A Look at Bi-Lateral Agreements Signed

There were thirteen agreements signed on Wednesday between Wilfred Elrington and Carlos Raul Morales, the Foreign Ministers of Belize and Guatemala. They cover a period of ten years and while the contents have not been disseminated, we have just obtained copies and we can tell you that they are voluminous. We have not had the opportunity to fully review and therefore cannot comment, but broadly the agreements cover the following areas: first, for the Protection, Conservation, Recovery and Return of Items of Cultural and Natural Patrimony Which Have Been Stolen, Pilfered, Looted, Exported or Trafficked Unlawfully. Second, is for Mutual Recognition of Driver’s; third, for the Equivalence of Studies and the Recognition of Educational Documents; fourth, for the Protection of the Environment and the Sustainable Use of Resources; fifth, is on Electric Power Trade, Transmission, Interconnection and Grid Connectivity; sixth, on Expedited Deportation; seventh, for the Harmonization of Operating Hours at Legal Terrestrial Entry Points; eighth, is for the Transit of Students Through Terrestrial Ports of Entry; ninth, is on Penal Sentences; the tenth, covers the Recovery and Return of Vehicles Stolen, Confiscated, or Impounded Illegally or Inappropriately; eleventh, is on Student Visas; twelfth, is on Sustainable Tourism; and the thirteenth is for a program for Work for Seasonal Workers. As we said, they are lengthy and voluminous and having just obtained copies, we have been unable to fully review.