President Ma Bids Adieu to the Jewel

Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou departed Belize around eleven o’clock this morning, following an overnight visit during which he met with various government officials, including heads of state from St. Kitts, St. Lucia and St. Vincent.  His journey to the Jewel, only the second since assuming office in 2008, was the final stop on a farewell tour that saw him calling on the United States, Guatemala and Belize.  During the brief stay, President Ma fulfilled a crammed itinerary which consisted of a roundtable on Wednesday night with Prime Ministers Dean Barrow, Timothy Harris, Ralph Gonsalves and Dr. Kenny Anthony.  This morning, he was part of a bicycle tour in the Old Capital in the vicinity of the Taiwanese Embassy.  President Ma Ying-jeou has a little less than eight weeks before giving way to Taiwan’s first female president.  During his incumbency President Ma made great strides in improving Taiwan’s relationship with Belize, one of several countries regarded as its strongest international ally.  President-elect Tsai Ing-wen is set to take office on May twentieth.