Said Musa: What’s Up With Foreign Affairs?

Said Musa

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed by Wilfred ‘Sedi’ Elrington, was not spared the sharp wit of former prime minister Said Musa who, in his casual humour, took square aim at the ministry for claiming it had opened an embassy in Caracas, as well as the ministry opening a call center in Chicago and the millions spent to promote trade.  As to the purpose of that call center, he says, it is yet to be explained since most of these are not foreign policy.  Here’s that quip.

Said Musa, Area Representative, Fort George

“As far as I know, an ambassador was sent to Caracas to open an embassy but she‘s yet to be accredited.  Unless I have my facts wrong, but there is no embassy in Caracas, Venezuela or in any part of Venezuela representing Belize.  …well I am hoping so.  Oh, I see.  It is still being planned, noh.  Well I would hope that at least they would accomplish that one because they are claiming it in the budget book.  Why am I claiming it?  Because Mr. Speaker, according to the pre-chart attached to the Prime Minister‘s budget speech, Venezuela, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is owed by the Government of Belize the sum of four hundred and six million dollars or seventeen percent of government‘s external debt, the largest amount owed by any one bilateral partner, and we can’t pay.  So anyway, the third achievement claimed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is that they established a new call center in Chicago.  Now what is that call center supposed to be doing in Chicago?  Is it collecting for visas and passports or what is it doing?  I ask myself.  Perhaps the minister can explain all these things when he comes to make his presentation”