An Invitation to AMLO from PM Barrow: Bienvenido a Belice

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador

An invitation has been extended to Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to visit Belize in December during the upcoming summit of the Central American Integration System, SICA.  AMLO, as the incoming Mexican head of state is popularly known, takes office on December first and, should he accept PM Barrow’s invitation, should be here two weeks later.  In the past, it was an established practice that incoming presidents from Mexico would stop in Belize before taking office and state visits were the norm.  Prime Minister Barrow told the media on Monday that the opportunity would be used to push for the delivery of a much delayed Mexico/Belize Partial Scope Agreement.

Dean Barrow

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“The finalization of our draft partial scope agreement with Mexico should further offset any apprehension about Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s initiative.  Now admittedly, this is something that I had started with the Mexicans way back in the time of President Calderon.  Most recently it has been stalled because, the Mexicans say, of the NAFTA renegotiations, but those are now done and Belize can accordingly push for early conclusion now of the partial scope agreement.  So, in that regard, I have already invited the Mexican president-elect to come to Belize in mid-December for the SICA summit and once he accepts that invitation, you can be certain I will be pressing for delivery of the long overdue Mexico/Belize Partial Scope Agreement.”