2007 Speeches

American Chamber of Commerce Meeting - July 19, 2007

Radisson Fort George, Belize City

A good evening and thank you for inviting me to speak at tonight’s meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce. 

What I would like to talk to you about this evening is the role of the U.S. Embassy mission here in Belize. 

Our mission, simply stated, is helping to build and sustain partnerships with democratic, peaceful, well-governed states that are responsive to the needs of their people and are responsible actors in the international community. 

We recognize the values of democracy and freedom that make our nation strong and believe that these values are essential to development and prosperity.   During the meeting with the CARICOM heads of government just a few weeks ago, Secretary Rice emphasized that democracy and development go hand-in-hand - that improving democracy and good governance is inextricable linked to the prosperity of the region.   When countries govern justly, open up their economies, and invest in their people - growth and development follow. 

A key component of the CARICOM conference was to recognize and reinforce the deep economic and trade ties between the United States and the CARICOM member states such as Belize.  Indeed, the U.S. is Belize’s number one trading partner.  Last year, Belize exports to the U.S. totaled almost 225 million Belizean dollars and Belize imported over 510 million Belizean dollars from the U.S.  Approximately half of Belize’s shrimp and almost all of its tilapia fish are exported to the U.S. – though I understand there is a Mexican market developing for these products that could be important as well.   The United States is Belize’s largest market for citrus concentrate and about 90% of Belize’s papaya exports go to the U.S. 

The United States supports Belize’s economic development, strong trading relations and diversification of Belize’s economy through the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) and the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA).   The CBI is due to expire in September, 2008, but President Bush and Secretary Rice both expressed their commitment to seek extension of this framework.  It is clear to all that thriving international commerce promotes prosperity, job-creation and maintains peaceful foreign relations.

U.S-Belize relations are critical to the Belizean economy in another important respect.  Almost 70% of all tourists to Belize are from the U.S. and according to the Belize Tourism Bureau, the tourism sector contributes over one-fifth of Belize’s Gross Domestic Product, and one in every four jobs.  While Belize remains a holiday destination for literally hundreds of thousands of Americans, Belize must make, if it wishes to remain competitive, the investment in infrastructure and services necessary to ensure a safe and pleasant experience to attract visitors. 

The U.S. government is represented in Belize primarily by the Embassy.  But other U.S. government agencies such as the Department of Labor, United States Department of Agriculture, United States Agency for International Development, and U.S. military also invest in the people of Belize through training and education and to Belize’s economy by promoting development and expanding trade.

 In addition, agencies such as the US Department of Commerce, US Justice Department, FBI, FAA and others provide funding for their Belizean counterparts to attend training seminars and workshops in the US and elsewhere.

In 2006, the United States Government, through the Embassy, donated over 4 million U.S. dollars to a wide range of programs.  This was direct assistance, not loans, and this assistance was provided through mechanisms that are transparent and accountable.  This may seem to put us at a disadvantage with those who operate otherwise.  History demonstrates, however, that the United States is a reliable long-term partner of choice – a partner interested in improving people’s lives, not merely seeking quid pro quo.

Over the past year:

•       The Belizean National Coast Guard and the Belize Defense Force continued to receive significant support to strengthen their capacity to ensure the safety and security of the people of Belize and to protect the maritime and territorial integrity of your national borders. 

•           U.S. servicemen, doctors and nurses conducted numerous medical exercises that reached all four corners of the compass in Belize, including Orange Walk, Toledo, Valley of Peace, Ladyville and the recent visit by the hospital ship the USS Comfort.  All together well over 15,000 Belizeans received free medical, dental, and eye care though these services.

•       SOUTHCOM’s New Horizons program partnered with the BDF to construct four new, two-room school buildings in Crooked Tree, Carmelita, Hattieville and Trial Farm villages.  These school buildings will also serve as hurricane shelters for those communities.

•       Two dormitories at the Rockville Youth Hostel were completely renovated; funding was provided for the construction of a hurricane supply facility in Big Creek; and the Department of Archaeology was awarded a US $50,000 grant to restore a sugar mill and Spanish Mission in Lamanai – having received a similar grant in 2005 for the Cerros project near Corozol.   Both projects are important to tourism as well as preserving important cultural heritage sites.

•       In addition to US support for a US $2 million dollar grant through the Global Fund to combat HIV/AIDS, USAID is also contributing nearly half a million US dollars to the effort in Belize.

•       The US Mission was proud to sponsor the “You Got Game” after school anti-drug program in Belize City and State Department spouses recently joined with the George Price Center to launch a summer reading program for elementary school children.

            Not included in that $4 million figure:

•       On July 1, I welcomed 35 new Peace Corps volunteers. This year marked the 45th anniversary of Peace Corps in Belize and these new volunteers will complement others already at work throughout the country in projects ranging from HIV/AIDS prevention, teacher training, small business assistance and the environment.

 •       Earlier this month, the PACT Foundation commemorated its first small grants program.  In 2001, the US and Belize entered into an agreement which linked $5.5 million in debt relief with forest conservation and is expected to generate 9 million US dollars for Belize’s forest conservation efforts.  This small grant program helped fund protection and conservation programs on Caye Caulker, in the Baboon sanctuary and for several other natural resource projects in the Toledo district.  These programs protect the natural resources of Belize for conservation sake, but also have a spin-off effect that benefits Belize’s ecotourism economy.

 •           In December we opened a new state of the art embassy in Belmopan - a $50million investment that is a tangible manifestation of the value the United States government places in our strong relationship with Belize.

We cannot overlook the good work of the many US civic, faith-based and private groups that do so much in Belize and around the world.  We often fail to consider the enormous contributions made on a people-to-people basis – without the involvement of government.  It is estimated that Americans – through educational and religious institutions, private companies, foundations, families and the like – give at least three to four times more to the developing world than the amount of foreign aid dispensed by our government. Anyone who sees the number of Americans who volunteer their talents and time in Belize knows that is true. 

As Secretary Rice noted at the CARICOM Conference, an important component of successful democracies is the existence of transparent, accountable institutions of governance.  Good governance is essential for addressing gaps in education, health, and for building stronger economies.  Otherwise, government robs the economy of the infrastructure and human capital that are preconditions for economic growth. 

The Amandala reported on July 18th, “there has been a lot of talk about ‘good governance’ and anti-corruption practices, but how does Belize’s governance profile fare on the international scene…?”  According to that article, the Country Data Report for Belize released by the World Bank, Belize’s governance ratings have lost ground since 1998.  This study measured six governance indicators: governance; accountability; political stability; government effectiveness; regulatory quality; rule of law; and control of corruption.  For the period 1998-2006, Belize fell into the bottom half for all but 2 of the indicators.

One indicator important to the business community is regulatory quality.  This measures the ability of government to formulate and implement policies and regulations promoting private sector development.  In terms of regulatory quality, Belize fell from the 58th  to the 45th percentile.  Moreover, this was Belize’s worst ranking.  This seems an area where the business community should push for progress if the business climate is going to encourage investment.

Contrary to what some would have you believe, democracy delivers tangible results.  It is an empirical fact that democratically governed nations “are more likely to secure the peace, deter aggression, expand open markets, promote economic development, protect [non-citizens], combat international terrorism and crime, uphold human and worker rights, avoid humanitarian crises and refugee flows, improve the global environment, and protect human health.”  

In a representative democracy, citizens are free to demand a government: that will strive for equality of opportunity; that is fair, transparent, and accountable; and that is free from corruption and is responsive to the needs of its citizens.   Of course, not all democracies at the same.   On the other hand, the fallibility of human nature is.   Those countries that lack institutional structures or mechanisms to make their governments and elected officials accountable will fail to deliver on democracy’s promise.  It is ultimately the people and often the business communities that must remain vigilant and continually demand that the government remain responsive to their concerns.  

The United States is a strategic partner that recognizes the value of the relationships we have in the region and seeks to promote economic development and strong democracies with good governance wherever, whenever we can. 

Thank you.