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The discussion over breakfast was informal and that's where Ambassador Velazquez discussed the Mexican Bus line, -ADO's plans for involvement in Belize:..

Mario Velazquez, Mexican Ambassador to Belize
"ADO is a Mexican enterprise and they are talking with the authorize of Belize, they are considering the convenience or receiving these busses - these Mexican busses that will be coming with foreign tourists that come to Mexico - we will share them with Belize. That is the intention."

Reporter
"Do they intend to build a terminal for their own busses in Belize?"

Mario Velazquez, Mexican Ambassador to Belize
"That depends on the conveniences of the Belizeans."

Ambassador Velazquez did not discuss a time frame - but said casually that an exploratory trip would be held this week - and he would expect that the service could start in October.

He stressed though that ADO will not be making commercial runs to Chetumal. As we understood it from the Minister of Transport two months ago, the Mexican bus service would make direct runs to Cancun and Merida leaving Belize late at night and arriving in those cities at dawn.

And while ADO's entrance into the Belizean market is big news - so are the plans for the city center. As we've reported, the Mexicans have committed to build a new center or repair the old one. The Ambassador said that a Mexican firm has been identified - presumably to design the structure and they are waiting on a decision from the government of Belize:

Mario Velazquez, Mexican Ambassador to Belize
"It is great to know that the civic center is coming. The enterprise has been selected and that enterprise is preparing the necessary documents and information for Belizean authorities. They will present with the terms and if the Belizean authorities agree with that we will continue."

Even when pressed for details on this one - the ambassador could not give a possible time frame for completion. But he did say 2012 would be the year when we would see the activation of the new Belize-Mexico border Crossing in the north at the Santa Elena Border.

We don't know if this one will also be called Santa Elena but the Mexicans have agreed to underwrite Belize's cost for a new immigration and customs building as well as the road leading to the new bridge:

Mario Velazquez, Mexican Ambassador to Belize
"We have been working a lot and in the next year we will be opening a new borderline between Belize and Mexico in 2012. We are really expecting that it will increase our exchange in tourism, products - we will develop together."

Regarding BEL and its arrangements with the Mexican power company CFE, Ambassador Velazquez also said that CFE has proposed a 6% reduction in charges to BEL and there are three agreements pending approval by BEL.