And SICA presidents discuss issues affected the region

We told you earlier that three SICA presidents had arrived in the country for a regional summit. In the afternoon, they discussed a wide range of issues that transcend the borders, including security and human and drug trafficking.  News Five’s Marion Ali Reports.

Marion Ali, Reporting

While Belize and Guatemala have a pending border dispute, you would not be able to tell by the display of respect that the leaders of both countries had for each other.  During the thirty sixth year of SICA, Belize’s Prime Minister, Dean Barrow, handed over chairmanship to Guatemalan President, Alvaro Colom.  During a press conference this afternoon, Barrow said his term saw much progress.

Dean Barrow

dean barrow

“We saw a continuation of the momentum and perhaps a little bit of acceleration in pace with respect to the integration moment.”

In taking over the Chairmanship of SICA, President of Guatemala, Alvaro Colom, said he had strong hopes that the role of SICA will progress with the cooperation of all member countries.

alvaro colom

Alvaro Colom, President of Guatemala

“I am certain that with all the presidents of Central America and the situations of Central America, we will continue to build a Central America that is already a little Caribbean.”

The Central American leaders also dealt with border issues that Nicaragua and Costa Rica are facing with each other.  While Nicaragua did not have a representative at the Summit, Costa Rica’s Vice President, Alfio Piva Mesen, was positive about the matter.

Alfio Piva Mesen, V.P., Costa Rica

alfio piva mesen

“We need to have an important relationship together that will be worth it and it is important that we work together. It does not make sense that because of a small problem that you risk the life of a Nicaraguan or a Costa Rican.”

And while Costa Rica and Nicaragua have their own dispute to work out, Belize and Guatemala have the age-old territorial conflict over our shared border as well.  While PM Barrow and President Colom were respectful toward each other, they never discussed the issue privately but it was brought up by another discussion during the day’s proceedings.

Dean Barrow

“During the course of the ministerial meetings, Minister Aroldo Rodas, the foreign minister of Guatemala made the point during the discussion about the problems between Costa Rica NAd Nicaragua, that the manner in which Belize and Guatemala attempt to live together as good members even as we acknowledge the existence of the dispute, the existence of the problem could serve or should serve as a model for the way in which states with differences between them ought to proceed. As is usual with President Colom, he indicated in a way that I know to be sincere, his continuing warmth of feeling for Belize and Belizeans.”

The high-level meeting dealt with pressing issues such as regional security, including: drug trafficking, money laundering, human trafficking, and other cross border crime. Marion Ali for News Five.

Of note is that in the six months presidency, the traditional CARICOM/SICA summit, which brought the heads of the two sub regions together, was not held.