Belize gets close to $3 million to combat trans-border crime

Outgoing U.S. President George Bush signed a legislation on June thirtieth of last year which will have an impact on Belize. It is called the Merida Initiative, a partnership signed amongst the governments of the United States, Mexico, and Central America and other regional partners to confront trans-border crimes committed by gangs, organized criminal organizations and narco-traffickers. The initiative will benefit U.S. four hundred million dollars for Mexico and U.S. sixty-five million for Central America. Belize will get a small piece of the pie, close to one point five million U.S, announced the U.S. Embassy in a release today. The funds will support the development of a Central American Fingerprint Exchange, Improved Policing Equipment, Improved Prison Management, Stockpile of Weapons Management, Drug Crime Sharing Information Program, Improved Border Inspection and educational exchanges.