(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