Protecting and Maintaining Belize’s Cultural Artifacts

As part of the process for the Cultural Property Agreement between the United States and Belize on the preservation of Belize’s cultural monuments, Doctor Andrew Zonderman, from the U.S. Department of State’s Cultural Heritage Center, has concluded an eight-day visit to Belize to conduct research. During his trip, Doctor Zonderman also held consolations with government stakeholders. The Cultural property Agreement, last extended in 2018, is a mechanism to strengthen the cooperation between Belize and the U.S. to protect and maintain Belizean cultural artifacts from looting, theft, and trafficking. The Cultural Property Advisory Committee is expected to review the findings of Doctor Zonderman and the reports submitted by Belize to assist in a final determination from the Assistant Secretary for Educational Cultural Affairs, Lee Satterfield. Of note, is the fact that, together, Belize and the United States have restored and preserved the Lamanai, Santa Rita, and Benque Viejo del Carmen Reserve archaeological sites. This was made possible by the Cultural Property Agreement. Belize is one of only 25 countries with active Cultural Property Agreements with the United States.