Belmopan, Belize and Tikal, Guatamala

Overview:

Tucked between the Caribbean Sea and the rainforest on the eastern coast of Central America, Belize is the home of a small and diverse nation.  The country, formerly known as British Honduras, was the United Kingdom's last colony on the American mainland and still maintains strong ties with Britain.  Today Belize, which considers itself part of both the Caribbean and Central America, is cultivating relations with Latin America and the United States, although there is a lingering conflict with neighboring Guatemala, which has made claim to part of Belize's territory in the past.  Tourism is a major source of foreign currency. Belize's attractions include wildlife, Mayan ruins and one of the longest barrier reefs in the world.  Belize has a problem with violent crime, largely drug-related, and the trafficking of narcotics to the US, however. In 2011 Belize was added to a US blacklist of countries considered to be major producers or transit routes for illegal drugs. Dean Barrow was re-elected for an unprecedented third, five-year term in office in November 2015.  Barrow, a lawyer, has invested much of the aid money Belize received from Venezuela in an ambitious infrastructure program. Belize is heavily dependent on aid from Venezuela, which also offers it oil at discounted prices.  One of Mr Barrow's challenges has been grappling with the country's much larger neighbor, Guatemala, whose president, Jimmy Morales, said he would pursue with renewed vigor his country's claims over more than half of Belize. 

Source BBC Country Profile

American Embassy Belize:

There were some issues at first since there was an Acting Management Officer and I had some difficulty in getting information for the resource chart.  The permanent Management Officer, Kenneth Dupree eventually arrived.  Both the offices of Human Resources and Financial Management were each led by a senior Locally Employed staff person.  I had dealings with the Regional HRO and FMO based in Ft. Lauderdale during the survey phase.  Christine Everhart, RHRO was very helpful in providing trip reports and providing background on Local Compensation Plan (LCP) changes and medical benefits contract.  I had some concerns about the organization of the HR section and the assignment of duties and made a suggestion to the Management Officer.  The RFMO Alan (Vinnie) Monetta also provided feedback on the financial management section.    

Findings:

Several Local Compensation Plan changes requested from HR/OE dating back to 2011 that need to be addressed including Request to adjust overtime rates consistent with local practice; establishing 26 pay periods for use of compensatory time consistent with local labor law; an amendment to the separation-for-age plan and social security contributions for employees over 65, including identifying the severance benefit.  The Public Affairs section needed to develop plans for monitoring program grants, funding and close out procedures. Management needed to implement a policy regulating the use of government resources and embassy personnel for non-official events in accordance with Department standards. Embassy Belmopan was providing accommodation exchange and should conduct a review of local banks to provide this service. Lastly the embassy should maintain residential inventory files in accordance with Department standards. 

Favorite Memories:

There was not much to do in Belmopan proper.  A couple of inspectors went up to Belize City and Ronda even went to Roatan on a weekend.  Mike Greenwald and I did play tennis and John Bush and I did take some walks.  We did, however, manage to travel to Tikal, Guatemala, four hours by road, to visit the ancient Mayan site.       

Twin Palms B&B in Belmopan, Belize where the OIG team stayed. A very nice couple from the U.S. owned and ran the hotel.  The husband took off for the weekend to lead a group of visitors on a fishing trip.  I looked forward to the breakfast every morning.  We also found a restaurant within walking distance and another and in town with take out that served great appetizers.    

Tikal is an ancient Mayan citadel in the rainforests of northern Guatemala. Possibly dating to the 1st century A.D., Tikal flourished between 200 and 850 A.D. and was later abandoned. Its iconic ruins include the giant, ceremonial Lost World Pyramid and the Temple of the Grand Jaguar. At 70 meters, Temple IV is the tallest pre-Columbian structure in the Americas and offers sweeping views.

The Lost World Pyramid

Temple I is located in the middle of Tikal National Park. It is also known as Temple of the great Jaguar. It was built between AD 682–734.  The temple has a height of 47 meters and was excavated between 1955 and 1964.

 

Temple II in the main plaza

 

  Tikal Temple IV is a Mesoamerican pyramid in the ruins of the ancient Maya city of Tikal in modern Guatemala. It was one of the tallest and most voluminous buildings in the Maya world. The pyramid was built around 741 AD.

Climbing up Temple IV



View from Temple IV

 



 

 

 

Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Overview:

Honduras has a long history of military rule, corruption, poverty and crime which have rendered it one of the least developed and most unstable countries in Central America.  Until the mid-1980s Honduras was dominated by the military, which enthusiastically supported US efforts to stem revolutionary movements in the region. Since then, civilian leaders have sought to curb the power of the military, with varying degrees of success.  Gang violence, drug wars and extortions were common and the country is notorious for having the world's highest murder rate per capita.  Inequalities in wealth remain high, with nearly half of the population living below the poverty line. Thousands of Hondurans leave to go to the US each year and the remittances they send home are a crucial source of income for many families.  Once dominated by foreign-owned banana companies, the country remains a major fruit exporter. It is also Central America's second largest coffee producer.  Honduras' new president, leftist Xiomara Castro, who came to power promising to fight corruption, granted amnesty to many officials who served in her husband's government more than a decade ago. She faces an uphill struggle to reform a country with one of the highest murder rates in the world. Tens of thousands of its citizens have tried to flee to the United States. 

Source:  BBC Country Profile

American Embassy Tegucigalpa

The security environment severely restricted personal and professional freedom of movement especially in Tegucigalpa.  Most of the inspectors stayed at the Marriott hotel but Ed and I chose to stay at the Intercontinental which had a fairly modern mall across the street.  We had to be picked up every morning by shuttle to go to the embassy.  We had a good, professional, collegial team.  Joe served as Ambassador to Slovenia and Cambodia.  He was from New York and received a Doctorate from Rutgers.  He was also a part-time University professor.  Leslie Gerson, who has been with OIG as long as I, was known as Madam Enforcer the grinchy archivist who made sure we had all our supporting evidence documented.    

Team dinner at La Hacienda Ed, Michael, Joe Mussomeli (team leader), Colwell, Darren, John Philibin (DTL), Leslie, John Bush, Ronda, Matt and me

I was impressed with the HRO, Heidi Schellenger who helped to clarify an issue of claims of $1.2 million for COLA adjustments for eight retirees.  She also established the EEO program at post.  She is now the Management officer in Naples.  The FMO, Derek Worman helped resolve a fiscal irregularity with an INL program assistant.  Also, the FMO shop had a good procedure for tracking the comings and goings of staff international travel to cutoff allowances and differential payments to avoid overpayments.  Derek is now the Management officer in Abuja.  

Findings:

·       The chancery was built 60 years ago; space in the chancery is very cramped; and staffing levels continue to grow.  The office of Overseas Buildings should include Tegucigalpa in its plan to identify property for a new embassy compound.

·        The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) should provide the appropriate staff to supervise and manage INL projects and funding including required documentation in program files.

·        The Public Affairs section needs to develop monitoring plans for awarded federal grants.

·        A duty officer program needs more oversight by management including an up-to-date duty  officer guide.

·         Outstanding travel vouchers need to be cleared.  

·         Requests for overtime by mission staff must be approved in advance. 

Highlights:

As seen below, besides having a guide with security to tour the city of Tegucigalpa and we did get a chance to travel out on the weekends.  John Philibin and I did manage to play tennis at the Ambassador's residence.  Tragically John passed away in 2019 after long fight with cancer. Calvin Carlson, the premier Co-CLO, was also on the team and he arranged for us to go to a cigar lounge not only for a fine smoke but to taste Mojito's with local brandy.     

View of Tegucigalpa from above.

Cristo de Pichacho in the national park standing guard over the city, this monumental statue of Christ has been a landmark since it was erected in 1997.  Also known as the "Coca Cola Christ" 

The most important church in Honduras – is the Gothic Basílica de Suyapa in Tegucigalpa the patron saint of Honduras.  Construction of the basilica, which is famous for its large stained-glass windows, began in 1954.

Statue of Pope Jean Paul II in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Suyapa, Tegucigalpa.

Original building housing the American Embassy in downtown Tegucigalpa

The plaza located in front of the Cathedral of St. Michael Archangel is called Plaza Morazan, in honor of the Honduran hero who not only fought during the independence war, but also was a great promoter of the Central American Federation. Francisco Morazán was a Honduran politician who was President of the Federal Republic of Central America from 1830 to 1839. Before he was president of Central America he was head of state of Honduras,  He rose to prominence at the legendary Battle of La Trinidad on November 11, 1827. Since then, and until his execution in 1842, Morazán dominated the political and military scene of Central America.

A statue of Morazan himself riding his beloved horse can be seen in the center of the  Central Plaza.   

Huey helicopter at the military museum.

 

 

Town of Santa Lucia established in 1959. The region was an important mining town in the history of Honduras which produced gold, silver, copper, tin, lead and zinc.

  

St. Mary's Church Santa Lucia

 

 

Valle de Ángeles is located about 22 km northwest of the capital city, Tegucigalpa in the valley of the same name.  The town is a popular tourist attraction for the colonial architecture, ethnic crafts and scenery, plus nearby ecotourism. Crafts include wood carvings, pottery, and contemporary art.  A few kilometers away there is an important forest reserve called Parque Nacional "La Tigra". La Tigra is a cloud forest rich in biodiversity and there are hiking trails. Much of the fresh water for Tegucigalpa is from this forest.

 

Comayagua is located 50 miles northwest of Tegucigalpa on the highway to San Pedro Sula.   From 1540 until 1812 Comayagua was the capital of the Honduras Province of the Captaincy General of Guatemala. The city is noted for its wealth of Spanish Colonial architecture.

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, on the main square, was begun in 1563 and inaugurated in 1711. The central square has a cathedral with the oldest clock in the Americas.

 

 

Altar behind Christ carrying the cross being renovated with a grant from embassy Tegucigalpa.

 

 

Stop on the road to Comayagua where we tasted Horchata, a sweet, spiced beverage made from milky rice.

Central square in Comayagua

Ancient archeological site of the Lenca tribe.  The Lenca are an indigenous people of southwestern Honduras and eastern El Salvador. They once spoke the Lenca language, which is now extinct. In Honduras, the Lenca are the largest indigenous group with an estimated population of 100,000. The pre-Conquest Lenca had frequent contact with various Maya groups as well as other indigenous peoples of Mexico and Central America.