Belizean Americans Meet at Diaspora Town Halls

Some four hundred Belizeans living in the USA attended Town Hall Meetings held in Houston, Chicago, New York and Miami from September 28 – October 3, 2021, organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations through its newly established Diaspora Relations Unit. According to the Ministry, there are an estimated three hundred thousand Belizeans living abroad, and the majority of those are residents of the United States. They continue to contribute to Belize’s economy in many ways including investment, tourism, expertise exchange, philanthropy, and remittances. The Town Hall meetings were described as an opportunity to exchange ideas that will quote “contribute toward nation-building.” The sizeable Government of Belize delegation consisted of Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations; Henry Usher, Minister of Public Service, Constitutional and Political Reform; Lynn Young, Ambassador of Belize to the United States and Permanent Representative of Belize to the Organization of American States; Sandhya Murphy, Ambassador for Diaspora Relations and   Nicole Solano, Chief Executive Officer in the MTDR. In addition, Belize City Councillor Stephanne Hamilton, Councillor for Tourism and Diaspora Relations; Paul Thompson, Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister Sandra Mahler, Senior Liaison Officer in the MTDR. Gilroy Usher, Minister of State and Carlos Fuller, Ambassador to the United Nations, joined the meeting in New York. Leticia Castellanos, Honorary Consul of Belize in Chicago and Ms. Janine Sylvestre, Honorary Consul of Belize in Florida also joined the meeting in their respective cities.