The Future of Petrocaribe in Belize

Mykel Lenin Castillo Pena

Despite his assurances that the Petrocaribe program would continue, Castillo Pena was not able to be pinned down on how the Belizean and Venezuelan governments would handle the ongoing issues. However, he says that will not stop the South American state from other projects to assist Belize, including in the areas of health with ophthalmology clinics under the Mission Miracle program and installing solar panels in selected villages in the south.

Mykel Lenin Castillo Pena, Charge d’Affaires, Venezuelan Embassy (Translated)

“In spite of all the difficulties, we are trying to find the mechanism so that this doesn’t occur again. The agreement continues, and once we can have the possibility of sending a shipment of oil, we will inform the government, so there are no further difficulties. The money that we would receive through Petrocaribe remains in this country; it cannot be transferred to Venezuela due to the sanctions of the United States. We are in negotiations with the government of Belize to use that money for a series of social projects such as Mission Miracle; two ophthalmology centers; and the installation of solar energy panels in the south of Belize.”