Comments on: If Da Noh Soh! http://www.belizetimes.bz/2010/01/15/if-da-noh-soh-6/ The Truth Shall Make You Free Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:52:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Rose http://www.belizetimes.bz/2010/01/15/if-da-noh-soh-6/comment-page-1/#comment-760 Rose Wed, 20 Jan 2010 01:28:04 +0000 http://www.belizetimes.bz/?p=1420#comment-760 With regard to your article on the change of Honorary Consul in Houston, Texas, I strongly agree with your concern. It is indeed an outright shame and disgrace to evict Mr. McCain from this office. Mr. McCain has been an asset to Belize in this post, assisting both the Government and people of Belize whenever called upon. He is one of the few Honorary Consuls that complaints (if any) are rarely made about. However, I must disagree with your statement in referring to Mr. McCain as a "diplomat". Honorary Consuls are not diplomats and as such are not part of the diplomatic corps. They are locally recruited persons who, in most instances, are nationals of the sending country (in Mr. McCain's case he lives in Houston and was recruited by GOB to represent the interests of the Government of Belize and assist Belizeans living in Houston, and those who transit through Houston, when called upon). The job of an Honorary Consul is not a full-time job so most are full time business persons who provide this representative service as an aside. This brings into question the issue of the alleged appointment of Minister Hulse's daughter as Honorary Consul for Belize in Houston. First, it is assumed that this daughter lives in Belize and will subsequently move to Houston to take up this job. This will entail the use of government finances for: airfare, housing, payment of utilities, and most important, A SALARY! Let me point out here that Honorary Consuls are not paid a salary but provide this service free of cost to the country. Second, will the appointment of this daughter be treated as a diplomatic posting? Will she be provided with a diplomatic passport? If so, THIS IS TOTALLY WRONG! Unless she is someone who lives and works in the United States, she will have to be "taken care of" by GOB since the Honorary Consul job will more than likely be her full-time job. Is not this country in enough bad shape and a laughing stock internationally with intellectually challenged Ministers, politically appointed Ambassadors and relevant officers who have no clue what the work of a diplomat entails or how to properly represent Belize abroad? Belize's Foreign Service is in serious disarray with almost no career officers. Political flunkies are given a job to satisfy a promise in one of the most important government ministries. These people have no diplomatic training and end up shaming the Ministry, the Government and most importantly, the country when representing Belize at any international activity or even when having to deal with any resident diplomatic mission. When will Belize's Foreign Service be treated seriously and given the importance it deserves? With regard to your article on the change of Honorary Consul in Houston, Texas, I strongly agree with your concern. It is indeed an outright shame and disgrace to evict Mr. McCain from this office. Mr. McCain has been an asset to Belize in this post, assisting both the Government and people of Belize whenever called upon. He is one of the few Honorary Consuls that complaints (if any) are rarely made about.

However, I must disagree with your statement in referring to Mr. McCain as a “diplomat”. Honorary Consuls are not diplomats and as such are not part of the diplomatic corps. They are locally recruited persons who, in most instances, are nationals of the sending country (in Mr. McCain’s case he lives in Houston and was recruited by GOB to represent the interests of the Government of Belize and assist Belizeans living in Houston, and those who transit through Houston, when called upon). The job of an Honorary Consul is not a full-time job so most are full time business persons who provide this representative service as an aside.
This brings into question the issue of the alleged appointment of Minister Hulse’s daughter as Honorary Consul for Belize in Houston. First, it is assumed that this daughter lives in Belize and will subsequently move to Houston to take up this job. This will entail the use of government finances for: airfare, housing, payment of utilities, and most important, A SALARY! Let me point out here that Honorary Consuls are not paid a salary but provide this service free of cost to the country. Second, will the appointment of this daughter be treated as a diplomatic posting? Will she be provided with a diplomatic passport? If so, THIS IS TOTALLY WRONG! Unless she is someone who lives and works in the United States, she will have to be “taken care of” by GOB since the Honorary Consul job will more than likely be her full-time job. Is not this country in enough bad shape and a laughing stock internationally with intellectually challenged Ministers, politically appointed Ambassadors and relevant officers who have no clue what the work of a diplomat entails or how to properly represent Belize abroad? Belize’s Foreign Service is in serious disarray with almost no career officers. Political flunkies are given a job to satisfy a promise in one of the most important government ministries. These people have no diplomatic training and end up shaming the Ministry, the Government and most importantly, the country when representing Belize at any international activity or even when having to deal with any resident diplomatic mission. When will Belize’s Foreign Service be treated seriously and given the importance it deserves?

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