Belize City Council Strengthening Sister City Relations

Darrell Bradley & Eduardo Espinosa Abuxapqui

The City Council joined up today with a visiting delegation from Othon P. Blanco, from the neighboring state of Quintana Roo. Both municipalities continue to enjoy the longest running sister city relations. Mayor Darrell Bradley and Eduardo Espinosa Abuxapqui both celebrated the strong ties and committed to further strengthen the relationship through trade and services.

Lic. Eduardo Espinosa Abuxapqui, Municipal President, Othon P. Blanco Quintana Roo

“He’s saying that he is very happy to be here and to start working once he takes office on the thirtieth of September strengthening these sister relations with Belize. Belize and Chetumal are very brotherhood and so he would like to work in conjunction with.”

Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor

“In response to your question Aaron, put this in context. You would recall that the Belize City Council as part of our strategic plan has been trying to depend our relationships with the cities in the states of Quintana Roo and outside of Quintana Roo also. You will recall that we recently went to the City of Merida where we met, together with Mister Valencia, with representatives there. And again we have historically had a relationship with the city of Chetumal. These are states which offer our country tremendous potential in the area of trade, in the area of development; in the area of ensuring that there is mutually—mutual benefits going both ways. I think that part of the response to your question has to do with the way we respond as a country to the invitation from our friends in Mexico. And I think a large part of it has to do with us in Belize putting together a strong plan and platform so that when we are able to have discussions with our friends in Mexico—both at the level of Othon P. Blanco and elsewhere—we can bring to them what Belize has to offer and that will ensure that there is mutuality in terms of the exchanges. Whenever we go on these visits in terms of cultivating our sister-sister relationship and in terms of this most important relationship to us, which is our city relationship with Chetumal and Othon P. Blanco, there is always a commitment on both sides—both at the head at the municipal president’s level and at our level to ensure that there is reciprocity. But reciprocity will only come when the people on the ground in terms of businesses; they have that depth of exchange. We at the political level can only provide the networking opportunities. We can only bring people together, but it is for the people and the businesses to make that magic and to make that work. So a lot of that have to fall on us in terms of what we are able to sell, what we are able to produce, what we are able to exchange both in the area of trade, in the area of products, in the area of services.”