[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 17033-17034]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




CURRENT STATE OF RELATIONS BETWEEN THE U.S. AND THE NATION OF BELIZE AS 
                   REPORTED BY AMBASSADOR LISA SHOMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 21, 2005

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of my 
colleagues the important and significant words of the Ambassador of 
Belize to the United States Her Excellency Lisa Shoman in her opinion 
editorial in today's edition of The Hill newspaper.

[[Page 17034]]

  As Ambassador of Belize in Washington, Ambassador Shoman has been a 
powerful and effective advocate for the interest of the people of 
Belize. She has brought to the attention of this Congress individually 
and collectively the importance of building, strengthening, and 
nurturing good relations between our two countries, not simply out of 
economic incentive, but for cultural and development purposes as well. 
Belize is truly privileged to have such an effective representative 
here in Washington, DC.
  Belize admittedly is a small country in size, covering an area about 
the size of Massachusetts and with a population of only 275,000. It 
faces many of the challenges of small and developing nations as well as 
those pertinent to Central America. Nonetheless, it has a literacy rate 
of over 90 percent, an average life expectancy of 67 years, and a 
diverse background of religious and racial groups. With a gross 
domestic product of $1.778 billion and a third of the population living 
below the poverty line, Belize still faces many challenges to its 
economic development and stability.
  Nonetheless, the government of Belize has worked to nurture and 
support business relationships with the United States. Its leaders have 
reached out to the American government to find mechanisms for tackling 
the issues of homeland and domestic security needs. It has shown 
considerable willingness to assist in the reduction of drug trafficking 
from the country and has worked impressively to address the health care 
needs and concerns of its citizens.
  More still should be done to assist the people of Belize as they 
pursue means of economic and social advancement and tackle the 
crippling problems facing smaller nations. As they have reached out to 
us in the pursuit of answers and support to their problems, we should 
recognize the need for assistance and aid in their development. I 
believe that it is important that the U.S. Government continues to 
develop a strong relationship with our Belizean neighbors. Our global 
connectedness and shared interests are important causes that unite us 
today and will continue to draw us closer together.
  I therefore submit for the Record a copy of The Hill's op-ed column 
written by Ambassador Lisa Shoman, discussing the connectedness and 
relationship between the small but important country of Belize and the 
United States. I hope my colleagues understand the significance of 
nurturing this relationship and continuing to build an ever closer 
relationship with the nation of Belize.

                  Belize: Small Country, Big Progress

       While media attention has been firmly focused on the 
     proposed Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade 
     Agreement, a regional success story that has captured 
     virtually no attention is unfolding.
       The small nation of Belize (that I have the privilege of 
     representing in Washington) has made significant strides over 
     the past few years that have strengthened the bilateral 
     relationship with the United States and attracted the 
     attention of America's business community.
       Belize, a nation of about 275,000 people situated at the 
     crossroads of Central America and the Caribbean, is a staunch 
     friend of America; a solid, strong and peaceful democracy 
     with an independent judiciary; and a nation open and 
     welcoming to the American private sector. It became a British 
     Crown colony in 1862 and achieved independence in 1981.
       Our two nations have had a long history of cordial 
     relations. The United States is the home to the largest 
     expatriate Belizean community in the world, some 150,000 
     strong, and thousands of American tourists visit my country 
     each year, either by air or by cruise ship.
       But there is a more profound reason for why the nations are 
     so close: The dedication of both governments to common 
     objectives has naturally led to an increasingly cooperative 
     and productive diplomatic relationship. Belize shares the 
     central U.S. goals of eradicating terrorism, bolstering 
     security, combating the scourges of drugs and international 
     crime and protecting human rights. And we have put real 
     action and effort to these tasks.
       Over just the past three to four years, Belize has agreed 
     in principle to sign the Proliferation Security Initiative, a 
     key initiative of the Bush administration intended to impede 
     or stop shipments of weapons of mass destruction. Our ports 
     were upgraded to meet the International Maritime 
     Organization's International Shipping and Ports Security 
     Code. Our Cabinet has approved the Agreement Concerning 
     Cooperation in Suppressing Illicit Maritime and Air 
     Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances in 
     the Caribbean Area (CRA), a key objective of the U.S. 
     government. The CRA will not only pay dividends in reducing 
     drug trafficking but also assist law-enforcement cooperation 
     in areas such as arms smuggling and money laundering.
       Our two governments' determination to stamp out the drug 
     trade yielded a concrete success last December in the 
     conviction of a Belizean gang leader for multi-ton cocaine-
     importation offenses. The success of the operation was made 
     possible through the cooperative efforts of the U.S. 
     Attorney's Office in New York City and officials in the 
     Belizean Office of Public Prosecutions and our Police 
     Department.
       We have acceded to the U.N. Convention against 
     Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocol to Prevent, 
     Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women 
     and Children, and we are committed to work together to stamp 
     out all forms of human slavery. Our two nations have signed 
     and brought into force an extradition treaty and a mutual 
     legal-assistance treaty intended to strengthen law-
     enforcement cooperation.
       This fast-paced diplomatic activity is not only a direct 
     result of the excellent relations between Belize and the 
     United States but also an important expression of my 
     country's fundamental commitment to the principle of the rule 
     of law and of the necessity for a rules-based world.
       That commitment governs Belize's relationship with her 
     international investors and commercial firms operating in and 
     with the country. And the results speak for themselves.
       We are a beneficiary of the Caribbean Basin Initiative, and 
     the United States is our largest trading partner. Two-way 
     trade reached about $259 million in 2004 and, according to 
     early 2005 statistics, is over 35 percent greater this year 
     than over the corresponding period in 2004.
       The United States has consistently enjoyed a trade surplus. 
     Our investment levels have also grown. The World Bank reports 
     that from 2002 to 2003 (latest figures available) net inflows 
     of foreign direct investment have increased by 60 percent.
       These are encouraging numbers but clearly are below 
     Belize's potential. We are focused on lifting trade and 
     investment levels and believe that we shall, given the 
     foundation we have already built.
       Foreign investors are hardheaded business-people. They will 
     not move into a country if the conditions are not right. The 
     2005 Index of Economic Freedom, jointly produced by the 
     Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal, is of 
     particular interest to any investor. This careful analysis 
     shows Belize outranking virtually all nations with which the 
     United States is currently negotiating a free-trade-area 
     agreement or providing funding through the U.S. government's 
     Millennium Challenge Corp.
       The Belizean Constitution provides for an independent 
     judiciary and, according to the State Department's Report on 
     Human Rights Practices, the government generally respects 
     this provision in practice. The report certifies that people 
     accused of civil or criminal offenses have constitutional 
     rights to presumption of innocence, protection against self-
     incrimination, defense by counsel, a public trial and appeal. 
     Belize has a Freedom of Information Act and an independent 
     ombudsman who acts as a check on government power.
       Abuses occur in every country. The report noted that when 
     instances of alleged inappropriate behavior by a government 
     agency arose, the matters were settled under the rule of law 
     and due process.
       Belize is making significant progress, strengthening its 
     commitment to a secure world, helping the United States in 
     our common cause to fight terrorism, protecting human rights 
     and promoting and welcoming trade and investment.
       Belize is a small country with much to offer the United 
     States and its investors. We pledge to work with Congress and 
     the U.S. business community so that you will get to know us 
     better.

                          ____________________