FM Elrington Still Not Back in Belize after Istanbul Talks

Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington is not expected to return to Belize until after the meeting in Habana of the Association of Caribbean States on June sixth. The Minister is racking up miles on an extended tour which has taken him to Taiwan, Turkey, Papau New Guinea and then Cuba which is the last leg of his tour. Along with his Guatemalan counterpart, Carlos Raul Morales, he has been visiting capitals seeking financial assistance specifically for the O.A.S. Office at the Adjacency Zone and its related initiatives.  In Turkey, it is known though not confirmed they raised two hundred thousand U.S dollars and in London, which is among the Group of Friends at the O.A.S., Elrington and Morales met with Hugo Swire, the Minister of State with responsibility for Latin America in the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.  It is not yet known what contributions the British will make, but funding is being sought for the awareness campaign and for economic development programs for Guatemalan communities along the adjacency zone. Funding is also required to prevent Guatemalan nationals from illegal entering Belize for illegal activities and to keep the O.A.S. office functioning.