Opposition Leader Offers Opinion on First Lady’s Attendance in Guatemala for First Ladies Meeting

Should Special Envoy Rossana Briceño have gone to a meeting in Guatemala while Belize was protesting the reported entry of a Guatemalan military aircraft into its airspace? Former diplomat Lisa Shoman says yes. Opposition Leader Tracy Panton says no.  Shoman said Mrs. Briceño went to a regional meeting of first ladies and spouses of leaders. Guatemala hosted the meeting, but Mrs. Briceño was there to represent Belize. Shoman said Belizean first ladies have attended similar meetings before, even when relations with Guatemala were tense.  Prime Minister John Briceño said his wife asked him about the trip before she went, and he supported her decision. He also said she returned with an apology from Guatemala’s president over the aircraft incident.  Panton said this morning that Mrs. Briceño should have stayed away from the meeting to show Belize’s objection to what happened.

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: “That if Belize is recalling its ambassador to Guatemala as a show of protest then why would it be that the First Lady of Belize, who is a public figure, would accept an invitation that was issued by the First Lady of Guatemala to an event in Guatemala on the heels of the Prime Minister going before the United Nations General Assembly and denouncing the aggression and intimidation of the Guatemalan military but also civilian groups. In my opinion, it was poor judgment, particularly at this time. Particularly at this time. And I think the Prime Minister could have said simply that it was poor judgment because we must stand together on the issue of the, as I said, veil, not so veil, threats and intimidation and incursions by the Guatemala on our seas and in our skies.”

The meeting in Guatemala brought together first ladies and spouses of leaders from across the region.