This weekend Prime Minister Said Musa departs for what may turn out to be the most important CARICOM heads of government meeting he's ever attended. And it's not because of the CSME, of the Caribbean Court of Justice; it's because Belize carries the diplomatic equivalent silver bullet that could puncture the otherwise impervious armor of the global superpower, the USA.
As we've reported, the United States has launched an aggressive and determined international lobby to get Guatemala elected to the rotating seat on the United Nations Security Council in October. The only other candidate is Venezuela, and the United States, with its known distaste for the global politics of socialist leader Hugo Chavez is strenuously opposed to that country's candidacy. But for reasons even more manifest, Belize is equally opposed to the possibility of Guatemala's ascension to that vaunted seat.
Now, as volleys and commitments of support are coming in for both sides from across the world, the votes of the 14 nation CARICOM bloc could turn out to be the lynchpin in the voting, which needs a two-thirds majority. At the heads of government meeting next week in St. Kitts and Nevis, the Prime Minister is expected to ask the CARICOM heads to stand in solidarity with Belize and not to support Guatemala's candidacy, however much this may incense the United States.
Belize's position to the USA has been simple, if it can get Guatemala to move on the illegal Guatemalan settlement of Santa Rosa in southern Belize and its 97 residents, Belize will advise CARICOM leaders that they can, at that point, vote their conscience. Presently, initial indications are that Belize will get universal support from the CARICOM leaders.
The session to decide that will be a caucus meeting of the heads on Tuesday July fourth. The Prime Minister will be accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Courtenay, and Foreign Affairs CEO Amalia Mai.
