Honduran crisis and its effects on Belize
There have been widespread protests in Honduras since a coup de etat ousted President Manuel Zelaya to Costa Rica on the twenty eight of June on the eve of a referendum that would gauge public reaction to amend the constitution which does not allow Presidential re-election. Opposition leaders allege that the referendum was ultimately aimed at allowing Zelaya to run for a second term. The government now run by Roberto Micheletti, has come under fire by the United Nations, the Organization of American States, and the European Union which have condemned the military coup. Honduras is Belize’s neighbor and we asked Honduran Ambassador Manuel Sandoval how their national crisis will impact its ties with Belize.
Manuel Sandoval, Honduran Ambassador to Belize
“Belize is a part of SICA. They passed a resolution that doesn’t recognize the interim government. That’s the reason why Maya Island Air is not sending flights to Honduras; because the Belize government has prohibited flying to Honduras because they need authorization from the government. The situation in Honduras is very difficult. I think that dialogue is very difficult. Tomorrow the two parties will meet to continue with the dialogue in respect to what happened on the twenty-eighth of June.”
Jose Sanchez
“O.A.S. suspended Honduras, should SICA do the same?”
Wilfred ‘Sedi’ Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs
“I think that it’s almost certain that SICA will have to do the same because all the members of SICA are members of the O.A.S.. And the decision taken by O.A.S. was, in my view, unanimous. So I can’t see the SICA integration movement not adopting the same position.”
Jose Sanchez
“Belize’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Elrington said there is a possibility that SICA might suspend Honduras. What is your reaction to that?”
Manuel Sandoval
“As I said dialogue, the conflicting parties are meeting and we expect a solution can be arrived at soon, since it’s the poor people who are suffering from the situation and definitely Honduras can be bankrupt if the problem is not solved.”
Jose Sanchez
“What impact does Honduras have on Belize? Do we have economic ties what is the relationship and how would it be affected?”
Wilfred ‘Sedi’ Elrington
“It is possible that we will have difficulties doing business as usual in Honduras. Financial institutions will become reluctant to lend because of the unstable situation. Civil and some facilities, government facilities might be disrupted. Trade, if that happens, then trade will be disrupted because of course we have to pass through customs and immigration to do trade the like so that is a possibility.”
Jose Sanchez
“And in regards to migrants?”
Wilfred ‘Sedi’ Elrington
“We are very likely to have more Hondurans coming to Belize because they certainly want to be looking for security and also for search of employment.”
Sandoval said that if the dialogue does not succeed the situation could severely impact Honduras. Meanwhile, in San Jose, Costa Rica tight security measures are being put in place at the residence of President Oscar Arias. This Thursday, both Zelaya and Micheletti will meet eye to eye. Arias did not reveal today the specific details of tomorrow’s dialogue but Zelaya expects that his reinstatement will come about.
