2007 Speeches

Rotary Club of San Ignacio - July 19, 2007

San Ignacio Hotel, San Ignacio

A good and early morning to you…And thank you for inviting me to speak today at the Rotary Club of San Ignacio. 

I don’t have to tell you that Rotary Clubs around the world sponsor a broad range of humanitarian and educational programs to advance world understanding and peace. 

What I would like to talk to you about briefly this morning is how the U.S. government plays a similar role 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 freedom and democracy 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. 

A key component of the CARICOM conference was to recognize and reinforce the deep economic and trade ties between the United Stated and the CARICOM member states such as Belize.  Indeed, the U.S. is Belize’s number one trading partner.  Last year, Belize exported almost 225 million Belizean dollars to the U.S. and 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 developing Mexican market for these products.   The U.S. is Belize’s largest market for citrus concentrate and about 90% of Belize’s papaya exports go to the U.S.  The USG 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).   We believe that thriving international commerce promotes prosperity, job-creation and maintains peaceful foreign relations.

U.S-Belize relations are critical to the Belizean economy because almost 70% of all tourists to Belize are from the U.S.  and according to the BTB, the tourism sector contributes over one-fifth of Belize’s Gross Domestic Product, and one in every four jobs.  We have supported ecotourism and protection programs which will sustain the natural resources of Belize for their own sake as well as to benefit Belize’s economy.  For example, two weeks ago, we celebrated the PACT Foundation’s small grant program that will help fund protection and conservation programs on Caye Caulker, in a Baboon sanctuary and for several other natural resources and tourist destinations in Belize.

The U.S. government is represented here in Belize primarily by the Embassy.  But independent U.S. government agencies including the Department of Labor (DOL), United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and U.S. military have invested 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 Belizean counterparts to attend training seminars and workshops in the US and elsewhere.

In 2006 for example, the U.S.G, through the Embassy, donated over 4 million U.S. dollars to a wide range of programs. 

• 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. 
  
• US 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 4 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 (the first was refurbishing of the Ladyville depot and in spring of 2006  NEMO building in Belmopan) ; 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 to complete the Cerros project near Corozol – both projects important to tourism as well as preserving cultural heritage.
  
• 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 $4million figures:

• On July 1, I welcomed 35 new Peace Corps volunteers who will complement others already at work throughout the country in projects ranging from HIV/AIDS prevention, teacher training, small business assistance and the environment.  This year marked the 45th anniversary of Peace Corps in Belize.  I am enormously proud of these outstanding individuals who exemplify the spirit of volunteerism and public service that permeates the American character
  
• The PACT Foundation commemorated its first small grants program earlier this month.  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 – an effort which supports this country’s tourism industry as well.
  
• 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.

We cannot overlook however, 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 to help Belizeans knows that is true. 

The U.S. is a strategic partner in the region which provides Caribbean and Central American nations with many private volunteer and government funded programs.  We recognize the value of the relationships we have in the region and promote economic development and a strong democracy with good governance wherever, whenever we can. 

Our aid is provided through mechanisms that are transparent and accountable.  This may seem to put us at a disadvantage with those who operate otherwise.  However, history demonstrates that the US is a reliable, compassionate and generous long-term partner of choice.

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 – 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 the same.   Those countries that lack institutional structures or mechanisms to make their elected officials accountable will fail to deliver on democracy’s promise.  As Secretary of State Rice said, democracy comes with enormous responsibility.  It is ultimately the people and often the business communities that must remain vigilant and protect their freedoms by continually demanding that the government remain responsive to their concerns.  

Thank you.