For the first time in two years, FECAMCO, the Federation of Central American Chambers of Commerce met in Belize today. The group's bi-monthly meeting was held at the House of Culture. The delegates represent 10 Central American countries in addition to Los Angeles and Santo Domingo. FECAMCO's Executive Director Lillian Yon B. told us what is being discussed.
Lillian Yon B., Executive Dir. - FECAMCO
"The main thing is the 45th anniversary of FECAMCO that is going to be in November of this year. So we are planning a whole event. We are going to have some conferences, dinners, and another conference. The federation is very important in the region because we have ten members; the Chambers of Commerce of Guatemala, Honduras, Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Belize of course, Santo Domingo, Columbia, and one in Los Angeles. So there are ten in total, ten members. What we do in these meetings is we talk about the issues that are going on the different countries and what FECAMCO can do to help the Chambers of Commerce to improve."
Arturo Vasquez, Former Chamber President
"A lot will be achieved. There is a lot on the table really within the Central American countries. Belize doesn't have any particular issue to address with them but considering that all the Central American countries are very close together, they do have more issues within those countries than they have within Belize and the Central American countries. So there is a lot on the table that will happen. It is mainly having to do with border issues and improving border relations within themselves."
The 45th anniversary meeting will be held in Guatemala in November. Belize won't host another FECAMCO meeting until 2008. Today's special guest for lunch was the Prime Minister. Channel 7 and Amandala waited for him at the event to ask for a comment on pressing domestic matters- but he quite brusquely denied our requests.
