Belize: On February 18th and 19th, representatives from the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government and Plenty International Belize Limited visited the villages of Machakilha and Graham Creek in the Toledo District to initiate a project entitled Indigenous Female Solar Engineers Scaling up Solar Energy to Machakilha and Graham Creek.
This project aims to provide solar electricity to these two remote communities that are unable to access the Belize Electricity Limited grid. A small solar-powered water system will be installed in Machakilha as well.
Three Maya women technicians, Ms. Florentina Choco, Ms. Miriam Choc, and Ms. Cristina Choc, who received training at the Barefoot College in India, will install the small household solar systems.
The Ministry will support the project by formally establishing the solar power boards in the communities and by providing materials and logistical support. The Ministry also donated educational supplies to schools in both communities.
Present at the meeting were Oscar Requeña, Minister of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government; Ramiro Ramirez, Minister of State; Mr. Valentino Shal, CEO in the Ministry; Ms. Florentina Choco, Solar Engineer; Mr. Mark Miller, Executive Director of Plenty International Belize Limited; Mr. Augustine Lara, Chairman of Plenty International Belize Limited; and other Plenty Belize representatives.
FM Receives Letters of Credence from Five New Ambassadors to Belize
Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Immigration, received copies of the Letters of Credence of five new ambassadors to Belize at a virtual ceremony held today.
Presenting their letters of credence were Archbishop H.E. Fortunatus Nwachukwu, non-resident ambassador of the Holy See; H.E. Mr. Khaled AbdelRahman Shamaa, non-resident ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt; H.E. Mrs. Terézia Šajgalíková, non-resident Ambassador of the Slovak Republic; H.E. Mr. Masaya Fujiwara, non-resident ambassador of Japan; and H.E. Mr. Zvi Tal, non-resident ambassador of Israel.
The ambassadors thanked the Foreign Minister for welcoming them, and each conveyed on behalf of their respective countries the intention of cooperating with Belize in several areas of priority, which include health care, agriculture, food security, Schengen visa waiver, and the fair global distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Accompanying the Foreign Minister was Hon. Ramon Cervantes, Minister of State, and Ambassador Amalia Mai, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
