Belize is at the crossroads between CARICOM and SICA - or in the words of the famous Radio Belize blurb - a Caribbean nation in the heart of Central America. Now, Belize is using that unique position - and its presidency of SICA to bring those two worlds together. Tonight 9 Central American and Caribbean Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Trade are in Belize for a meeting of SICA and CARICOM. Secretaries General of both bodies today signed an historic plan of action that encourages cooperation in 12 major areas, including health, housing, environment, trade, crime and tourism. Belize's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eamon Courtenay who chaired the meeting said it is a signal accomplishment and one Belize is proud to be a part of. CARICOM Secretary General Edwin Carrington and SICA Sec Gen, Anibal Quinonez agreed.
Hon. Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Tourism
"Essentially we are advancing our theme of linking SICA and the Caribbean Community. That is the theme for our presidency of SICA. We regard this as a historic opportunity for us to sign a document which provides a framework for functional corporation."
Edwin Carrington, Carrington Sec. Gen.
"It's a very very important document for countries because it seeks to bridge a historical gap and to give a thrust to the cooperation between countries of Central America and countries of the Caribbean Community, what I would call the renewed thrust of cooperation between these two sub-regions."
Anibal Quinonez, SICA Sec. Gen.
"With the signing of this plan, Central America and the Caribbean Community are establishing a clear alliance, a clear bi-regional alliance."
Hon. Eamon Courtenay,
"We have had a history of being close yet far; close geographically but yet far away to get from country to the next in the two sub-regions. We have difference in languages, in language and cultures and history but we are making a determined effort, Belize is, to bring us closer together during the course of our presidency. Yes we also believe that Belize's presidency, we also believe that Belize's location, Belize's particular cultural and historical past, provides the bridge that brings the two regions together. I would not say that it would not happen but for Belize but I will certainly say that because of Belize it has happened a lot quicker."
And while the foreign affairs section has been hammered out, the trade component between the CARICOM Single Market and Economy and its SICA equivalent will now bedevil trade Ministers who are also in Belize.
