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Earlier in the news, we told showed you our interview with Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington where he briefed the media on the CARICOM discussion about the territorial disputes in the region.

That also gave us the opportunity to ask him for confirmation on whether or not the Barrow Administration is going to appoint 2 UDP politicians to diplomatic postings in the US. They are former Albert aspirant Phillip Willoughby and former Albert Area Rep. Herman Longsworth. As viewers will remember, they stepped aside and discontinued their candidacies so that Tracy Taegar-Panton could become the UDP Albert Standard Bearer, and eventually the Area Representative.

Last year, the Prime Minister denied that they were being given a gift in exchange for stepping aside, and so today, we asked Foreign Minister Elrington about the plan to turn them into diplomats. Here's what he said:

Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Minister of Foreign Affairs

"I know a little bit more in relation to the Longsworth one than I do with respect to Willoughby. I have spoken to Mr. Longsworth, I have spoken to my CEO in relation to Mr. Longsworth and I know that he was to do the counsellor work in New York that is the thinking, that is the plan and I think that they are making budgetary arrangements for that. I do not know where the Willoughby one stands. I haven't spoken to Phillip on that, I don't think I've ever spoke to him about it in any detail and I haven't gotten any information from my CEO on that as well. So I don't know where it stands."

Reporter

"Can you provide any details with Ms. Diane Haylock being given a post or being appointed to one of those diplomatic positions?"

Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Minister of Foreign Affairs

"Again, I don't have any details on any of that because diplomats are appointed by the Prime Minister and so he would invariably come and notify us in the cabinet of his intention and invite comments but I think it is mostly because of his democratic bent you know."

Daniel Ortiz

"Sir can you give us additional information as to Mr. Longsworth one? What specific roll will he be playing there?"

Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Minister of Foreign Affairs

"You have two rolls the countries offer you know. You have this kind of representation at the United Nations or at the OAS, so that is one roll that diplomats play. And then you have the roll where they are primarily to look after the interest of Belizeans who are abroad and other who want to come to Belize and need to get visas. My understanding is that latter course of action is the one that Longsworth is interested in, he is going to me made a counsellor officer, representative for counsellor matters in New York."

Daniel Ortiz

"Sir is he qualified for that position? Because there could be that issue that this was simply a benefit he received from his decision to step down and allow for the now serving minister of Albert to be able to launch her career."

Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Minister of Foreign Affairs

"It is not my view that a man who operated as a minister would not be qualified to do the work of counsellor representative for us abroad. It is quite often the case that ministers when they retire are made ambassadors or sent to these positions. So I am sure that Mr. Longsworth is eminently qualified."