CARICOM and SICA Recognized at Flag Monument

Belize: The Caribbean Beat in the heart of Central America – many of us grew up hearing this catchy phrase on Radio Belize. But how much does Belize benefit from this identity? You’d think that being part of both the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Central American Integration Organization (SICA) would help Belize forge strong trade relationships and get more of our products into the export market. That’s exactly what we discussed with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade today, as the Belize City Council proudly raised the flags of twenty-two countries and territories that are part of these two organizations. News Five’s Marion Ali has the story.

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

Raising the flags of CARICOM and SICA member countries at the flagmonument at the Northern entrance to Belize City was a powerful symbol of the unity and partnership Belize shares with these organizations. This act celebrates our fifty years with CARICOM and twenty-six years with SICA. Today, Mayor Bernard Wagner highlighted this symbolism, proudly showcasing our connection with these regions at the city’s northern gateway.

 

Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City

“Today we certainly rededicate a monument that carries not just the colors and symbols of the Caribbean and Central America regions, but also the spirit of unity, the spirit of pride, the spirit of friendship shared across our region. Today we stand at the Belize City Flag Monument, a twenty-four-year-old gift from Barclays Bank that once served Belize, now finding new life as we restore its original tradition and significance.”

 

But how much has this symbolism and these partnerships benefited Belize, in terms of trading our products with them? Month after month, reports from the Statistical Institute of Belize highlight a clear imbalance between our imports and exports – we bring in way more than we send out. So, after the flag-raising ceremony, we asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade how the symbolism of our memberships in CARICOM and SICA can translate into real economic benefits. He said that as far as CARICOM is concerned, the support has been more political in the past, but that Belize is now seeking economic growth through that link.

 

Francis Fonseca, Min. of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade

“Because of their strong commitment to Belize’s self-government, to Belize’s independence, to Belize’s territorial integrity, to our right to self-determination, CARICOM has been a seamless block of support in terms of that effort for Belize, so political development has been really the priority, I think, for many, many years. Now I think, over the past decade or so, I think there has been a renewed effort on Belize’s part to look at economic development. How can we benefit economically from these regional organizations?  And that’s where I think we have a real opportunity, and we have been working very aggressively on that issue over the past few years here in Belize.”

Fonseca mentioned that similar efforts are underway to boost our economic benefits from SICA. He highlighted a trade and investment delegation to Guatemala, led by Prime Minister John Briceno in August of this year. He suggested that distance might be our biggest hurdle with CARICOM, while with SICA, the challenge could be the language barrier.

 

Francis Fonseca

“Maybe it was a language barrier, but definitely I don’t believe that we have made a concerted effort to engage with SICA. I’ve done a lot of work with CARICOM, and of course distance is an issue, really it is very far, and so it, the cost of trade is increased. We’re working to make sure that Belize joins these regional organizations like SIECA, which is like the economic arm of SICA, and other organizations, that will allow us to be at the table to engage in meaningful dialogue, discussions about economic development and investment.”

 

And if the discussions go in our favour, Belize could expect to export more agricultural products to these regions and also attract tourists from them as well, Fonseca said.

 

Francis Fonseca

“These markets are big. For example, in Guatemala, we have seventeen million people. In terms of chicken and beef, poultry and beef, markets for our grains, markets as well for in terms of tourism, we’re always looking at these countries.”

 

Mayor Wagner said that the flags will be flown year-round, except for the month of September. Marion Ali for News Five.