A PUP delegation has just returned from a series of meetings in mainland China. The delegation was headed by Caribbean shores representative, Kareem Musa. The trip may speak volumes about the PUP's possible intentions to establish diplomatic relations with the Chinese; despite long standing Belizean support for The Republic of China (Taiwan).
7 News met with Representative for Caribbean shores Kareem Musa at his office today. He elaborated on the meetings and their objectives:
Kareem Musa - Representative, Caribbean Shores
"We were invited by the Belize Chinese association's president, to make a trip to China. And as you know there is no, we don't have any block against China. I don't believe Belize has a closed door policy against China and so, really it was an invitation that we accepted as a sort of a fact finding mission, a listening tour, and a learning experience for us. We are a developing country and when a big country like China who has had great success over the years, particularly in the area of agriculture, in the area of poverty alleviation, And I will tell you that my experience was an eye opening one because you can see where in the last twenty years, we're talking hundreds and millions of people coming out of poverty and as you know Belize has had its focus on poverty alleviation for quite some time but for some reason it's not working out. And it's very important for politicians, young politicians like myself are exposed and to see where it is that we are going wrong. So that we can make the adjustments going forward. If it is that we have a true poverty alleviation plan, it should not be that more and more and more Belizeans are falling into poverty and so there is a wealth of information out there and really and truly that is what it is for me specifically for me to be exposed and to learn and to listen to what China has to offer and to listen to what strategies they have employed over the years to make them so successful. Surprisingly, and I never thought of it, they use a lot of technology to assist them with poverty alleviation; and just one example ,if I may give an example ,is with agriculture they have a way in which they can analyse, and follow, and monitor agricultural growth in particular communities from farm to table. It's almost like an app. It is an app. Where they follow the product as it leaves the farm all the way to the grocery store all the way to your home, as you consume that food. So it's a lot of improvement that we can make and it involves close monitoring from many departments social services within China following up with the poor people in China they actually go into their villages and follow up with them the politicians do get down on the ground and go into these areas to make sure that they are coming out of poverty so again that's another eye opening experience for me."
Musa also spoke at length about the importance of geopolitics to help us understand Belize's position on the world stage. He made it clear that he is open to bi-lateral opportunities with any country that may benefit Belize. But he stated that a decision to forsake Taiwan's cause for China would be a decision that a future government could only arrive at after reaching a consensus about such a major policy shift:
Kareem Musa
"Well like I said opening, it's very important for us to understand geopolitics and to understand where Belize falls in all of this like I said I don't think its beneficial to Belize to have a closed door policy. We can still be friends with countries like China and other countries in the world In terms of the future it's not going to depend on Kareem Musa I am just one politician in all of this. Of course its gonna mean that a government would have to change its position and it would have to arrive at that consensus whether it is the UDP and the PUP they would have to come together and the national executives of parties will have to make decisions moving forward, but like i said my mind is not closed to any opportunities out there that may exist that can benefit Belize. This was an unofficial trip; I didn't go there as a member of the People's United Party. I went there as a private citizen. Who like I said, the President of the Belize Chinese Association invited me. And for me it was a learning experience so at the end of the day that is something that like i said THE UDP, or the PUP, or the BPP moving forward they would have to make that decision, that policy shift in the future. And that is certainly not something that I can make a commitment to, a big country like China. That is way above my pay grade. So, I think a lot is being made out there by the UDP and I find their stance a little strange certainly making the position clear that they are not even considering or entertaining China at all and they are closing their door to China and that is a wrong position to take diplomatically. I do appreciate how far we have gotten as a country with Taiwan and no doubt that is something that a party will have to decide, a government will have to decide. But the way that they are trying to attack me for visiting and learning it's stupid, it's really stupid on their part to be behaving like that."
The additional members of the delegation included Deputy Mayor of Belize City, Oscar Arnold, Councillor Micheal "Chippy" Noralez and Attorney-at -law Kevin Arthurs.
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