Over the weekend, a Belizean delegation headed by
Prime Minister Said Musa met with U.S. President
George Bush and other leaders in El Salvador to
discuss several issues facing the region. According to
a government press release, the P.M. addressed the
issue of security in the Central American and
highlighted the impact deportees pose to the
countries. The Central American leaders have
suggested the formation of a special deportation fund,
to be financed by seized assets, to aid in the
reduction of criminal activity. In his address to the
assembly, P.M. Musa called on the United States to
recognise the connection between security and
economic stability. Belize also asked the Bush
administration to support the region's agricultural
industries and assist in the control of arms and drug
trafficking. As for national issues, Musa spoke to
President Bush about the ongoing territorial dispute
between Belize and Guatemala, and petitioned the
U.S. to donate money to a development fund that will
be used to benefit the residents of the communities
living in the border area. Prime Minister Musa was
joined in El Salvador by Minister of Foreign Affairs
Assad Shoman. The delegation returned to Belize this
morning.