VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBE #0341/01 1102017
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 202017Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY BELIZE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9928
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BELIZE 000341 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR WHA/CEN JASON MACK 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR SNAR ECON EFIN EIND EPET BH
SUBJECT: BELIZE: CABINET RESHUFFLE 
 
REF: A. 04 BELIZE 1041 
 
     ¶B. 05 BELIZE 902 
     ¶C. 06 BELIZE 289 
     ¶D. 05 BELIZE 941 
     ¶E. 06 BELIZE 211 
     ¶F. 06 BELIZE 178 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Robert J. Dieter for reason 1.5(B) 
 
-------------------- 
SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS 
-------------------- 
 
¶1.  (C)  In an effort to shore up his Government's diminished 
popularity, Prime Minister Said Musa has re-shuffled his 
Cabinet, reintegrating popular members of the ruling People's 
United Party (PUP).  Whether Musa can restore the PUP's 
fortunes in time for the next national elections, which must 
be held no later than June 2008, remains an open question. 
In the wake of a series of financial scandals that have 
eroded the Government's standing, a weary Belizean electorate 
understands all too well that the inseparable tandem of Musa 
and his powerful Minister of Home Affairs Ralph Fonseca 
retains real power- regardless of the Cabinet's 
configuration. 
End Summary and Analysis. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Following a long-anticipated realignment announced 
on April 12, the Government of Belize's Cabinet now is as 
follows: 
 
¶1.  Hon. Said Musa - Prime Minister, Minister of Finance 
¶2.  Hon. John Briceno - Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of 
Natural Resources and the Environment 
¶3.  Hon. Eamon Courtenay - appointed Senator, Minister of 
Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade 
¶4.  Hon. Ralph Fonseca - Minister of Home Affairs and Public 
Utilities 
¶5.  Hon. Francis Fonseca - Attorney General, Minister of 
Education, Minister of Labor 
¶6.  Hon. Michael Espat - Minister of Works 
¶7.  Hon. Godfrey Smith - Minister of Tourism, Information and 
National Emergency Management (NEMO) 
¶8.  Hon. Cordel Hyde - Minister of Defence, Housing, Youth 
and Sports 
¶9.  Hon. Mark Espat - Minister of National Development 
¶10.  Hon. Jose Coye - Minister of Health, Local Government, 
Transport and Communications 
¶11.  Hon. Vildo Marin - Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries 
¶12.  Hon. Sylvia Flores - Minister of Human Development 
 
Ministers of State: 
Hon. Marcial Mes - Natural Resources 
Hon. Servulo Baeza - Foreign Trade 
Hon. Mario Castellanos - National Development with 
responsibility for Rural Development 
Hon. Ismael Cal - Home Affairs 
Hon. Rodwell Ferguson - Education 
Hon. Ainslie Leslie - Works 
 
(Note: Ministers of State are not members of Cabinet, but may 
attend Cabinet meetings at the invitation of the Prime 
Minister.) 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
Ruling PUP Reasserts Its More Popular Side 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
3.(C) Since the PUP's poor showing in municipal elections of 
March 1 (Ref E)-- openly acknowledged by PM Musa and senior 
party officials to have been a "wake-up call" from a 
disenchanted Belizean electorate-- a cabinet re-shuffle has 
been widely anticipated.  Shrewdly, Musa now has brought back 
into the fold all of the rebellious PUP members from the 
August, 2004, "Revolt of the Samurai" (reftels). 
Conspicuously, Eamon Courtenay's appointment to the Senate 
and assumption of duties as Minister of Foreign Affairs and 
Foreign Trade puts one of the country's most capable figures, 
and an expert on trade matters, back in a high-profile 
portfolio.  This comes in addition to Courtenay's recent 
designation as Chairman of the Petroleum Advisory Board (Ref 
F)(note: post will provide updated biographic info septel). 
 
4.(C)  The PM also adroitly has brought in members of the 
powerful PUP "northern coalition"-- Servulo Baeza, Mario 
Castellanos, and Ismael Cal-- as Ministers of State. 
Conversely, Godfrey Smith, who recently has suffered from 
allegations of corruption in connection with the Belize 
Intellectual Property Office (BELIPO) scandal (refs B,C), has 
lost the Foreign Affairs portfolio while retaining Tourim, 
Information, and NEMO (National Emergency Management Office). 
Over recent weeks, the PUP has orchestrated something of a 
media campaign highlighting the accomplishments of Minister 
of National Development Mark Espat, the popular former 
Samurai who had contemplated launching a third party but 
subsequently returned to the PUP fold. 
 
--------------------------------------- 
Musa-Fonseca Tandem Retains Control 
--------------------------------------- 
 
5.(C)  In many respects, the most recent re-shuffle is the 
inverse of the December, 2004 Cabinet shake-up (Reftel A): 
then, PM Musa divided rebellious "Samurai" ministers, ousted 
party opponents, and took direct control of the Finance and 
Defense portfolios; now, he has completed an adroit 
reconciliation with party dissidents in an effort to shore up 
the PUP's diminished popularity.  Whether this strategy can 
restore the party's fortunes in time for the next national 
elections, which must be held no later than June 2008, 
remains an open question.  In the wake of a series of 
financial scandals that have eroded the Government's standing 
(reftels), a weary Belizean electorate understands all too 
well that the inseparable tandem of PM Musa and his powerful 
Minister of Home Affairs Ralph Fonseca retains real power - 
regardless of the Cabinet's configuration. 
DIETER