Prime Minister Dean Barrow and US Ambassador to Belize Carlos Moreno invited the press to Belmopan today for the signing of the 16th Amendment to the Letter of Agreement implementing the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs program. It's a part of the Central American Regional Security Initiative, through which the US Government has provided Belize with funding of 35 million US dollars in programs and grants since 2008.
With today's signing, Belize is receiving another US 6.45 million dollars which will continue some of the CARSI funded programs in Belize. But, there is an allocation in that new disbursement which will go straight toward criminal justice reform.
Ambassador Moreno explained how it will work:
Carlos Moreno, US Ambassador to Belize
"We are very proud to offer through our international narcotics and law enforcement affairs office US$6.4 million dollars to the government of Belize to support citizens' security for fiscal year 2015 which extends into the present time. Now much of these funds will continue successful existing projects and programs such as improve border protection, capacity enhancement and community policing. However, Prime Minister, we have a brand new category of funding this year which we why we are here to sign the amended letter of agreement, a category that 
is particularly close to my heart and as a distinguished attorney yourself, something that is close to your heart and that deal with justice sector reform. As a former prosecutor state and federal judge and Supreme Court justice, one of the things that I know that I've been focusing in at the embassy for the past close to two years is an appreciation of a strong and vibrant justice system. I think that a justice system is only as strong as its weakest link, therefore this new stream of funding would take a holistic approach to the justice system."
Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"I'm glad that in highlighting one aspect of the program and focusing on the fact that now there can be this additional concentration with respect to judicial reform encompassing a number of things including our ability to better successfully prosecute cases."
Carlos Moreno, US Ambassador to Belize
"The type of assistance that this money will fund include technical assistance, specialize training, equipping, improving infrastructure for police investigators, prosecutors and like me, judges. It will also focused on other justice personnel, civil society and other key entities in order to improve the overall responsiveness and effectiveness of the criminal justice system in Belize."
As you heard, this new funding will help with the implementation of the Criminal Procedure Rules which is a complete overhaul of the justice process in Magistrates' Court around the country.
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