TNAG-1001-FCO40-1237-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-including--Report-of-the-1981 — Page 80

I am aware that some pre-occupations remain: the final negotiation with the Guatemalan Government of the treaties; the question of the security of Belize post-independence. I should perhaps make clear that while these issues relate closely to the question of independence it is not our purpose at this Constitutional Conference to focus upon them. Our essential purpose at the Conference is to consider the Belize Government's constitutional proposals and to produce agreements from which our legal advisers can work to produce the text of the Constitution under which Belize will proceed to independence. We shall also consider a number of other matters that arise naturally in the context of a move to independence such as, for example, membership of the United Nations, the Commonwealth and other international bodies and Belize's succession to obligations and responsibilities which the United Kingdom has hitherto exercised on Belize's behalf under international conventions and treaties, etc.

one.

Gentlemen, Britain's association with Belize has been a long

It dates back at least from the 17th Century when British settlers first arrived on the Central American mainland. It has left Belize with a legacy of language, culture and institutions akin to the anglophone Caribbean countries. At the same time, geographical position, and economic logic, as well as absorbed characteristics (including being almost equally at home in the Spanish language) give Belize many shared interests with its Central American neighbours. Belize is ideally placed by geography, history and the character of its people to bridge these two cultures. I wish it all success, peace and prosperity in the future.

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