Diaspora Meetings Continue: This Time LA and Las Vegas

The Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations recently completed town hall meetings in both Los Angeles and Las Vegas. With an ever increasing population of Belizeans in the Diaspora, C.E.O. Nicole Solano told News Five the meetings look at a range of issues and are a chance to maintain connections.

Nicole Solano

Nicole Solano, C.E.O., Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations

“Belizeans living abroad are very happy to be engaged directly with people living in Belize, the government officials, the ministers, they really do appreciate hearing first hand, to be able to connect. They feel just glad to be in their presence and to learn firsthand what is happening in their home country. As you know, Belizeans living abroad have a lot of relatives in country and they are happy to hear about what is happening in Belize. So, for us to be able share first hand and give them those facts about where the government is going, they really appreciate it. Of course, a lot of people have issues related to how to reach out to families at home. Many of them want easier ways of sending gifts, donations, funds, and resources. These are some of the things. People have issues with their lands, paying their taxes, how can they renew things like Social Security cards. There is a whole long list of things, special needs that Belizeans living in the Diaspora have. We were able to be out there to discuss directly with them how to resolve the issues they have and to help them to connect and get the things they need to get done in Belize. A lot of them as well want invest in Belize. They have businesses. They have been very successful. They want to come home to start business in Belize. So being able to hear first hand from Belize and how to make that easier and better is very important to them.”

These recent meetings were continuations of last year’s Dispora outreach efforts in Houston, Chicago, New York, and Miami.