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