CARSI gives to region, but is it enough?
julissa reynoso
The Central American Regional Security Initiative was originally called the Merida Initiative. But the renaming also meant that funds would be pumped not only in Mexico but to all other countries in Central America. The assistance given to countries like Belize is to stop the flow of narco- trafficking, weapons, and curb the effects of gangs and criminal organizations. It’s a tall order since the country is bordered by the sea and shares a virtually unmanned border with three Central American countries. And though Belize only receives a few million U.S. dollars a year from CARSI, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Western Hemisphere and Central America, Julissa Reynoso, says that Belize’s government also needs to do its part.
Julissa Reynoso, Dep. Asst. Sec. of State For Western Hemisphere Affairs
“We have created a Central America only plan centrally named and launched last year. The plan covers Panama through Belize so it’s the whole Central America. The assistance ranges from ninety-five million to a hundred million per year for the entire region—that’s just through CARSI. Belize has not been ignored. Belize is an integral part of CARSI. We have contributed significantly to Belize in security matters from two to three million dollars a year, which is a lot of assistance in our mind. There is not a lot of assistance to go around given the general situation in the United States; we are also having to cut as we move forward, but we have identified this region as a high priority region. The bad guys and the narcos have a lot more cash than the United States Government has available for Central America. We are ready and willing to engage and put money where our mouth is and we have with Belize and with the rest of the countries in the region, but so does the countries in the the region also have to invest more in security—that doesn’t just mean cash, but also personnel and institutional will etcetera.”
During the first three years of CARSI the US has provided five million, six hundred and fifty-three thousand US dollars to the Government of Belize. This week it got an additional two point five million US to improve Border Inspection; Policing/Police Equipment, and other projects.
come on 2million thats a slap in the face that is nothing we got the lease of anycountry when we should have gotten the most and guatemala since we share borders with mexico i told you this woman is ignorant of what is happening in central america she cant even comb her hair before speaking to reporters shows you she is just another token politician for obama we dont need to only get help form the us i say to hell with the us lets get help from russia,iran,venezuela,cuba,argentina,brazil or any other country that is willing to help us we do not need the us then they want to pretend that they are in charge of central america what a joke but we need a leader to beg for monies from other nations and we have none the one we have says his name is not oliver twist and he is right his name is judas barrow.
Good to know that we getting assistance. Hopefully all the money is accounted for and that a real difference is felt.
this is a joke to Belize, honestly Belizeans need to open their eyes to see what the pretense of the US is, they are not giving us money to tackle crime locally for our sake they are giving us money to cover their asses so …… that they don’t have to fight those criminals moving to the US. The minute that those criminals are moving up in the circle of Central America toward the US we will be the ones putting our people in the front line to tackle them to protect the American’s white …… just think about it, have they ever said hey here we are giving couple of millions towards education or towards poverty uplift, hell no!!! they give money only for security only for us to remain with the criminals here.