Belize City, Tues. May 18, 2021– On Tuesday, May 18, 2021, the Belize/Guatemala Joint Commission met at the Radisson Fort George Hotel in Belize City to pave the way forward for the working group’s efforts to advance bilateral relations.

The meeting stemmed from a previous meeting between foreign ministers of both countries, who directed the group to reactivate the work of the Belize/Guatemala Joint Commission. The commission in the past has made significant progress in the exchange of students, harmonization of the operating hours in both countries, and joint efforts in sustainable tourism.

During the first portion of the meeting, the commission received reports on the implementation of four of the thirteen agreements signed in a 2014 meeting of the commission in Placencia. These four agreements which were discussed centered on the recovery of stolen cultural artifacts, arrangements for seasonal workers, the movement of students, and sustainable tourism.

The commission was first established in 2005 by the Framework Agreement on Negotiations and Confidence-Building Measures that was signed between the neighboring states under the supervision of the Organization of American States. Its primary area of focus is collaborative efforts to benefit both member nations.

The Belizean delegation was headed by Ambassador Amalia Mai, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. This post was previously held by Ambassador Alexis Rosado, the former Ambassador of Belize to Guatemala. The Guatemalan delegation was led by H.E. Carlos Ramiro Martinez, that country’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.