P.M., Mayor of Belmopan head to Guatemala

With his problems mounting at home, Prime Minister Musa sought respite from the controversy in a most unlikely place: Guatemala. Two events mark his agenda. The first, occurring this morning, was to act as a witness of honour at the signing of a sister city agreement between the mayors of Belmopan and Guatemala City. The second, which occurs on Tuesday, is to join the other Central American heads of government as they welcome Pope John Paul the Second. Also on hand for the Pope’s visit is Monsignor Dorrick Wright, who will join the P.M. for the mass and canonisation of Brother Pedro, as a saint. While it is not on the official calendar of events, it is believed that Musa will meet one on one with Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo in the hope of advancing the stalled process of settling the Guatemalan claim to Belize.

As for the sister city mission, Mayor Anthony Chanona, along with his wife Myrtle and City Commissioner Atlay Morales, yesterday met with officials of Guatemala’s Francisco Marroquin University. The intention is to develop a working relationship between that institution and the University of Belize Campus in Belmopan. Both the mayoral and prime ministerial delegations return to Belize on Wednesday.