Keith Gilges Departing Belize; New Chargé d’Affaires Named

Keith Gilges

Chargé d’Affaires at the United States Embassy in Belize Keith Gilges is preparing to end his service here in Belize.  Three weeks from today, Gilges will be returning to the US before travelling to his next mission. Gilges has served in the capacity as Chargé since July of 2018.  News Five spoke to Gilges in a one-on-one interview at the U.S. Embassy residency in Belmopan today, where he told us about his experience in Belize and named his successor.

Keith Gilges, Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy of Belize

“Have I enjoyed my time in Belize? I can answer succinctly, every minute. Everything that I have done here have been such an experience. I have been incredibly grateful to the warmth of the Belizean people, of my government interlockers, a fancy word for the people we talk to. Down to the folks that I meet in the streets or in the market. when I am just out in my shorts and t-shirt with the dogs wondering around. So it has been fantastic. So really that is what is so neat about having the opportunity to have the job that I have had in Belize. I get the opportunities to do things at a high level, to engage with the ministers, the Prime Minister. And that is kind of cool to walk away with and say that I have had those opportunities.  My successor is Deputy Chief of Mission; her name is Leyla Moses-Ones. She is coming from the job of DCM in Toronto, Albania. I have known her for twenty years. She is fantastic. The people and Government of Belize are going to love her. And at some point, we get an ambassador to fill that role. It is an important position, nobody doubts that. And the fact that we have not had an ambassador here has nothing to do with Belize. It more has to do with the process in Washington. It is one of those things that slows down over time. But we are certainly looking towards this administration sending out names. Sometimes, I don’t have any inside information, but sometime soon.”