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The US Embassy donated a total of $1.75 million US dollars in grants to 5 organizations today. It is part of the embassy's Central America Regional Security Initiative known as CARSI. This donation will advance many of the organizations' existing programs and help to start up others. A ceremony was held today at the embassy in Belmopan and Charge d Affaires Adrianne Galanek along with the grant recipients told us more about the significance of this donation.

Adrianne Galanek, Chargé d'Affaires - US Embassy
"Today we signed 6 different grants to support civil society for their work with the Government and the people of Belize in the areas of mutual support and mutual interest."

"The Central America Regional Security Initiative or CARSI funds different initiatives to advance citizen security, democracy in governments and economic prosperity in mutual work and support of the Government and people of Belize as well as other governments in the region so in Belize these grants focus on working with civil society and government on mutually agreed upon goals."

Karen Bernard, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP Belize
"UNDP is honored to be among the grantees which the US government and CARSI has entrusted with their resources. We received funds for two projects, one of the projects is to help the country move forward on addressing the issues of anti-corruption and supporting all of those processes specifically in relation to the UN convention that the country has signed on to. The second project is to support the country on the upcoming potential referendum regarding the territorial dispute with Guatemala so that will entail public education as well as some work to update the voters registry."

Dorla Bowman - Building People Movement Project, Representative
"We are very grateful and thankful for the funding from CARSI and the US embassy."

"Our project focuses on gender based violence specifically in regards to domestic violence, incest and rape."

Lily Bowman, Dir. Gen., Belize Red Cross
"This grant will allow the Belize Red Cross to continue their work with communities this time with the enhanced focus of sustaining partnerships, through accountability and transparency."

Those organizations are UNDP, Belize Red Cross, RET International, Trust for the Americas and Building People Movement. As you heard the grants given to UNDP will be used to help Belize in anti-corruption efforts and regarding the Belize Guatemala dispute. Overall, since 2008 the US Embassy has donated about $40 million US dollars through the CARSI program.