Belize Receives Additional Funding For Crime Fighting

     - Press Release U.S. Embassy, Belmopan, Belize - U.S. Ambassador to Belize Vinai K. Thummalapally and Prime Minister Dean Barrow signed an amendment to the Letter of Agreement for the Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) on September 30, 2010.   During the first three years of this initiative, the United States of America has provided US$5,653,300 to the Government of Belize to strengthen and integrate security efforts and improve citizen safety. The U.S. Department of State’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Central America and the Caribbean in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Julissa Reynoso, witnessed the signing during her first official visit to Belize.

    CARSI is an integrated, collaborative regional security program that is designed to respond to the region’s threats and build upon existing strategies and programs both on a bilateral and regional basis. It is designed to stop the flow of narcotics, arms, weapons, and bulk cash generated by illicit drug sales, and to confront gangs and criminal organizations.

    CARSI envisions strengthening and integrating security efforts in the region to produce a safer and more secure region where criminal organizations no longer wield the power to destabilize governments or threaten regional and national security and public safety. CARSI is a shared partnership. By collaborating with the governments of Central America, CARSI confronts regional threats with regional solutions, and undermines the ability of criminal organizations to adapt their behaviors and evade justice.

    The signing provides an additional US$2,550,300 in CARSI funding which will be used for following projects:  Improved Border Inspection, $850,000; Improved Policing/Police Equipment, $550,300; Vetted Units, $300,000; and Capacity Enhancement, $850,000.  During the first three years of this initiative, the United States of America has provided US$5,653,300 to the Government of Belize to strengthen and integrate security efforts and improve citizen safety.

    For more information about CARSI, please visit www.state.gov or contact the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassy at 501-822-4011 ext. 4370.

Appointments Required for US Citizen Services

Starting Monday, March 1, 2010, all U.S. citizens seeking new or renewed passports, additional passport pages, notarial, and Consular Report of Birth Abroad services at the U.S. Embassy in Belmopan will need to schedule an appointment. Other services will continue to be available on a walk-in basis during new walk-in hours listed below. Emergencies that involve the death, injury, hospitalization, or arrest of an American citizen will continue to be handled without prior appointment.

This change is being implemented so that sufficient time and attention can be focused by consular staff on each service request.

To make an appointment, please visit the citizen services page of the U.S. Embassy website at http://belize.usembassy.gov/citizen_services.html, review the information on required documents for each service, and schedule the appointment online.

Same-day appointments for passports lost due to accident, theft, or robbery will be available during the service hours listed below, or by phone request, as appropriate. Please note that overlooking that a passport has expired (or is about to expire) when making travel arrangements does not constitute an emergency.

Non-appointment services are provided Monday mornings from 9:00 to 11:00, Monday afternoons from 1:00 to 3:00, and Thursday afternoons from 1:00 to 3:00. Non-appointment services include questions about U.S. social security benefits, U.S. veteran benefits, voting, tax filing, consular registrations, passport pickup, non-emergency requests for assistance, and general inquiries.

For emergency services, the American Citizen Services office at the Embassy is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Americans requiring emergency services on weekends, holidays, or outside of normal business hours should contact the Embassy Duty Officer at 610-5030.

Non-emergency questions for American Citizen Services may be directed via e-mail to: ACSBelize@state.gov. The U.S. Embassy is located in Belmopan on Floral Park Road. The telephone number is 822-4011.