And while the Prime Minister was grilled by the press on all current affairs, the event we were in the cabinet room to cover was a simple signing ceremony between the US and Belizean governments.
It's an extension of the Merida initiative, now known as the Central American Regional Security Initiative - no doubt a clever re-branding to not make central American nations feel too badly that Mexico is getting most of the funding.
Today, PM Barrow and Ambassador Thummalapally signed an amendment to the Letter of Agreement for what is now known as Carsi. The agreement will see just over two million dollars directed to specific security programmes.
Ambassador Thummalapally said that the initiative generates real results that benefit the security status of both Belize and the USA....
H.E. Vinai Thummalapally, United States Ambassador to Belize
"This funding is provided to the government of Belize to increase citizen safety and to decrease the threat of gangs, weapons trafficking and drug trafficking. Over the last 18 months the US Embassy has provided significant support to Belizean law enforcement, to date over US$880,000.00 worth of equipment has been committed to the police, the prison and the customs department. In addition, a total of 191 government officials have received training paid for by this initiative. In the near future an additional US$5 million in funding will be provided for a number of excellent projects, these include assistance to improve the capacity of the courts and prosecutors, new vessels for the Belize national coast guards and programs aimed at providing social and economic opportunities for at risks groups."
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"This particular tranche of funding comes at a critical time in Belize's fight against what was central American friends call 'La Delinquencia', the phenomenon of being over taken by this rise in crime and violence in various aspects but particularly with respect to gang violence and the urban difficulties we have become witness to especially on the southside of Belize City."
According to an official release, CARSI funding will be used for several projects including a Finger Print System which will get $50,000 dollars, Improved Border Inspection which will get $65,000, Improved Police Equipment to the tune of $925,000, as well as Capacity Enhancement for about half a million dollars and Prison Management for $300,000.
That's just over two million dollars in this third tranche - and while 83 million US dollars is assigned to Central America for 2010 - in remarks given after the signing was finished, the Prime Minister made it clear he is not about to beg Uncle Sam for more greenbacks.
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"In terms of the monies that they give out to countries in my view it's welcome, whatever Belize gets we can make use of. But I am not going to go cap-in-hand to the Americans asking for more. I am no Oliver Twist, I am Oliver Barrow…so really this is our fight. Although local resources are limited, I am determined to, in fact, be as creative as possible to scrape and scramble as much as possible so that I can commit sufficient local resources to give us some kind of claw hold in terms of this all important fight against crime and violence. As I said, what the Americans give is greatly appreciated but don't expect me to go bargain with them or argue with them for more; I am not in that."
2010 is the last year assigned for the Merida/CARSI initiative. The US Congress will decide whether it will be continued.
