(C) BELIZE-VENEZUELA: NO INVITATION FOR CHAVEZ

C O N F I D E N T I A L BELMOPAN 000522 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2017 TAGS: PREL BH VE SUBJECT: (C) BELIZE-VENEZUELA: NO INVITATION FOR CHAVEZ REF: BELMOPAN 495 Classified By: CDA Leonard Hill, for reason 1.4 (b) (d) ¶1. (C) MFA Chief Executive Officer (deputy minister equivalent) Amalia Mai told Charge August 16 that although Belize has good relations with Venezuela and appreciates financial assistance from the BRV, Hugo Chavez will "never" be invited to Belize as long as the current government is in power. Mai, who accompanied PM Said Musa to the recent PetroCaribe summit, said that there had been no discussion within the government about inviting Chavez, contrary to a speculative article that recently appeared in the "Belize Times" newspaper, the official organ of the ruling People's United Party. She also said that Chavez has never sought an invitation to Belize and said that she saw no reason for him to do so. ¶2. (C) Mai characterized the summit as productive, and said that the BRV's generosity to small Caribbean states made a significant impact on their economies. She noted, however, that there was a growing restlessness with Chavez's grand schemes and a desire to get cash up front, particularly as people have started adding up all of the funding being promised to various countries. She mentioned PM Douglas of St. Kitts, in particular, as being fairly outspoken on the point, saying, in effect: "Show me the money." Mai commented that Chavez "had his own political problems at home" and that spending on foreign assistance was becoming less popular as Venezuelans felt economic difficulties domestically. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: We are repeatedly assured by senior GoB figures that Belize's good relationship with Venezuela long predates Chavez and that, while they are happy with his current mood of generosity, they do not see it as a sustainable source of aid. While the party lasts, however, they are pleased to be invited. END COMMENT. HILL