Belize Prime Minister visits United Kingdom
Strengthening of ties between Belize and the United Kingdom.
In recognition of the strength of UK/Belize relations, Her Majesty’s Government invited the Prime Minister of Belize, Hon Dean Barrow, to conduct an official programme of high level calls when he visited the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister arrived in London on 23 June accompanied by his wife Kim Simplis-Barrow, Special Envoy for Women and Children in Belize, who hosted a special fundraising event for the Belize Children’s Trust Foundation.They were greeted at Heathrow Airport’s VIP suite by the High Commissioner for Belize to the United Kingdom, Her Excellency Perla Perdomo, and a representative of the Foreign Secretary.
On Tuesday 25 June the Prime Minister visited Tate & Lyle where he was given a presentation about Belize’s place in the global sugar industry by the Directors and senior management before observing the unloading of a ship containing 13,000 tons of Belizean sugar. The shipment had arrived from Belize that morning and gave the Prime Minister the chance to praise the work and efforts of the cane farmers of the Corozal and Orange Walk districts for helping to build Belize’s economy.
Mac McLachian, Senior Advisor to Tate and Lyle said:
We are extremely happy to welcome the Prime Minister and his team here today and delighted he has been able to visit us and discuss with us important proposals for the future. It’s clear that giant leaps by the entire sugar industry in Belize of the last few years have provided Belize and the sugar industry a strong and secure platform for growth and the future of sugar in Belize. We are delighted to be part of that future with all the stakeholders in Belize.
The Prime Minister, accompanied by HE Pat Ashworth and HE Perla Perdomo, visit the Tate & Lyle sugar refinery
The following day, Mr Barrow met with British MPs and Peers at the Houses of Parliament where the border dispute with Guatemala and other matters of concern to Belize were discussed before he attended the weekly Prime Ministers Questions in the House of Commons. The Prime Minister was then honoured by the City of London with a lunch at the Guildhall where he addressed a group of global financiers and businessmen and discussed opportunities for investment in Belize. Chairman of the City of London Policy & Resources Committee, Mark Boleat said:
We are very pleased to invite the Prime Minister of Belize to speak to these important guests at the Guildhall and discuss Belize and its future plans. The City of London, as the world centre of finance, welcomes important dialogue with developing countries and we hope the lunch will be fruitful for future investment and trade for the country. The City of London recognizes its role in supporting Belize and other developing countries and we hope to continue useful discussion in the future
Hon Dean Barrow and Mark Boleat meet before attending lunch at the Guildhall
Prime Minister Dean Barrow addresses global financiers and businessmen at the Guildhall
After the lunch, Mr Barrow met the Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Roger Gifford, for further discussions on economic issues and investment opportunities.
On Thursday 27 June, the Prime Minister and Mrs Barrow attended an audience with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. They then visited Clarence House, official residence of His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales for their second royal audience of the day where Mr Barrow and HRH discussed, amongst other things, the conservation of Belize’s protected areas.
Later in the afternoon, the Prime Minister met the Foreign Secretary, the Rt Hon William Hague MP where he was formally thanked for Belize’s support for self-determination of the Falkland Islands, and discussed the Belize/Guatemala territorial dispute. Mr Barrow then called on the Rt Hon Andrew Robathan MP, Minister for the Armed Forces where they discussed future plans for the British Army Training Support Unit Belize (BATSUB).
The Prime Minister of Belize meets with the Minister for the Armed Forces, the Rt Hon Andrew Robathan MP
In the evening, Prime Minister Barrow was by his wife’s side as the First Lady hosted a special fundraising Gala Dinner in aid of the Belize Children’s Trust at Plaisterers’ Hall in London where over BZ$200,000 was raised.
Hon Dean Barrow and Mrs Kim Simplis-Barrow at the fundraising Gala Dinner in aid of the Belize Children's Trust