VZCZCXRO3528
RR RUEHGR
DE RUEHBE #0091 0401649
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 091649Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY BELMOPAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0234
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS BELMOPAN 000091 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR G/TIP (FLECK), WHA/CEN (MACK), WHA/PPC (PUCCETTI) 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KCRM KWMN BH
SUBJECT:  BELIZE: ANTI-TIP PROGRAM GETS MORE CASH 
 
REF: A) 06 Belize 593 
 B) 06 Belize 581 
 
¶1.  Summary.  On January 30, poloff met with Anita Zetina (Chair of 
the Belize Anti-Trafficking Committee and Chief Executive Officer at 
the Ministry of Human Development) and Ayesha Borland (Desk Officer 
at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to discuss the government's 
latest efforts in combating TIP.  With a newly-approved budget for 
FY07 (April 1 through March 31), the Government of Belize is 
well-positioned to continue its public awareness campaign and to 
improve the services available to victims.  The budget, however, 
does not include funding to address prosecutions.  Also, simply 
because a program is "budgeted" does not necessarily mean it will be 
fully "funded."  End summary. 
 
¶2.  Because the issue of program sustainability had been raised with 
Zetina during previous meetings, she happily reported that a budget 
of BZ $106,000 had been approved for the Anti-Trafficking Committee. 
 (Note:  BZ $2 equals US $1.  End note).  Zetina pointed out that 
these funds would be used for public awareness campaigns, victim 
assistance programs, and anti-trafficking operations but not for 
training.  Instead, the expenses of individuals participating in 
training programs would be covered by their ministries. 
 
¶3.  According to Zetina, the GoB has renewed its prevention efforts. 
 Already, new public service announcements are being played on three 
radio stations (Love FM, Krem Radio, and Positive Vibes) three times 
a day (in the morning and during the midday and evening news 
broadcasts).  In addition, print ads will appear in the major 
newspapers and the GoB's press office is finalizing an announcement 
for television.  Finally, the Committee approached the Belize 
Tourism Board (BTB) and the Belize Tourist Industry Association 
(BTIA) to suggest that they work together to produce posters 
targeting child sex tourists to be placed at land borders, the 
international airport, and in the Tourist Village.  Zetina noted 
that although the Committee is still awaiting a response from the 
BTB and BTIA, she is confident that they will be able to work 
together. 
 
¶4.  The GoB's efforts in victim protection continue to improve as 
well.  Zetina said that the Committee was now in possession of a 
house in Hattieville (between Belize City and Belmopan) that would 
be used as a trafficking victims' shelter.  The Committee is 
currently working with the Ministry of Works to ensure that the road 
to the house, located just off the Western Highway, is paved to 
provide easy access.  Zetina told poloff that the house needs 
furniture and some minor renovations, but that she expects it to be 
open in April.  She also said that another home in Hattieville - 
used for victims of domestic violence - could be used for 
trafficking victims should the need arise. 
 
¶5.  As reported in reftels, there were two trafficking cases that 
were scheduled to be prosecuted in Belize courts.  The first, 
involving Indian businessman Jitendra Chawla (also known as Jack 
Charles) was dismissed in January.  Charles was facing six counts of 
unlawfully withholding travel documents.  The charges were dismissed 
when Charles' attorney pointed out that the official court documents 
identified the accused as Jitendra Chawla while one of the victims 
had identified his employer as "Jack Charles."  The case was 
dismissed after the prosecution failed to address this discrepancy. 
The second case, involving bar/restaurant owner Amparo Zetina 
(reported to be related to former Department of Immigration and 
Nationality Service Director Jose Carmen Zetina) has been repeatedly 
postponed.  Poloff reminded Committee Chair Zetina that prosecutions 
- successful or otherwise - would be taken into consideration when 
evaluating the GoB for the 2007 Trafficking in Persons Report. 
(Note.  Ambassador Dieter has also raised this issue with Minister 
of Foreign Affairs Courtenay.  End note). 
 
¶6.  Comment.  Post applauds the GoB's ongoing efforts to raise 
awareness about trafficking for labor and sexual exploitation as 
well as its commitment to provide services and assistance to 
victims.  While most government officials may have disagreed with 
the country's original Tier 3 ranking in the 2006 TIP Report, Zetina 
and her Committee have acknowledged that it is not the size of the 
problem but the GoB's response to it that matters most. 
 
¶7.  Comment cont.  We remain concerned, however, about the GoB's 
failure to follow through on prosecutions.  Delays, postponements 
and dismissals have become the rule, rather than the exception, in 
Belize courts.  While the Jack Charles case may have been 
problematic, the prosecution's failure to amend the documents to 
prevent Charles' release on a technicality speaks to an 
unwillingness to take TIP cases seriously.  Post continues to advise 
the GoB that this indifference needs to be addressed.  End comment. 
 
 
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