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