And before that press conference, Longsworth had a meeting with Mexican Foreign Minister and Mexican Ambassador to Belize. He's been trying to get them to partner with his ministry to add more facilities to the Marion Jones Sporting Complex.
Today, we asked him about what came of that meeting, and he explained that the Mexicans have committed some 8 million dollars in funding for an indoor volleyball facility:
Hon. Herman Longsworth
"In terms of the meeting that I was in today I have said before that I've been in discussion with the Mexicans and they have agreed that they would do something at the Marion Jones Stadium. I was hoping for a building and a swimming pool. It works out that they can only give us the building because of the monies they have available and they will be giving us the FIFA standard lighting for the football field. That is what they came to present me today to show me what they've come up with and to get my concurrence on it for them to now go back start the process of getting the money out and that sort of thing. But they are now committed to get this done."
Daniel Ortiz
"And how much is that investment going to be sir?"
Hon. Herman Longsworth
"I am not completely sure, but I believe it is in the vicinity of about 8 - 10 million dollars."
Longsworth told us that what was presented to him was only the designs for that facility, and the next stage is that the Ambassador and Foreign Minister will return to their Government to start the process of putting together the funding.
Without being ungracious - we should note that for the better part of 5 years the Mexicans have been promising to fund a sports facility that started out as a very pretty multi-purpose sports center at the City Center site - but for a whole host of reasons, mostly Mexican red tape, it never happened.
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