BELIZE: WILL GOB SELL ITS WHALING VOTE?

UNCLAS BELIZE 000491

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CEN - JASON MACK

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EFIS PGOV PREL SENV JA TW BH
SUBJECT: BELIZE: WILL GOB SELL ITS WHALING VOTE?

REF: A) Field-Mack-DaRin emails; B) 05 BELIZE 1063


1. (SBU) In recent weeks media speculation has increased as
to how Belize will vote in the upcoming International
Whaling Conference (IWC). Belize is a member of the IWC,
which is scheduled to meet in June. The Government of
Belize (GOB) is in arrears in payment of its dues (REF A),
and last year did not attend the meeting, but also had
stated publicly that they had no position on whaling after
having been lobbied by several local environmental NGO's.


2. (SBU) However, in a letter to the editor that ran in
Belize's largest circulation newspaper, the Amandala, a
Belizean citizen accused a top official from the Ministry of
Fisheries of "touring" with two consultants from Japan to
identify areas for possible financial assistance in the
fishing industry. Weeks later, in the same newspaper, in a
regular column "Sixes and Sevens", a feature article
entitled "Time to go, Willie" extolled the virtue of
allowing the Japanese to increase whaling with the
possibility of going after whale-sharks in Belizean waters
in order to increase the red snapper population for local
consumption.


3. (SBU) PolOff recently spoke with the newly appointed
Minister of State in Agriculture and Fisheries Mario
Castellanos who stated that, because he and Minister Vildo
Marin were both new to the Ministry and IWC portfolio, they
had not yet determined who would attend the impending IWC
meeting in June, but that someone would represent Belize.
Castellanos volunteered that Belize "would vote for the
status quo" and that this might not please the Japanese.
[Note: Minister of State is an elected member of the House
of Representatives and a deputy to the actual Minister and
Cabinet member Vildo Marin. End Note]


4. (SBU) COMMENT. Prior to withdrawing in 1988, The GOB
apparently voted a pro-whaling ticket in the IWC. They
rejoined in 2003, although they were in arrears with their
dues until very recently and could not vote in 2004 or 2005
(REF A). Members cannot vote in the IWC unless their
financial contributions are paid or a repayment plan is
underway. Given its heavy debt servicing obligations (about
100% of GDP),the GOB recently has welcomed financial
support from such diverse sources as Taiwan and Venezuela
(REF B). If Japan is similarly forthcoming, a last-minute
change in GOB's position on whaling should not be ruled out.
Post will report any further information as it becomes
available.

DIETER