“Fight Against Racial Discrimination”: FMat 52nd O.A.S. General Assembly

Eamon Courtenay

On the subject of discrimination, the Minister of Foreign Affairs raised issues faced by the indigenous community and the L.G.B.T. community. He also highlighted racial discrimination and reparations for people of African descent. 

Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

“We must also fight against racial discrimination, especially where it is woven into the social, legal, and economic fabric of our countries. For not only are the racially discriminated denied economic opportunities but they are also unfairly penalized, denied their freedom and in far too many places they pay their ultimate prices with their lives. Many of our countries have institutions and laws that provide strong protections and discriminations in all forms. But, we cannot delude ourselves. The reality is very different. Afro descendants make up twenty-five percent of the population and indigenous people eight percent. But across the region, both groups are far more likely to be poor. This is inevitable. This is why Belize joins the ever louder chorus that calls for reparations. People of African descent and the indigenous people of the Americas must be compensated for the injustices they have suffered. Our LGBTQ+ citizens continue to suffer discrimination and do not enjoy the full panoply of rights which they should. Incredibly and disappointingly for Belize, this very assembly has struggled with antidiscrimination language to be included in our declaration entitled Together Against Inequality and Discrimination.”