U.S. president nominates ambassador to Belize

There’s another appointment but in diplomatic circles. Press reports from the U.S. say that the White House has put forward the nomination of a new envoy to Belize. President Obama is naming Vinai K. Thummalapally to the post. According to the reports, it is a groundbreaking submission as the nominee, if approved by the senate, will be the first Indian-American ambassador to serve in US history. It is reported he migrated to the U.S. from Hyderabad, India in 1974. If you’ve never heard or are struggling to pronounce the designate’s name, you’re not alone. That is because Thummalapally is a stranger in America’s diplomatic service. What we found out is that he is an old university pal of Obama. Thummalapally is President of MAM-A Inc, a manufacturer and distributor of CDs and DVDs, and raised over one hundred thousand dollars for Obama’s campaign. The political appointment may not come as a surprise to many in Washington, as presidents often choose friends and campaign contributors for ambassadorial positions. Thummalapally will replace former U.S. Ambassador to Belize, Robert Johann Deiter, who was also a university friend of former President Bush.