into renewed interest in Belize. Today, the U.S. ambassador met the press corp for the first time and took on a number of issues. One of the questions had to do with the touted visit of the forty-fourth president of the United States. In April fresh back from the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad where he had engaged with Obama, Prime Minister Barrow said that the US president would come to Belize despite the logistical nightmare. Since then there has been much speculation and everyone in the country wants to know if Barack Obama will be making a trip to Belize. Thummalapally said today he did put that question to the president.

Jose Sanchez
“How likely or unlikely is an Obama presidential visit to Belize?”

Vinai Thummalapally, U.S. Ambassador to Belize
“Good question. I don’t know the answer. I actually asked the president that. His answer was “I would love to come. But I’m not sure if and when I can with everything that I have on my plate. But actually everybody in this room and more outside would love to see my boss come visit Belize. It’s beautiful here.”

Nial Gillett, Reporter
“He can come golf in Caye Chapel.”

Vinai Thummalapally
“That would be a treat.”

Obama’s visit then does not at least for now appear on the radar.