VZCZCXRO0010
RR RUEHGR
DE RUEHBE #0119/01 0842222
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 252222Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY BELMOPAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1752
RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICA COLLECTIVE
RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BELMOPAN 000119 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON OAS BH
SUBJECT:  WHA/CEN DIRECTOR WEBSTER'S MEETINGS IN BELIZE 
 
¶1.  (U) SUMMARY: WHA/CEN Office Director Christopher Webster met 
with Belize government officials, a Hand in Hand Ministries 
official, and American Chamber of Commerce board members on March 5 
and 6 to discuss bilateral and regional issues including security 
and the Merida Initiative, the Guatemala/Belize border dispute, 
HIV/AIDs in the region, and the challenges facing American business 
people in Belize.  Webster underscored the strong relationship 
between Belize and the U.S. during his meetings with the Minister of 
National Security, the CEO of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the 
Police Commissioner.  He concluded his visit with a trip to the 
Adjacency Zone to observe first-hand OAS efforts to manage the 
sometimes contentious Belize-Guatemala border dispute and the 
cross-border activities that have taken place in recent months.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
------------------------------------------- 
Regional Security and the Merida Initiative 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) Webster underscored the strong relationship between Belize 
and the U.S. during his meetings with the Minister of National 
Security, the CEO of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Police 
Commissioner.  Carlos Perdomo, the Minister of National Security, 
stated that the GOB is trying to implement the recommendations from 
an independent consultant who recently assessed the police 
department.  The Crookes Report recommends considerable improvements 
to intelligence collection and additional training for police.  The 
GOB plans to implement most of the recommendations over the next 
four years. 
 
¶3. (U) Perdomo noted that his main challenges were related to 
resources - the GOB is dealing with a rise in criminal activity and 
has limited resources to combat the issue.  Another security 
challenge noted by Perdomo is posed by Belize's porous borders - an 
ocean to the east, and a disputed, forested border with Guatemala to 
the west.  CEO of National Security Brig. General (Ret.) Lloyd 
Gillett noted some increasing cooperation with the Government of 
Mexico in creating joint patrols to monitor the border on the Rio 
Hondo River, and that he believed this has deterred much illegal 
activity in the north of the country.  He committed to continued 
cooperation with the U.S. and to ensuring that resources and 
assistance from the USG will be well used. 
 
¶4. (U) Perdomo was concerned that, as traffickers throughout the 
region gain ground, violence in Belize will continue to escalate. 
He expressed his hope that the Merida Initiative will help 
strengthen the relationship between our countries and allow the GOB 
to purchase the appropriate equipment to combat drugs, corruption, 
and other criminal activity, as well as to strengthen the judicial 
system and intelligence services.  He also noted that improved 
forensic abilities will be critical in the fight against drugs, 
crime, and guns. 
 
¶5. (SBU) In a separate meeting with Police Commissioner Gerald 
Westby, the Commissioner pointed out that, while trafficking of 
cocaine via the sea has decreased significantly with the advent of 
the Belize National Coast Guard (established 2005), illegal aircraft 
landings appear to be increasing.  In addition, the police are 
receiving increased reports of the cultivation and export of 
'hydromarijuana,' a more potent hybrid of cannabis.  Assistant 
Commissioner Allen Whylie noted that police are severely 
under-resourced and that the Belize Police Department is largely an 
unarmed force.  However, proposed legislation will allow the police 
increased authorization for surveillance, to include wire-tapping 
for intelligence information which the police believe will help 
improve their intelligence operations. 
 
¶6. (SBU) When Webster asked the Commissioner about GOB policy toward 
Cuban refugees, he replied (unofficially) that when the Coast Guard 
encounters Cuban refugees at sea, they quietly refuel the incoming 
vessel and try to assist them with any mechanical problems, before 
sending the refugee vessel on its way.  However, when refugees are 
found on land they must be arrested and detained because other 
agencies become involved.  The Cuban refugees are then repatriated. 
(Note:  The Embassy is aware of several cases in which refugees were 
unable to obtain their Cuban documentation.  In these cases, the 
Immigration Department provided temporary documentation for them and 
then lost track of the individuals.  End Note.) 
 
-------------------------------- 
Belize-Guatemala Border Dispute 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the MFA, Ambassador 
Alexis Rosado, thanked the USG for its support and assistance and 
encouraged the USG to continue supporting OAS efforts to resolve the 
border dispute with Guatemala.  He highlighted the GOB's 'neutral' 
educational campaign to inform its citizens about the upcoming 
referendum that will be held simultaneously in both countries.  He 
also noted that taking this issue to the International Court of 
 
BELMOPAN 00000119  002 OF 002 
 
 
Justice is the only practical way to resolve the dispute, since 
negotiations have failed, but he is doubtful that the referendum 
will pass in Belize.  Perdomo, the Minister of National Security, 
echoed this concern, stating that many Belizeans feel that only 
Belize has something to lose in this dispute.  Webster told Rosado 
and Perdomo that the U.S. supports a process for both nations to 
resolve the Belize-Guatemala border dispute issue. 
 
-------------- 
Adjacency Zone 
-------------- 
 
¶8. (U) Webster also toured the Adjacency Zone and heard a 
presentation from the Organization of American States (OAS) Program 
Director, Miguel Trinidad, highlighting OAS challenges and 
accomplishments in the disputed area.  Trinidad noted the recent 
cooperation between the BDF and Guatemalan forces during the removal 
of an illegal storage container/retail shop from Jalacte, and during 
the relocation of illegal Guatemalan communities on the Belizean 
side of the border.  The OAS representative expressed gratitude for 
U.S. support for the effort and noted that the question of resources 
for the next phase is already under discussion.  Webster encouraged 
the Program Director to provide additional reporting about the 
Adjacency Zone's activities to keep the United States and other 
potential donors informed and to justify requests for additional 
funds. 
 
----------------- 
Business Climate 
----------------- 
 
¶8. (U) Webster met with American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) board 
members to learn more about the business climate in Belize. 
Taxation and corruption remain the board members' top concerns. 
AmCham also pointed out that Belize maintains a business licensing 
system, which is often subject to political intervention and which 
decreases competition.  They informed Webster of their efforts to 
collaborate with other chambers of commerce in Belize to present a 
united position to the GOB on these pivotal issues. 
 
-------- 
HIV/AIDS 
-------- 
 
¶9. (U) The Hand in Hand Ministries Director Abel Vargas provided 
Webster with insight into the HIV/AIDS outlook for Belize.  Hand in 
Hand Ministries in Belize is affiliated with Hand in Hand Ministries 
in Kentucky.  Belize has the highest HIV prevalence rate in the 
region and social stigma deters individuals from being tested.  The 
social stigma also discourages people from interacting with infected 
individuals; this includes preventing infected persons from 
receiving treatment from most of the medical community.  Hand in 
Hand primarily works with infants and children infected with HIV, 
providing them with free schooling, counseling, daycare, medical 
care, and anti-retrovirals. 
 
¶10.  Webster has cleared this cable. 
 
DIFFILY