We also asked Fonseca for his opinion on the nearly quarter million dollars that the Belize City Council spent on the free concert for Holy Week. It entertained thousands - but did it have to be free with 136 thousand paid with public funds? Fonseca more or less said that they have their own hands to pray:
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"I mean I really know nothing about that I have heard people talk about it you know I think the concert was a big hit as I understand it 2 years ago when they last brought the artist and again this year so I think the city council has to make their own assessment of their priorities how they spend their funds but I think for the most part the Belizean people who attended enjoyed it and found it very useful.""
Foreign Minister Reacquaints Himself With Taiwanese Ambassador
Amino Chi is the new Taiwanese Ambassador to Belize, but he's not new to Belize at all. This is Chi's third diplomatic stint in Belize; he had previously served as third secretary in 2004, and then first secretary in 2012.
So, Fonseca got the chance to reacquaint himself and he told us how it went.
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"We are very very happy to have him, he knows Belize, he understands Belize, and you know he has a very deep appreciation and love for our country. His children went to school here in Belize so we think we are going to have a very good and strong relationship with him that will help us to deepen and strengthen our partnership with Taiwan and of course Taiwan is a very important development partner of Belize."
While Fonseca welcomed the new Taiwanese Ambassador, we note that global currents are changing. We asked him whether Belize should now entertain meetings with mainland China, especially after the Taiwanese leader of the opposition recently met with senior officials there. Fonseca wouldn't even entertain the possibility:
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"We are very very happy to have him, he knows Belize, he understands Belize, and you know he has a very deep appreciation and love for our country. His children went to school here in Belize so we think we are going to have a very good and strong relationship with him that will help us to deepen and strengthen our partnership with Taiwan and of course Taiwan is a very important development partner of Belize."
Foreign Minister Calls Middle East Conflict A Tragedy
And we also asked Fonseca at about the current conflict in the middle east and the fragile two week ceasefire between the US and Israel with Iran. He says it's a tragedy.
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"In my view all around it is an absolute tragedy, in 2026 you know we should not be, as a world community engaged in wars we should be engaged in working together to advance the development of our global community so it is very unfortunate that it has reached this point that we are engaged, we see the world engaged in war. And we hope, we hope that all of the rhetoric can be lowered and there can be a peaceful and last resolution to the current ceasefire that is in place."
