It was the biggest news this week that Foreign Minister Eamon Courtenay was resigning from the Briceno Cabinet and returning to private law practice. It's a significant loss for the Briceno administration because Courtenay is a seasoned, skilled diplomat and a capable minister.
But, how good really was he? Well, three years isn't much to get anything done, but Jules Vasquez looked at some of his greatest hits, and misses:
Eamon Courtenay was never a proponent of the International Court of Justice - in opposition he called this ICJ endorsement by five former foreign ministers a "cheap circus act"
But in government - after Belizeans voted to go to the ICJ - Courtenay had to play the role as team leader - one he never seemed gung ho about.
Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"That Guatemala Belize case as I say is ready for hearing, all the pleadings are closed and we are awaiting a date for a hearing of that case."
Oddly now, Courtenay will "retain overall responsibility for Belize's two cases currently before the International Court of Justice."
And while in opposition Courtenay and the PUP called for a Sarstoon protocol:
Eamon Courtenay - Representative of the Leader of the Opposition
"I am disappointed that the Guatemalan forces felt that they were able to assert sovereignty and to assert the right to stop anybody from travelling into the Sarstoon."
In government the Guatemalan aggression on the Sarstoon continued - even as Courtenay used the highest platforms call for a protocol:
Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"The illegal incursions by Guatemalans continue. Recently Guatemalan military forces illegally entered Belizean waters and unlawfully removed Belizean flags placed on Belizean soil. Deforestation, cattle ranching and cultivation of illegal drugs by Guatemalans continue in remote and protected areas of Belize. These activities are contrary to international law and good neighborliness. Concluding a Sarstoon protocol to avoid unnecessary incidents in our Southern and maritime space remains outstanding but necessary."
And, when he demitted office, it was still outstanding - unresolved.
Courtenay did have success publicly delivering on a difficult mission for the US, re-settling convicted terrorist Majid Khan:
Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"The government of Belize considers Mr. Khan resettlement as a humanitarian act. Though Khan may have contributed to acts of terrorism, he was brutally abused and tortured. He has repudiated his radicalism, cooporated with the US authorities in the fight against terrorism and has served his time."
It was a controversial and unpopular decision, but it put Belize in America's good books, and Belizeans learned to accept it.
But, Courtenay did not stand with the Americans on the Israel - Palestine conflict - he took one of the gutsiest decisions ever by any Belizean foreign minister when he broke ties with that country:
Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"What do we do? The only options left for us are one, to revoke the agreement, which is the permission for us, for Israel to send an ambassador to Belize. That ambassador never presented her credentials formally, and so that is not going to happen."
"Secondly, we have an honorary council in Israel, and therefore we said to them that that honorary council, we are revoking his authority to act on behalf of Belize. Israel has an honorary council in Belize, and we have revoked the authority of that honorary council to act in Belize."
And while Belize made its name in the America's for that bold stance - Courtenay could not - despite his best efforts - get Belize a Schengen visa waiver
Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"With respect to the Schengen, as I have said before, we are working the diplomatic channels to try to reach a position where the Commission, the European Commission on Home, takes a decision that they will have open a new list of countries that they will review for Schengen visa waivers."
Belize is not being considered in the first round of countries receiving that visa waiver, and can only hope sometHING comes through by the end of 2024.
And that's if the effort is maintained, and it will be left to be seen how much the new MinisterFrancis Fonseca - already burdened with the Education portfolio - can give to this important mission.
Courtenay was also noted for his aggressive vaccine diplomacy campaign during and after the pandemic - which is still benefitting Belize.
