Belize Turns to International ‘Friends’

Wilfred Elrington

So where will the funding come from? The Government aims to use a mix of local funds, contributions and donations, and funding from several identified international partners. These range from the usual suspects such as Taiwan to other quieter donors. And in the coming months, Foreign Minister Elrington says we should expect to see lots of advertisements and other mass communication concerning the Guatemala issue.

Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“Internal sources; but we are also assiduously looking for contributions and donations – from the E.U., as a matter of fact, when I met with the E.U. sometime last week, I shared with them our budget for the education campaign, and we are hoping that they will be able to make some contribution toward it. We are getting some from the O.A.S., through the O.A.S., we’re getting from the United States; getting some hopefully from places like Canada and Turkey and other friends – Taiwan, hopefully. In other words, we are seeking donations and contributions, both in terms of cash and kind, to help us to be able raise the necessary resources we need, human as well as financial, to have a successful education campaign.”

Aaron Humes

“In terms of the scope of that campaign, would we be looking at both face-to-face meetings and work over the television, radio, newspapers and so on?”

Wilfred Elrington

“Every type of media, every type of ways of communicating with people, are going to be explored. And in both English and Spanish, as well as Garifuna, Kekchi Maya, whatever it is. The intention is to be able to inform everybody as to what are the issues that are germane to their making a reasoned decision on this all-important matter.”