On 22 February, Ambassador Whittingham travelled to Valle de la Esmeralda community at the Municipality of Dolores nearby the Adjacency Zone between Guatemala and Belize. The community is conformed of displaced people who returned to Guatemala after the internal war. Villagers are implementing sustainable livelihoods and engaging with environmentally friendly practices to protect surrounding forests and biodiversity.
The Ambassador also met with civil society organizations working in the area and helping communities to build strategies to marketing their produce and re-invest in projects that will complement Government's efforts in education and health. Community leaders also have received training in the production of cocoa, cardamom and avocado, and the raising of birds, pigs and fish.
On 23 February, Ambassador Whittingham paid a visit to the Office of the Organization of American States (OAS) at the Adjacency Zone. He met with the OAS Special Representative, Agustin Espinoza, toured the OAS facilities and visited confidence-building projects between Guatemala and Belize at village El Arenal, Melchor de Mencos and Benque Viejo.
Ambassador Whittingham stressed that the UK's commitment in the area is stronger than ever, especially after the announcement of a US$20 million UK investment through the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund. The project will cover areas of Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras from 2023-2029 to help reducing poverty, protect biodiversity and tackle climate change. Projects are expected to start during the second quarter of 2023.
