Back in the 70s and 80s, when the United States was concerned with the Contras in Nicaragua, when Hyde, Musa, and Shoman were considered revolutionaries, and a threat to democracy in the region, America considered Belize a very important player on the world stage. We had more consular representatives from the United States per capita, than any other country in the neighborhood! We were vital to their national security. It was a time when money was flowing freely, lots of money, and a lot of Belizeans became very wealthy during this period. It was a time of greed and prosperity and easy access for those who were industrious, or corrupt enough, to take advantage of the situation.
Last week, I read in the papers that Michelle Kwan, famous Olympic figure skater, the greatest there has ever been, was nominated by the Biden administration as ambassador to Belize. No disrespect to Ms. Kwan, who I’m sure is a wonderful person, a good human being, and will be a great envoy, but I was very disturbed by this nomination. I would feel the same way if it had been Tiger Woods, or Michael Jordan who were nominated. Well, maybe not by Mike’s nomination, but I would still be unhappy. Now, I understand that big donors and celebrities are often rewarded with ambassadorships by whoever the new president is. John Gavin, the actor, was ambassador to Mexico for Reagan. Caroline Kennedy was ambassador to Japan for Obama. So, this is nothing new, but it is surprising, at a time when we are at a crossroad. We are not just this idyllic paradise in the Caribbean/Central America, we also face an existential threat to our borders. Maybe America doesn’t see it that way, thus this nomination!
Belize is involved in a fight, in litigation at the ICJ (International Court of Justice), with Guatemala. Guatemala, a giant compared to little Belize, has its greedy tentacles spreading in all directions, waiting, and fawning for, and over, the moment they can make a land grab, take bites, and bits and pieces of the Jewel! They’re already doing it, through encroachments into our precious rainforests, through migration, and through controlling the Sarstoon, with impunity. This is a very serious threat, this everlasting claim of theirs, and it will never go away. Guatemala wants Belize, not its people; they don’t give a sh** about us, they want our land, our national resources, our pristine shores. We have to fight like hell to make sure that they never succeed, not even in getting an inch, of the Jewel!
My objection to Michelle Kwan’s nomination is that at this moment, we need seasoned diplomats and negotiators, to handle the Guats and their spurious and unfounded claim. We need someone who will be taken seriously by the macho Guatemalans and the macho Belizeans, Central America is full of machismo!
We don’t do winter sports in Belize, I think that there’s a hockey rink somewhere in the Mennonite community, but apart from that, we don’t do ice skating. We are fighting for survival, as a country, a sovereign, independent Belize, with the threat from carrion-seeking vultures, always circling about, around, and above us!
“Oh Belize, my home sweet home!”
Glen