

Currently released so far... 12648 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AORC
AF
AU
ASEC
AMGT
AS
APER
AR
AG
ARF
AJ
AA
AINF
APECO
AODE
ABLD
AMG
ATPDEA
AE
AEMR
AMED
AGAO
AFIN
AL
ASUP
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AID
ASCH
AM
AORL
ASEAN
APEC
ADM
AFSI
AFSN
ADCO
ABUD
AN
AY
AIT
AGR
ACOA
ANET
ASIG
AMCHAMS
AGMT
AADP
ADPM
ATRN
ALOW
ACS
APCS
AFFAIRS
ADANA
AECL
ACAO
AORG
AROC
AO
ACABQ
AX
AMEX
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
ACBAQ
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
AFU
BR
BTIO
BY
BO
BA
BU
BL
BN
BM
BF
BEXP
BK
BG
BB
BTIU
BBSR
BRUSSELS
BD
BIDEN
BE
BH
BILAT
BC
BX
BT
BP
BMGT
BWC
CS
CA
CH
CD
CO
CE
CU
CVIS
CASC
CJAN
CI
CPAS
CMGT
CDG
CIC
CAC
CBW
CWC
COUNTER
CW
CT
CY
CNARC
CACM
CG
CB
CM
CV
CIDA
CLINTON
CHR
COE
CR
CIS
CDC
CONS
CF
CODEL
COPUOS
CIA
CFED
CARSON
CL
CROS
CAPC
CTR
CACS
CN
CBSA
CEUDA
COM
CONDOLEEZZA
CICTE
COUNTRY
CBE
CKGR
CVR
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CLEARANCE
CARICOM
CSW
CITT
CDB
CJUS
CTM
CAN
CLMT
CBC
EAID
ECON
EFIS
ETRD
EC
ENRG
EINV
EFIN
EAGR
ETTC
ECPS
EINT
ES
EIND
EAIR
EU
EUN
EG
EPET
ELAB
EWWT
EMIN
ECIN
ESA
ER
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
EAIG
ET
ETRO
ELTN
EI
EN
EUR
EK
EUMEM
EPA
ENGR
EXTERNAL
EUREM
ELN
EUC
ENERG
ENIV
EZ
ERD
EFTA
ETRC
ETRN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ESENV
ENNP
ENVI
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECINECONCS
EFINECONCS
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EXIM
ERNG
ECA
EINVEFIN
ETC
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
ECONOMIC
EXBS
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
EREL
EINVETC
ECONCS
ETRA
IC
IV
IAEA
IR
IO
IT
IN
IS
IZ
IMO
IPR
IWC
ICAO
ILO
ID
ICTY
ICJ
INMARSAT
INDO
IL
IMF
IRS
IQ
IA
ICRC
IDA
IAHRC
IBRD
ISLAMISTS
IGAD
ILC
ITU
ITF
INRA
INRO
IDP
ICTR
IEFIN
IRC
ITRA
ITALY
INRB
INTELSAT
IBET
IRAQI
ISRAELI
IIP
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
INTERNAL
INTERPOL
IEA
INR
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
ISRAEL
IACI
KBTR
KPAO
KOMC
KCRM
KDEM
KHIV
KBIO
KTIA
KMDR
KNNP
KSCA
KTIP
KWMN
KIPR
KCOR
KRVC
KFRD
KPAL
KWBG
KE
KTDB
KUNR
KSPR
KJUS
KGHG
KAWC
KCFE
KGCC
KOLY
KSUM
KACT
KISL
KTFN
KFLU
KSTH
KMPI
KHDP
KS
KHLS
KMRS
KID
KN
KU
KAWK
KSAC
KCOM
KAID
KIRC
KWMNCS
KMCA
KNEI
KCRS
KPKO
KICC
KPOA
KV
KDRG
KIRF
KSEO
KVPR
KSEP
KTER
KBCT
KFIN
KGIC
KCIP
KZ
KG
KWAC
KRAD
KPRP
KTEX
KNAR
KPLS
KPAK
KSTC
KFLO
KSCI
KIDE
KOMS
KHSA
KSAF
KPWR
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFSC
KRIM
KVRP
KENV
KNSD
KCGC
KDDG
KPRV
KTBT
KWMM
KMFO
KMOC
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KPAI
KO
KVIR
KREC
KX
KR
KCRCM
KBTS
KOCI
KGIT
KNUP
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KTLA
KCSY
KTRD
KNPP
KJUST
KCMR
KRCM
KCFC
KCHG
KREL
KFTFN
KLIG
KDEMAF
KICA
KHUM
KSEC
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KWWMN
KOM
KWNM
KRFD
KMIG
KRGY
KIFR
MARR
MOPS
MASS
MX
MNUC
MCAP
MO
MR
MEPP
MTCRE
MAPP
MEPN
MZ
MT
ML
MA
MY
MIL
MD
MASSMNUC
MU
MK
MTCR
MUCN
MAS
MEDIA
MAR
MC
MI
MQADHAFI
MPOS
MTRE
MASC
MG
MARAD
MRCRE
MW
MP
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MEPI
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MCC
MIK
MAPS
MV
MILITARY
MDC
NATO
NZ
NL
NO
NK
NU
NPT
NI
NG
NEW
NSF
NA
NPG
NSG
NE
NSSP
NS
NDP
NSC
NAFTA
NH
NV
NP
NPA
NSFO
NT
NW
NASA
NORAD
NATIONAL
NGO
NR
NIPP
NZUS
NC
NRR
NAR
NATOPREL
OEXC
OTRA
OPRC
OVIP
OAS
OIIP
OSCE
OREP
OPIC
OFDP
OMIG
ODIP
OVP
OSCI
OIC
OECD
OIE
OPDC
ON
OCII
OPAD
OBSP
OFFICIALS
OPCW
OHUM
OES
OCS
OTR
OSAC
OFDA
PGOV
PREL
PM
PHUM
PTER
PINR
PINS
PREF
PARM
PL
PK
PU
PBTS
PBIO
PHSA
PE
PO
PROP
PA
PNAT
POL
PLN
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PCUL
PAK
PGGV
PAO
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PAS
PGIV
PHUMPREL
PCI
PG
POGOV
PHUMPGOV
PEL
POLITICS
POLICY
PINL
PP
PREO
PAHO
PBT
PMIL
POV
PRL
PDOV
PTBS
PRAM
PREFA
PSI
PAIGH
POSTS
PALESTINIAN
PARMS
PROG
PTERE
PRGOV
PORG
PS
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PINF
PNG
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PGOC
PY
PHUH
PF
PHUS
RU
RS
RO
RW
RP
RFE
REGION
REACTION
REPORT
ROOD
RCMP
RM
RSO
ROBERT
RICE
RSP
RF
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
RELATIONS
SENV
SU
SCUL
SOCI
SNAR
SL
SW
SMIG
SP
SY
SA
SHUM
SZ
SYRIA
SF
SR
SO
SARS
SN
SC
SIPRS
SI
SYR
SEVN
SG
SPCE
SK
STEINBERG
SH
SNARCS
SAARC
SCRS
SENVKGHG
SAN
ST
SIPDIS
SNARIZ
SNARN
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SEN
SANC
SWE
SHI
TW
TU
TBIO
TSPL
TPHY
TRGY
TC
TT
TSPA
TINT
TERRORISM
TX
TR
TS
TN
TD
TH
TIP
TNGD
TI
TZ
THPY
TP
TBID
TF
TL
TV
TK
TO
TRSY
TURKEY
TFIN
TAGS
UN
UK
UNSC
UNGA
US
UNESCO
UP
UNHRC
UNAUS
USTR
UNDP
UNEP
UY
UNCHR
UG
UZ
UNPUOS
USEU
UNMIK
UNDC
UNICEF
UV
UNHCR
UNCHC
UNCSD
USOAS
UNFCYP
USUN
USNC
UNIDROIT
UNO
UNCND
USPS
USAID
UE
UNVIE
UAE
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNDESCO
UNC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 06SANJOSE2800, BELIZE: TROPICAL FOREST CONSERVATION ACT OVERSIGHT BOARD
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06SANJOSE2800.
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHSJ #2800/01 3551633
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 211633Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
TO RUEHBE/AMEMBASSY BELMOPAN 0007
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6883
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0788
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 3843
RUEHBH/AMEMBASSY NASSAU 0247
RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN 0743
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE 0555
RUEHGE/AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN 0418
RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 0764
RUEHPO/AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO 0327
RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN 0453
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0029
UNCLAS SAN JOSE 002800
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR OES/PCI (LSPERLING)AND WHA/CEN (JMACK)
STATE PLEASE PASS TO AID
AID FOR SCOTT LAMPMAN
SANTO DOMINGO FOR MICHAEL DONALD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ECON PGOV EAGR SOCI BH
SUBJECT: BELIZE: TROPICAL FOREST CONSERVATION ACT OVERSIGHT BOARD
MEETING
¶1. SUMMARY. REO attended the November 2, 2006 meeting of the
Belize Tropical Forest Conservation Act Oversight Committee in
remote Punta Gorda. The meeting provided an opportunity to review
2006 NGO reports, which focused on community outreach and
enforcement activities, and approve 2007 workplans. While the PACT
Foundation reported agreement in principle on guidelines for
managing Foundation monies intended for a small grants program,
subsequent private conversations suggested that differences among
Foundation Board members may result in tasking another entity to
manage Foundation funds. Oversight Committee members recommended to
REO that a second debt for nature swap be considered. END SUMMARY.
¶2. REO attended the November 2 Board meeting of the Belize Tropical
Forest Conservation Act (TFCA) Oversight Committee meeting (the
Committee) in Punta Gorda, Belize at Toledo Institute for
Development and Environment (TIDE) headquarters. Members of the
Committee included Artemio Osorio (Ministry of Finance); Wilbur
Sabido (Ministry of Natural Resources); Marnix Perez (Protected
Areas Conservation Trust-PACT); Valdemar Andrade (PACT Foundation -
the Foundation); Anna Hoare (Belize Audubon Society-BAS); Edilberto
Romero (Programme for Belize-PfB); Alex Martinez (Nature
Conservancy); Wil Maheia (Toledo Institute for Development and
Environment -TIDE); and REO on behalf of U.S. Embassy Belize. Also
in attendance were Dominique Lizama (BAS), Herbert Haylock (PfB);
and Angelica Chavarria (TIDE).
PATIENCE WEARS THIN OVER FOUNDATION NEGOTIATIONS
------------------------------------
¶3. Andrade briefed the Committee on the status of the Foundation
established by the U.S.-Belize TFCA agreement to support small
grants to the wider Belize environmental NGO community. Divisions
on the Foundation Board (the Board) between the NGOs (BAS, PfB, and
TIDE) and government (PACT) prevented both agreement on procedures
for managing Foundation funds and the scheduled October call for
projects. (These divisions prompted NGO to insist that the
Foundation hired its own lawyer to avoid relying on PACT counsel.)
PACT and NGO Board members also differed over the base for
calculating PACT's proposed 15 percent fee. PACT wished the base to
be Foundation income earned (NGOs argued that PACT would have no
incentive to actually disburse funds) while NGOs wished to apply the
percentage on actual monies disbursed (which placed the risk of
delay in decision-making on PACT). Andrade reported that the
November 2 Foundation Board meeting reached an agreement in
principle on the issue, but NGOs reserved judgement until they could
scrutinize the fine print.
¶4. Both NGOs and PACT privately raised the possibility that the
Foundation administrator (currently PACT) might be replaced if
agreement could not be reached. The three NGOs argued that any one
of them can manage Foundation funds as effectively as PACT. Should
the fund migrate to another institution, PACT would prefer to remove
"PACT" from the Foundation name in order to establish a new vehicle
for fundraising.
HIGHLIGHTS OF NGO REPORTS
-------------------------
¶5. All reports emphasized improvement to park infrastructure like
new guardhouses, renovated trails and renovated quarters. Each also
highlighted community outreach, ranging from educational
presentations to children's activities. The three NGOs noted that
their freedom to cover park staff salaries gave them the security to
leverage funds for more innovative projects than would otherwise be
the case.
¶6. BELIZE AUDUBON SOCIETY (BAS)
Seventy percent of Land Management funds were used to cover the
salaries of ten field staff to manage 9 protected areas. The
balance was used for administrative support and as partial payment
for its Executive Director, accountant and Park Manager. Highlights
included:
-- Outreach to surrounding landowners to share information about
illegal loggers and hunters transiting property.
-- Cooperation with Armenia Mayan Women's Group to build a
community gift shop, conduct birding walks, and hold a clean-up
campaign.
-- Mapped Saint Herman's Blue Hole and Guanacaste National Parks
and conducted overflights and joint patrols with police and defense
forces.
¶7. TOLEDO INSTITUTE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT (TIDE)
TIDE's 2007 goals largely mirrored its 2006 activities. Of
particular interest were its outreach efforts on behalf of the
endangered Hicattee turtle and the second season of its innovative
Freshwater Cup, in which local teams are as competitive in putting
forward environmental projects as they are on the soccer field.
Monies were spent on TIDE Private Lands Initiative enhancement,
pushing its land acquisitions to 23,000 hectares, and on hiring
rangers, a Science Director and a forest management specialist; and
conducting river and ground patrols of private lands, including
alternating patrols with three other NGOs of the Bladen Management
Area. TFCA Support helped make possible:
-- development of a medicinal garden, nurturing of 800 mahogany
seedlings and the designation of two areas for scientific
monitoring;
-- 21 patrols with police and Forest Department officials that
destroyed three gill nets and posted eleven signs on fishing and
hunting regulations;
-- participation in forestry/land conservation conferences and
training opportunities on fire management, medical emergencies, and
boat and engine maintenance.
¶8. PROGRAMME FOR BELIZE (PfB)
PfB manages the Rio Bravo Conservation Area, which constitutes 4
percent of the country. In FY 2006, 2/3 of PfB funds covered
salaries of park personnel; nearly 1/3 was used to cover
administrative expenses; and 4 percent supported communication
system maintenance, vehicle repair and aerial reconnaissance. TFCA
funds leveraged a Wallace Foundation donation to support the study
of the endangered Yellow Hooded Parrot. Rangers reported an
increase in poaching and illegal fishing, to which they responded
with increased patrols; detected and destroyed 5 marijuana fields;
and halted two illegal logging operations that resulted in charges
against 6 persons and 2 convictions.
RAISING A SECOND DEBT SWAP WITH TREASURY
------------------------------------
¶9. Regardless of differences over the Foundation, Oversight
Committee members were enthusiastic about a second debt swap, which
Osorio valued at USD 3.5 million. While attending the November 7-9
Environmental Fund Network for Latin America and the Caribbean (Red
de Fondos Ambientales de Latinoamerica y el Caribe -REDLAC), Andrade
and REO raised the recommendation with Department of Treasury
official Katie Berg. Berg took the request under consideration,
noted the requirements to be met, and observed that the delay in
implementing the Foundation did not strengthen the case for a second
swap. She emphasized that more detailed reporting from NGOs on the
fruits of their expenditures would be useful, and inquired how
administrative fees authorized by the agreement were used.
PUNTA GORDA: NOT ON THE WAY FROM ANYWHERE TO ANYWHERE ELSE
-----------------------------------
¶10. TIDE Director Wil Meheia confirmed that he planned to leave
TIDE in December to run for the national legislature. Frustrated
with a government unresponsive to Toledo District needs, Meheia is
founding a new political party that will combat corruption and
promote local NGO takes on environmental issues.
¶11. Belize's last Caribbean cultural outpost before the Mayan
culturescape straddling the Guatemalan border, Punta Gorda's few
thousands are a mix of Creole (African-European), Garifuna
(Carib-African), Mestizo, and Mayan peoples, with a small but
economically important population of East Indians, Chinese, and
Mennonites. Relatively untouched by beach or cruise ship-driven
development, a new road and six-hour drive from the capital has not
overcome Punta Gordans' self-perception as out of sight and out of
mind to Belmopan. Enough adventure tourists and aficionados of
puntarock (modernized Garifuna rhythms) reach Punta Gorda to justify
adding 2 or even 3 stories to the family homes-cum-inns lining the
shore. Outside the town, bed and breakfasts, farms and fishing
lodges seek to bolster eco-tourism in Toledo District. Their
expatriate owners are not a new phenomenon, as the graves of
Confederate refugees testify.
¶12. Toledo District hosts many NGOs and sustainable development
efforts, of which TIDE is the most successful. The Toledo
Association for Tourism and Empowerment (TASTE), a consortium of
tourist businesses in the district, administers idyllic Sopadilla
Cays. Various Mayan community organizations support (with Peace
Corps help) the marketing of wood crafts and other products, offer
Mayan village homestays, and administer community lands, including
the dramatic Rio Blanco falls. British organic chocolate maker
Black and Green, purveyors of the orange-accented "Maya Gold" dark
chocolate bars, worked with the local cacao growers to replant with
native cacao - genetic tests, it claimed, show that it is the
original source stock. Local boosters are planning a 2007 cacao
festival in the nearby, evocative Mayan ruins of Lubaantun, where,
some claim, the cacao tree was first cultivated.
LANGDALE