The Honourable Helena Guergis, Secretary of State (Foreign Affairs and International Trade) (Sport), visited Belize and Guatemala from July 10 to 16, 2008, as part of Canada’s renewed engagement in the Americas.

“Belize and Guatemala are important partners for Canada in Central America and in multilateral forums such as the Organization of American States,” said Secretary of State Guergis. “This trip will reinforce our commitment to playing a larger role in the Americas, and provide an excellent opportunity to exchange views on crucial issues of security, prosperity, and the core values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.”

While in Guatemala, Secretary of State Guergis was scheduled to meet with President Álvaro Colom and Haroldo Rodas, Minister of External Relations, and with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rigoberta Menchú. Ms. Guergis was also to meet with national and local government officials, and representatives of the Canadian business and investing communities.  Ms. Guergis took time from her busy schedule  to meet with a team of volunteers from Alliston who were in El Progreso volunteering for Habitat for Humanity.

In Belize, the Secretary of State was scheduled to meet with Sir Colville Young, Governor General; Dean Barrow, Prime Minister; Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; and other key government officials. She also planned to visit youth projects supported by Canada, and the office of the Organization of American States in the Belize-Guatemala Adjacency Zone.