Belize Hosts Strategic Alliances International Partners Conference  

The Government of Belize is hosting a two-day Strategic Alliances International Partners Conference to boost dialogue with development partners and enhance collaboration on sustainable growth initiatives. The event, themed “Unlocking Climate Finance and Disaster Risk Financing for Sustainable Development,” kicked off with remarks from Minister Francis Fonseca and Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amalia Mai. Prime Minister John Briceño also addressed the audience, speaking for thirty minutes to Belize’s diplomatic core. While much of his speech resembled a Plan Belize address, he did touch  on climate change and its impacts on Belize towards the end.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I can’t describe it in words of how grateful I am, my Cabinet and by extension the people for what you have done. But we still have more challenges. Every day and week in Cabinet the ministers are saying, we need to extend electricity here, we need a clinic here, we need more roads, housing, and the list can go on. And this is where you can continue to play this role, this partnership of mutual respect and having the same objectives, that the issues of climate change, of which we had nothing to do with climate change. We are doing our part, but the developed countries haven’t. And it is unfortunate that a hurricane like what went through Florida is starting to raise more awareness in minds of people. They are saying that hold on this thing is really serious. Finally, the developing countries are talking about loss and damage, you all are talking about preparing to have a fund. All of that we had we only need one hurricane, and we could lose fifty percent of GDP, God forbid. I use to hate speaking when I was the minister of environment about adaptability. Why should we adapt, we have not caused this problem. The reality is we have to adopt.”