Is the U.S. Embassy Belize’s External Watchdog?

For years, the United States has used visa revocations and official designations to send strong messages about corruption and misconduct abroad. That has led many Belizeans to view the U.S. Embassy as an external watchdog, one capable of applying pressure when local systems fall short. But does Belize’s new U.S. Ambassador see that as part of his mission? Today, we asked Andre Bauer whether the embassy should help hold public officials accountable and protect the country’s governance from corruption. Here is how he responded.

 

Andre Bauer, U.S. Ambassador to Belize

“I don’t know that I have a direct answer for you on that. We as a country value the relationship here. That is why we have an embassy here and a large investment and we want to continue to improve any relationship we have. So, we have certain things that are important to our country and you have certain things that are important to your country and that is why you try to have really good diplomatic relations and if leaders in your country break bread with me and we spend time together, I think we will get a mutual understand of places that maybe we don’t agree and places that we do agree and some of those places where, maybe from a different perspective given to me, we can say ok, well maybe I haven’t thought about it like that. And that is really what you have a diplomat for.”

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

Watch the full newscast here: