7 News Belize

Nestor Knows The OAS
posted (November 9, 2015)
Nestor Mendez, the First Belizean ever to be elected as the Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States, is in Belize right now. He's here to visit with the officials at the OAS Office in Belize, and as part of an entrepreneurial workshop held by BELTRAIDE.

We'll show you that later in the news, but first, to Mendez's first visit back to Belize since taking up the second most senior post of the OAS. In his official capacity today, he congratulated Prime Minister Barrow for his historic third term in office.

H.E. Nestor Mendez, Assistant Sec. Gen. - OAS
"Let me start by presenting our sincerest congratulations to Prime Minister Barrow and the government and people of Belize on the peaceful and transparent general elections of last week in which the Prime Minister's administration was re-elected to power for a historic 3rd term."

Daniel Ortiz
"Do you intend to make any courtesy calls on him?"

H.E. Nestor Mendez, Assistant Sec. Gen. - OAS
"I certainly will try. The Prime Minister is very busy between today and tomorrow and I'm leaving on Wednesday, but certainly I will try and visit the country."

As viewers are aware, Mendez was the Barrow Government's pick for a candidate in the elections in March. So, how has the new job been going? That's what we asked him today, and here's what he had to say:

H.E. Nestor Mendez, Assistant Sec. Gen. - OAS
"I took over my new post on the 13th July. It has been quite an experience. Sitting on the other side of the table for 8 years before that I was the ambassador of Belize to the OAS and I use to sit as a member of the OAS permanent council with all of the ambassadors from the different countries and the members of the secretariat, the OAS staff sit on the other side. Now I have change sides and I am looking at the inter-American realty from a slightly different perspective. It is a very exciting opportunity."

Daniel Ortiz
"You must have a different perspective from the outsiders looking in when these different countries bring their disputes to you and there is always that criticism that the OAS is not doing enough. What's your perspective now that you have seen from the inside of the management?"

H.E. Nestor Mendez
"The OAS takes it mandates from member states very seriously. When there are differences between different countries, we look at what it is that we are chartered to do. Part of our charter is the promotion on peace and peaceful coexistence, support for sovereignty, none aggression - all of those important cornerstones of the Inter-American system. So whenever two countries have differences and they ask us for help, we look at what would be our mandate and we proceed from there."

Daniel Ortiz
"Is there ever a moment that you've been in the office and you feel overwhelmed or you feel as though you've taken on a job that's a little bigger than you?"

H.E. Nestor Mendez
"I don't think I felt overwhelmed. But I do feel some big challenges, but you know the Organization of American States is the oldest multi-lateral organization in the world. It has evolved over the decades to become what its membership needs it to be and there will always be challenges. Some people think we don't do enough for development. Some people think we don't do enough in the promotion of democracy. Some people will say what are you doing in security. The fact is that a membership of 34 members' states, every country or every region looks to the OAS and see it in a different way."

As you heard earlier in the news, the Belize Guatemala Dispute is a very specific concern for Prime Minister Barrow's new cabinet. All disputes between the two countries must go to the OAS for mediation, and so we asked him about that determination to stay far away to avoid the appearance of bias, given that he is a Belizean. Here's his response to that:

Daniel Ortiz
"Do you feel especially pressured being a Belizean whenever there is any incidents between Belize and Guatemala and it ends up at the OAS in which you have to balance that oversight with that appearance of bias, having to give it a wright birth?"

H.E. Nestor Mendez
"There has only been one and it has been handled by the office of te secretary general as been the case throughout and if there ever is a situation that I need to be involved as an elected member of the organization I will deal with the greatest professionalism as we try to deal with every issue that comes before us."

Daniel Ortiz
"What about those Belizeans who say well yes, we have one of them in the OAS and he is on our side. Is that a very wrong perspective to take?"

H.E. Nestor Mendez
"I think you would have to look at the particular situation when it comes up. Fortunately it has not come up yet."

Assistant Sec. Gen. Mendez leaves Belize on Wednesday, when he will visit the OAS in El Salvador.



Harvest For Kids, Soybean Edition

We've shown you them dealing with corn many times, but this weekend, The Harvest for Kids team harvested their first Soy Bean crop in Orange Walk. About 30 city kids traveled to Blue Creek, Orange Walk on Saturday to see 8 combines dredge through 40 acres of Soy bean. It was as successful as the corn harvest in October and one of the coordinators told us that they already have buyers lined up for the soy bean. All the proceeds from the sale of these crops will go to the kids at Belize Camping Experience.


Cabinet Sworn In

Earlier we told you who's who in the cabinet - with the assignment of all the portfolios. And this afternoon in Belmopan all the Ministers and Minister of State were sworn in by the Governor General. They collectively took their oath of office - and here's how that looked:..

After taking their oath - they all signed the oath before the GG.

They are also newly elected members of House of Representatives and they will meet for the first time on Friday - when the 31 members will be sworn in. The new senate will also be sworn in at that time. Today the Prime Minister named his appointments to that upper house - as it is called. The senate is led by President Lee Mark Chang, followed by Leader of Government Business Godwin Hulse, and he is joined by five new senators. They are losing Freetown Candidate, Dr. Carla Barnett, attorney Aldo Salazar, attorney Francine Burns, banker Steve Duncan and educator Macario Coy. And a correction to what we reported earlier: Attorney General Vanessa Retreage is not a senator - the law does not require for her to be a senator to be A-G.

The PUP will also name its new senators this week - but while Francis Fonseca will return as Leader of the Opposition until a new one is installed probably early next year, should he get to appoint senators, since he's basically waiting to demit office. Fonseca told us today via text that the party's national executive will meet on Wednesday to decide on the senators.







Young Americas Business Trust IN BELIZE

Today, the Small Business Development Center, an arm of BELTRAIDE opened a workshop in partnership with the Young Americas Business Trust.

It's a business lab focused on intellectual properties and the commercialization of creative industries. BELTRAIDE will be working with officials from YABT, the OAS, Trade Organizations from Israel.

7News stopped by the opening ceremony and spoke with a few of the partners:

A correction to what I said just now, the Small Business Development Center, is an arm of BELTRAIDE.

The training continues for the rest of the week and ends on Friday.





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