7 News Belize

Bradley To San Benito, Guatemala
posted (January 31, 2013)
Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley and a contingent form the council have returned from a 5 day, three city tour of Guatemala. He went to Melchor de Mencos, San Benito and Almolunga. He told us today that their business was in San Benito where they hope to forge important ties:..

Mayor Darrell Bradley
"What we mean to do is exchange formal relations by way if a sister city agreement with the city of San Benito. If you are familiar with that area; its San Benito, Peten and Santa Elena. This is a hour and a half from our border right near to Belie closer than Chetumal. What we want to do is we want to establish trade relations with them and we would want to see how we could cooperate in the areas of culture and sports and economic development, so that we promote Belize and San Benito."

"One of the things that were enlightening to me is how much similarities we have with the people of San Benito. When we were there it was the 140th Anniversary of the city and they actually read a declaration to say that San Benito was founded by Belizeans and our Deputy Mayor Dion Leslie - his grandmother is from San Benito and if you would recall the Mayor of San Benito has shared how she spent 15 `years of her life in Belize and she have two sisters that still resides in Belize."

"One of the things that were enlightening was this relationship. You had so many people from San Benito telling you that they are from Benque, from San Ignacio, and have family in Belize - that's what we mean to do. I think the greatest thing that we can do in relation to encouraging peace between the two country is to see that there is exchange of ideas, exchange of relationships for trade, sports, culture and this could promote a greater ease in the tension between the two countries."

This is a follow up to the December visit to Belize of San Benito Mayor Sonia Rivera. The mayor was accompanied by Deputy Mayor Dion Leslie, Councillor Kevin Singh and senior management staff of the Belize City Council.

Chetumal's mayor is expected to visit Belize next month.

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