Ambassador of Mexico talks about ADO Bus Line and electricity

H. E. Mario Velazquez

Relations with Mexico have significant importance to Belize. That country’s new Ambassador presented his credentials this past Tuesday and this morning Ambassador Mario Velazquez hosted a breakfast with members of the media at the Belize Biltmore Hotel.  There are two major issues that were raised with the head of mission: Mexico’s bus line ADO is starting runs to Belize this week and the current negotiations with Comision Federal de Electricidad about restructuring electricity fees for Belize Electricity Limited.

H. E. Mario Velazquez, Ambassador of Mexico to Belize

“I am arriving here, I am coming with greetings from the President of Mexico, Felipe Calderon for all the authorities and the people of Belize. We will be working very hard on starting my tenure in Belize and we will be working very, very hard in trade, tourism and investment. Also in technical and scientific cooperation, education and culture and of course also border security and immigration. Working together—together with our best intention in doing the best for both countries and that includes absolutely every kind of topics, every kind of issues; we want to be a special partner for Belize. ADO is a Mexican enterprise and they are talking with the authorities of Belize and they are considering the convenience of receiving these Mexican buses that will be coming with tourists that come to Mexico; we will share them with Belize. That is the intension.”

Jose Sanchez

“Do they intend to take passengers from Belize to Chetumal or different parts of Mexico?

H. E. Mario Velazquez

“No that is not the intention. They will come from Cancun, they will come from Merida, some of them will stop in Chetumal, but not for taking passengers to that place. They are not going to do something that others are doing now.”

Jose Sanchez

“Do they intend to build terminals for the buses in Belize?”

H. E. Mario Velazquez

“I’d say that is a possibility, but that depends on conveniences—conveniences of course of the Belizeans.”

Jose Sanchez

“Is there current experiments to see how it will work?”

H. E. Mario Velazquez

“In the next days, they will start with some rides. If they come good, they will continue. If they come good for everybody of course.”

Jose Sanchez

“CFE. What is Mexico’s perspective on what it hopes to come out of the negotiations with the government regarding electricity?”

H. E. Mario Velazquez

“Well that is coming excellent. Mexico continues supplying electricity to Belize. We are presenting better prices, we are presenting also new documents, new agreements for that and we will continue.”

Jose Sanchez

“You also mentioned six percent possible reduction in rates?”

H. E. Mario Velazquez

“Yes that is an intention. Mexico is reducing the prices.”

Jose Sanchez

“At six percent?”

H. E. Mario Velazquez

“Yes that is possible. We want to import more from Belize and sugar cane; we are considering that—we need it. We have considered a total agreement with that. Considered all the products and exchange it and we have presented to the Belize authorities a new proposal for trying to get an agreement. If that proposal is convenient for Belize, if they want to make some other considerations, we will have a final agreement and that will get for everybody to increase our exportations and importations. But we want more importation from Belize.”

The ambassador says that Mexico will assist either with rebuilding or repairing the Belize City Center.