OAS Adjacency Zone, Belize-Guatemala, Fri. Dec. 7, 2007
Official inauguration ceremonies were held today for a new and modern Quarantine Treatment facility at the Western Border.
The facility was strategically constructed between the borders of Belize and Guatemala so as to cater for all incoming and outgoing traffic between both countries.
Since Belize is a member of OIRSA (International Organization for Health in Agriculture), these treatments were previously carried out manually. But with the modern technology introduced at the common border, the vehicles now pass through a tunnel-like chamber and are sprayed automatically. The cost is estimated at BZ$200,000.
On hand for the occasion to jointly inaugurate the facility via a ribbon-cutting ceremony, was Hon. Vildo Marin, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, with his Guatemalan counterpart, Lic. Bernardo Lopez.
Personalities present at today’s ceremonies included Hon. Lisa Shoman, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; Mrs. Sandra Hall, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries; Mr. Eugene Waight, Chief Agricultural Officer, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries; Mrs. Teresita Cassanova, Mayoress of Melchor de Mencos; Lic. Bernardo Lopez, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food, Guatemala; Ingeniero Jorge Anibal Escobedo, OIRSA Executive Director and Miguel Angel Trinidad from the Organization of American States, among other outstanding personalities.