

Currently released so far... 12900 / 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
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
2011/05/20
2011/05/21
2011/05/22
2011/05/23
2011/05/24
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
Consulate Karachi
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
AE
ASEC
AS
AR
AMGT
AFIN
AORC
AU
AG
AF
APER
ABLD
ADCO
ABUD
AM
AID
AJ
AEMR
AMED
AL
ASUP
AN
AIT
ACOA
ANET
ASIG
AA
AGMT
AINF
AFFAIRS
ADANA
AY
AADP
ARF
ACS
AGR
AMCHAMS
AECL
AUC
APEC
APECO
AFGHANISTAN
ACAO
ASEAN
ADM
AGAO
AND
ADPM
ATRN
ALOW
AROC
APCS
AORG
AO
AODE
ACABQ
AX
AMEX
AZ
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
ASCH
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORL
BR
BO
BA
BM
BL
BH
BK
BEXP
BILAT
BTIO
BF
BU
BD
BY
BE
BG
BB
BBSR
BT
BRUSSELS
BP
BX
BC
BIDEN
BMGT
BWC
BN
BTIU
CA
CS
CO
CD
CR
CPAS
CDG
CI
CDC
CBW
CU
CVIS
CE
CONS
CH
CMGT
CASC
CY
CW
CG
CJAN
CIDA
CODEL
CWC
CIA
CBSA
CEUDA
CFED
CLINTON
CAC
CL
CACS
CIC
CHR
CAPC
CM
CT
CTR
COM
CROS
CN
COPUOS
CV
CF
CARSON
CONDOLEEZZA
CICTE
CYPRUS
COUNTER
COUNTRY
CBE
CKGR
CVR
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CLEARANCE
COE
CARICOM
CB
CSW
CITT
CACM
CDB
CJUS
CTM
CAN
CLMT
CBC
CNARC
CIS
EFIN
ECON
ETRD
EAID
EC
EU
EUN
EINV
EG
ETTC
EIND
ELAB
EAGR
ECIN
EINT
ENRG
EFIS
ELTN
EAIR
EPET
EZ
ET
ENERG
ECPS
EWWT
EI
ETRN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ER
ES
EN
EMIN
ESENV
ENNP
ENGR
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENVI
ECINECONCS
ELN
EFTA
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EXTERNAL
ENIV
ESA
EPA
ETRO
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUR
ECUN
EXIM
EK
EUREM
ECONOMY
EUMEM
ERNG
EFINECONCS
EAIDS
ECA
ETRC
EINVEFIN
ETC
EAP
EINN
ECONOMIC
EXBS
ENGY
ECONOMICS
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
EFIM
EREL
EINVETC
ECONCS
ETRA
EAIG
EUC
ERD
IQ
IR
IS
IN
IA
IC
IZ
ICRC
ID
IDA
IT
IO
IAEA
ICJ
ICAO
IV
IBRD
IMF
IAHRC
IWC
ILO
ISLAMISTS
IGAD
ILC
ITU
ITF
INRA
INRO
ICTY
INRB
ITALY
IBET
IL
INTELSAT
ISRAELI
IMO
IDP
ICTR
ITRA
IRC
IRAQI
IEFIN
IPR
IIP
INMARSAT
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
INTERNAL
IRS
INTERPOL
IEA
INR
ISRAEL
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
IACI
INDO
KPAO
KMDR
KCOR
KNNP
KJUS
KCRM
KDEM
KVPR
KTFN
KPRP
KTIP
KSCA
KSUM
KTEX
KIDE
KIRF
KV
KTIA
KN
KG
KFRD
KWMN
KUNR
KISL
KU
KGHG
KPKO
KOMS
KPAL
KIPR
KMCA
KOMC
KRVC
KSEP
KAWC
KOLY
KWBG
KACT
KFLO
KHIV
KZ
KGIC
KBCT
KDRG
KBTR
KCFE
KE
KHLS
KMPI
KAWK
KPWR
KIRC
KRAD
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFLU
KPLS
KRIM
KSTH
KDDG
KPRV
KICC
KS
KSAF
KBIO
KREC
KCGC
KCIP
KTDB
KWAC
KPAI
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFSC
KSTC
KMFO
KID
KNAR
KMIG
KVRP
KNEI
KGIT
KNSD
KHDP
KSAC
KWMM
KR
KCOM
KAID
KENV
KVIR
KHSA
KO
KCRS
KPOA
KTER
KFIN
KSPR
KTBT
KX
KCMR
KMOC
KCRCM
KBTS
KSEO
KOCI
KNUP
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KSCI
KTLA
KCSY
KTRD
KMRS
KNPP
KJUST
KRCM
KCFC
KCHG
KREL
KFTFN
KLIG
KDEMAF
KGCC
KICA
KHUM
KSEC
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KPIR
KWWMN
KOM
KWNM
KRFD
KRGY
KIFR
KWMNCS
KPAK
MARR
MOPS
MUCN
MCAP
MNUC
MEPP
MTCRE
MASS
MO
MIL
MX
MAS
MEDIA
MAR
MI
MQADHAFI
MPOS
MTCR
MK
MG
MA
MY
MU
ML
MPS
MW
MD
MARAD
MC
MR
MT
MTRE
MASC
MRCRE
MAPP
MZ
MP
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MEPN
MEPI
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MCC
MIK
MAPS
MV
MILITARY
MDC
MASSMNUC
NI
NZ
NL
NO
NPT
NATO
NS
NU
NP
NPA
NSFO
NDP
NT
NW
NASA
NSG
NE
NORAD
NAFTA
NG
NATIONAL
NSSP
NV
NSF
NK
NA
NEW
NPG
NR
NGO
NIPP
NZUS
NH
NC
NRR
NAR
NATOPREL
NSC
OIIP
OPRC
OTRA
OEXC
OREP
OSCE
OVIP
OPAD
OBSP
OECD
OFFICIALS
OAS
OPDC
ODIP
OPCW
OES
OFDP
OPIC
OCS
OIC
OHUM
OSCI
OVP
ODC
OIE
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OFDA
ON
OCII
PREL
PINR
PGOV
PARM
PE
PTER
PHUM
PO
PINS
PREF
PK
PM
POL
PBTS
PNAT
PHSA
PAS
PA
PL
PGIV
PHUMPREL
POGOV
PAK
PEL
PROP
PP
PINL
PBT
PTBS
PG
PINF
PRL
PALESTINIAN
PSEPC
POSTS
PAHO
PHUMPGOV
PGOC
PNR
PREFA
PMIL
POLITICS
POLICY
PROV
PBIO
PREO
PAO
PDOV
PGOF
POV
PCI
PRAM
PSI
POLITICAL
PAIGH
PJUS
PARMS
PROG
PTERE
PRGOV
PORG
PS
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PNG
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PY
PLN
PHUH
PF
PHUS
PU
PARTIES
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
RU
RS
REGION
REACTION
REPORT
RO
RW
RCMP
RSO
RP
RM
ROOD
RFE
RICE
ROBERT
RSP
RF
RELATIONS
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
SENV
SY
SNAR
SCUL
SP
SF
SW
SOCI
SU
SMIG
SO
SA
SR
SZ
SI
SC
SEVN
SN
STEINBERG
SK
SH
SNARCS
SPCE
SARS
SNARN
SG
SL
SYRIA
SIPRS
SAARC
SNARIZ
SWE
SYR
SEN
SCRS
SAN
ST
SIPDIS
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SENVKGHG
SANC
SHI
SHUM
TU
TSPA
TBIO
TS
TRGY
TINT
TPHY
TN
TW
TH
TZ
TSPL
TP
TBID
TI
TF
TD
TT
TNGD
TL
TC
THPY
TIP
TX
TV
TK
TERRORISM
TO
TRSY
TURKEY
TFIN
TAGS
TR
UK
UNSC
UNGA
UNESCO
UNHRC
UP
UN
USTR
US
UNDC
UY
UNICEF
UNDP
UNMIK
UNAUS
UNCHC
UNCSD
USOAS
UNFCYP
UG
UNIDROIT
UNO
UV
UNHCR
UNEP
USEU
UZ
UNCND
USUN
UNCHR
USNC
USPS
USAID
UE
UNVIE
UAE
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNDESCO
UNC
UNPUOS
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