In an ordinary year the chance for the leader of a small nation to address the United Nations General Assembly is a matter of importance. In the year 2000 and on the occasion of the Millennium Summit, however, it takes on special importance. This morning, on the first day of the three-day event, it was […]
While the occasion of Belize’s Prime Minister addressing the UN will always be headline news, the story neither begins nor ends with his words from the podium. This afternoon we caught up with Belize’s UN Ambassador, Stuart Leslie. He told News Five’s Stewart Krohn that the crafting of the five minute address is a process […]
On Wednesday morning the UN’s Millennium Summit opens and the first of over a hundred heads of government will take to the world’s most honoured podium to deliver what is supposed to be no more than a five-minute speech. Leading the pack, not surprisingly, will be U.S. President Bill Clinton. He will be followed by […]
Leaving Belize today was Prime Minister Said Musa. The PM is heading to New York where he will represent Belize at the 55th annual session of the United Nation’s General Assembly. This year’s meeting, dubbed the Millennium Summit, will run from September 6th through 8th and is expected to constitute the largest gathering of world […]
There’s more news tonight out of OAS headquarters in Washington, D.C. At a ceremony held this morning, a panel of facilitators was officially installed who will assist Belize and Guatemala in their negotiations to end the Guatemalan claim. Sir Shridath Ramphal of Guyana was appointed by Belize and Dr. Paul Reichler of the USA was […]
The mixed commission on the Belize Guatemala dispute held its inaugural meeting today in Guatemala City. According to a Belize government press release, the five members from each country reached basic agreements on how to proceed with regard to frequency of meetings, use of English and Spanish and the taking of decisions by consensus. The […]
Belize has a new ambassador to the Organisation of American States. On Thursday Lisa Shoman presented her credentials to Secretary General Cesar Gaviria at OAS headquarters in Washington D.C. Shoman thanked the OAS chief for acting as a “witness of honour” to the ongoing talks with Guatemala, which are being held under OAS supervision. Although […]
In 1995, Belize established a sister relationship with the city of Havana, Cuba. Today that alliance has been further strengthened following a visit to Cuba by a delegation from the Belize City Council. The assembly headed by Mayor David Fonseca ratified the Sister Relationship Agreement that was signed between the two countries five years ago. […]
Today, the Fourth Tuxla Summit came to a close in Guatemala City. The meeting attended by Prime Minister Said Musa included the Presidents of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico Nicaragua and the first Vice president of Panama. As a result of the discussions, a Joint Declaration was signed that reflects the progress made […]
Prime Minister Said Musa has appointed five persons who will represent Belize on the Mixed Commission. The commission was established at a ministerial meeting held in July at the OAS headquarters in Washington D.C. between Belize and Guatemala. The Commission consists of five commissioners each from both countries and is charged with the responsibility of […]
In news from the government, Prime Minister Said Musa leaves the country on Thursday for a one-day meeting in Guatemala. The session entitled “The Fourth Meeting of Heads of State of Countries and Participants of the Mechanisms of Dialogue and Consultations of Tuxtla” will be held in Guatemala City and will include Central American countries […]
His election marked the greatest shift in the modern political history of Mexico. And in the honeymoon period between his election on July second and inauguration on December first, Mexican president-elect Vicente Fox will be getting a feel for the difference between being a leader of the opposition and the head of one of the […]
While Musa’s concept of a good relationship was based on a deepening friendship demonstrated by quantifiable deeds, his counterpart to the north was less specific. Whether he was poorly briefed or just chose to wait until he becomes president to get down to business, Vicente Fox had a lot of kind words…and some that may […]
News is slowly trickling in on Friday’s visit to Belize by Mexican president-elect Vincente Fox. Fox and a small delegation will touch down at 12:35 p.m. at the Philip Goldson International Airport and depart at 4:30 that afternoon. During his four hours on Belizean soil, Fox will meet with Prime Minister Said Musa, be hosted […]
It is not a state visit because he is not yet head of state, but on Friday President-elect of Mexico Vincente Fox will pay a brief visit to Belize. Details of the four-hour tour have not yet been released, but it is believed that the trip will be confined to Belize City where Fox will […]
Ministers of Defence from Belize and Guatemala will meet for the first time this week in an effort to ease tensions between the two nations. The talks, to be held in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, will take place on Friday and Saturday. They form part of the negotiating process initiated last month in Washington D.C. […]
An agreement was signed today, which finalizes the completion of the last link in Belize’s basic highway system. The loan contract for the upgrading of section two of the Southern Highway was inked by Prime Minister Said Musa and Baden Al-Humaidhi of the Kuwait Fund For Arab Economic Development. The twelve million Belize Dollar deal […]
A new border tax has prompted complaints from Belizeans and protests from across the border. The twenty-dollar per person fee went into effect today for all tourists who depart Belize by land, whether at the northern or western borders. The fee will be used to fund the activities of the newly created Border Management agency, […]
In what is believed to be the first eviction of Guatemalan settlers since four Belizean law enforcement officers were kidnapped by the Guatemalan Army in February, BDF and police personnel today served an expulsion order on illegal immigrants near the border. The forty-five Guatemalans had set up two farming settlements deep in Toledo’s Columbia River […]
“Show me the money” was a line made famous by Tom Cruise in his film portrayal of sports agent Jerry Maguire. Prime Minister Said Musa may not be as wealthy as the Hollywood star, but that did not stop him from being shown some big money today in Belmopan. Taiwanese Ambassador Charles Tsai, on behalf […]
The minister of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office responsible for Britain’s relations with Belize has concluded a three-day visit. During his visit, John Battle met with the Prime Minister and other high level officials. Before departing, he spoke to the press at the British High Commission in Belmopan. John Battle, British Minister of […]
Arriving in Belize today was British Minister of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, John Battle. Battle, whose responsibilities include trade with Latin America, is slated to hold talks with Prime Minister Said Musa and cabinet colleagues Johnny Briceno, Ralph Fonseca and Jorge Espat. Battle will also meet with Police Commissioner Hughington Williams to […]
Belize has a new top United Nations diplomat. Stuart Leslie who has been running things since the resignation of Michael Ashcroft has been bumped up to Ambassador. Leslie presented his credentials to the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Anan at headquarters in New York on Thursday. Along with presenting letters of credentials, the new ambassador […]
Members of Belize’s negotiating team returned home today following a series of meetings with officials in Guatemala. The talks, held in Washington D.C. under the auspices of the Organisation of American States, were the first high level negotiations held since the election of Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo earlier this year. While the new president’s assumption […]
Operators of internet gambling operations based in Belize and other offshore jurisdictions are closely watching events in Washington. Today’s New York Times reports that the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to pass–perhaps as early as next week–a bill to prohibit Americans from using the internet to gamble. According to the article there are over […]
