Belize
6. I was shown a number of UK aid projects in Belize, including the nearly-completed Northern Highway, which I opened. I was taken by Army helicopter to the Toledo Rural Development project in the South, which journey underlined the need for better roads and bridges. The Toledo project is likely to receive further UK funds, but it will be important to ensure that the Belizeans take it over themselves on an agreed timetable, since, unless we are firm this is the kind of project, we can find ourselves continuing to run for years. I also attended the opening of the National Agricultural Show. I signed an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement with the Prime Minister and visited the Police Training College, the Belize River Ferry and the Youth Development Centre, all British-aided.
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7. Mr Price hosted a working lunch for me, during which I had
Even the extremely friendly discussions with him and his Ministers. most left-wing of his Ministers expressed full, support for us over the Falklands, and all were fully siezed of the possible implications for relations between Belize and Guatemala. Interestingly, however, they did not raise the question of the future of the British defence force in Belize. They took the opportunity instead to raise points of detail on a number of our aid projects and to discuss our aid generally they expressed gratitude that we had increased the Independence settlement. The Secretary to the Cabinet was in attendance, but was kept in the kitchen unless he was wanted to re-fill our glasses!
Montserrat
8.
Montserrat appears to have nearly reached the point of take-off; indeed, it has already been able to dispense with the need for budgetary aid following several years of good management by the present Ministers. However, they are not in any hurry to become independent and entered
a strong plea for an increase in aid to give them the boost they consider they need to achieve viability. They wish to undertake an ambitious tourist development scheme; we have purchased the land for this and are funding a Consultancy but I do not consider that our aid should go much beyond this. I visited this site and also the St John's/Trants road which we are building together with the EDF, and also a new home for
/the elderly