On his first day as U.S. Ambassador to Belize, Andre Bauer is already looking beyond official meetings and diplomatic circles. While ambassadors typically serve about three years, no formal end date has been announced for his posting. Bauer says he plans to use his time in Belize to connect directly with ordinary citizens, experience the country’s culture and better understand the issues affecting people’s daily lives. Today, we asked the new ambassador what else tops his agenda.
Andre Bauer
Andre Bauer, U.S. Ambassador to Belize
“When I leave this post, I want more Belizeans to have opportunities. I want them to feel better about the relationship between our two countries, that we really are working together on many fronts. I want them to feel like that we are their closest ally in so many ways. I want the MCC to really take effect and they see that investment of how much it helps their country, whether it be the grid or power production or opportunities to give people a real hope and vision. Those are my biggest dreams. If we can make it safer and rid ourselves of illegal drugs, to lift people up, those are my real goals. I want to see and again some of those questions you have asked me, I want people of Belize to feel good about our relationship. I am going to get out. You are going to see me have meetings all over this country where people can come out and ask me anything they want, people that have never met an ambassador before are going to have that opportunity personally. We don’t have to agree. Matter of fact, people have changed my mind by a good argument.”
Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.
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