Cuban Foreign Minister to visit Belize

Cuba’s President, Fidel Castro won’t be in Belize until later this year, but in the meantime, he’s sending his Foreign Minister. On Thursday morning, Cuban Minister Felipe Perez Roque will arrive in Belize for a 2-day visit aimed at strengthening bi-lateral programs between Belize and Cuba. Belize’s Ambassador to Cuba, Amalia Mai says this first visit of a Cuban Foreign Minister to Belize is an important one and one that will bring out tangible benefits for all Belizeans.

Amalia Mai, Belize’s Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba

“Well Janelle we have a number of projects on line. In housing, a very important part of the collaboration program, in education, in health, in sports, in culture. We are hoping now, that Cuba will assist us in the establishment of a sports institute, a very big project for Belize, that will hopeful assist us to control if you will, the problems that we have with crime, the social problems. We are hoping that through the institute, the young people of Belize will have something else to do.”

Janelle Chanona

“Now as Belize’s relationship continues to improve with Cuba, some Belizeans might be feeling a little leery about that. As Ambassador, how do you go about dealing with that?”

Amalia Mai

“I have heard something like that, I am sure that there is just a little bit of fear perhaps. I don’t see any need for that, I don’t see any basis for that. Cuba is within the Caribbean, the approach of the Caribbean and Belize is that we have the right to determine our own foreign policy, it’s a very pragmatic approach and as such, we are part of the wider region that has relations with Cuba.”

The Cuban delegation will be met at the PGIA by Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Said Musa and other government officials.