2005 Speeches

Inauguration Ceremony of the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) Big Creek Medfly Station - December 20, 2005

(L-R) U.S. Ambassador Robert Dieter, BAHA Managing Director Nerie Sanz, Chief Agricultural Officer Eugene Waight and USDA Officer Crispin Blanco.

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning.  Thank you for the opportunity to make a few remarks celebrating the opening of this BAHA station in Big Creek. 

The Mediterranean fruit fly, better known as the medfly, is one of the most destructive agricultural pests in the world.  It affects more than 250 fruits and vegetables and can reproduce at a rate rapid enough to infest a country within a few short months.  Since 1977, the USDA has been working with the Government of Belize to monitor the medfly.  In 1988, the first such infestation was discovered in Belize.  BAHA’s Medfly Surveillance Program – which is comprised of a dedicated team of professionals from Belize’s Ministry of Agriculture, BAHA and the United States’ Department of Agriculture – sprang into action and successfully eradicated this threat.  Despite subsequent introductions of the medfly into Belize, BAHA has been able to successfully address the problem and keep the country relatively medfly free. 

The United States is honored to partner with Belize in helping farmers protect their crops.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture maintains an office in Belize, and provides technical assistance, equipment and environmentally friendly chemicals to contribute to controlling the medfly and protecting Belize’s crops.  This new facility will support this effort.  Continuing surveillance and eradication activities will ensure Belize's access to export markets in the U.S. 

In this spirit of cooperation, I’m pleased to announce that the USDA’s Medlfy Regional Office in Guatemala provided US$42,000 to construct this new station.  This is a good investment – the cost of controlling one, just one, medfly introduction is US$50,000.  In addition to making economic sense, it highlights the United States’ commitment to help Belize maintain a medfly-free country. 

Additionally, we believe this location is a strategic site – the majority of medfly interceptions in Belize occur around the Placencia and Toledo District areas.  Therefore, stations like this can play a significant role in preventing the introduction of medflies into Belize.  

We greatly appreciate the Medfly Surveillance Program team’s tireless efforts in the detection and control of one of the region’s most destructive agricultural pests, and I wish everyone involved continued success in their efforts. 

Thank you.