Oscar Arnold Returns Home to Shape Belize’s Foreign Policy

After serving on the front lines of Belize’s diplomacy with Mexico, Oscar Arnold is stepping into a key role back home, bringing that experience to the center of government. The former ambassador has now taken the reins as Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, shifting from representing Belize abroad to helping shape its foreign policy from within. In a recent interview, Arnold looked back on his time in Mexico, highlighting the lessons and relationships he says will now guide his approach as he helps steer Belize’s international agenda forward.

 

Oscar Arnold, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

“When the pandemic subsided a little bit and everything opened up, we were ready to hit the ground running. In that line of work face-to-face, building relationships is something that you really can’t do through a computer screen or through a monitor. It was good to kinda keep in-informed and having meetings and so on, but when it opened up then it really hit the ground running, making relationships, deepening relationships like that. My experience was a wonderful experience. I believe we did a lot. It was a successful tour of duty in Mexico. Working along with some of the other ministries here, Ministry of Agriculture, for example, Foreign Trade, we were able to ensure that cattle is now penetrating the Mexican market, that our cattle farmers, many of whom are very small, they have five, ten head of cattle, can access that market and get a better price per pound for their cattle. So that is a good thing. We are now looking at other commodities to penetrate the Mexican market. Earlier this year Silk Glass Farms sent two containers full of coconut water to one of the companies there as a testing and I think that went well. And now we’re discussing the coconut nut, the entire coconut, to be exported to Mexico. So those are ongoing discussions, and we should have, um, uh, a decision on that very soon.”

 

CEO Arnold Wastes No Time in Key Foreign Affairs Role

 

Just days into his new role as Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Oscar Arnold says there is no time to ease into the job. With regional partnerships, trade initiatives, and international engagements already on the agenda, Arnold says his focus is on maintaining momentum and ensuring Belize’s interests remain at the forefront of the ministry’s work. He told us he has already begun meeting with staff and stakeholders as he settles into the position.

 

Oscar Arnold, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

“This week has flown by quickly. I didn’t even think it was Friday because of dealing with so many issues but I am enjoying it, thus far. Engaging with people is what I enjoy a lot and so I’ve been doing a lot of that.  We have to engage now – I will have to engage with the resident ambassadors who are here, ensuring them that the work of the foreign ministry continues. It’s not that we will be here disrupting anything. We do have a work plan as a ministry, yearly, quarterly, monthly work plan and that will continue. I’m hoping to provide whatever expertise I bring to the table to enhance that and to try to accomplish the work plan that we have set out for the ministry. This month we will assume the protem presidency of SICA, so that is another big milestone for us. Ambassador Amalia Mai still is the point person for SICA so she is coordinating all the efforts, coordinating all the meetings and the summit whenever that comes for us to take that over. Prime Minister, sorry, we have a delegation that will travel for the OAS meeting in Panama so that is another big thing that we will be looking at as well. We will be signing an agreement, a trade agreement with Salvador pretty shortly making it – formalizing it. And so we are arming another delegation to look at that because we will also be selling and doing more commerce and trade with Salvador. So as you can see, we keep very busy here at the ministry. And it’s just to try to lead the team and continue with the growth and continue with the direction that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade is going.”

 

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.

 

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