By: Omar Silva I Editor/Publisher

By National Perspective Belize

www.nationalperspectivebz.com

Belize City | Saturday 19th July 2025

In a country where students lack chairs, hospitals lack medicine, and public officers are told to “tighten belts,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs quietly accepted a quarter-million-dollar luxury SUV as a “donation” — from a mysterious strategic partner.

The vehicle in question? A used Toyota Land Cruiser VX with under 2,000 miles, originally sold by Said Perdomo’s dealership, The Car Guys, for a staggering $250,000 BZD.

According to a letter from the Ministry dated April 2025, this vehicle was formally purchased and added to the Ministry's fleet — but sources confirm it was subsequently painted matte blue and assigned to Minister Francis Fonseca for personal use.

When questioned, CEO of Foreign Affairs Amalia Mai was quick to clarify — via text — that no taxpayer funds were used. Instead, the SUV was, in her words, “acquired by one of our strategic partners... a donation to the fleet.”

But this vague response has only raised more questions:

• Who is this strategic partner?
• Why is their identity being concealed?
• What was promised or expected in return for this generous “gift”?
• Why does a Foreign Minister need a $250,000 used SUV for high-level guests — if he himself is the one driving it?

⚠️ Strategic Partner — or Strategic Manipulation?

In foreign policy, the term strategic partner usually implies a sovereign state, international institution, or bilateral donor. But CEO Mai’s silence on the identity of the donor raises serious red flags.

Is it a private company? A foreign government? A friendly lobbyist? A politically connected financier? In all cases, the Belizean public has a right to know. Under the Finance and Audit Reform Act and the Freedom of Information Act, any donation above a nominal value must be recorded, declared, and — most importantly — made public.

The Public Service Union condemned the expenditure in a stinging release, saying:

“Here is one of several Quarter of a Million Dollars reasons to smile. It’s called a mandate for USED Vehicles... Keep them coming Public Officers. Your children’s future depends on your willingness to stand against abuse of public resources and corruption.”

The union has now called on whistleblowers to leak additional documents.

🚙 Duty-Free, Ethics-Free?

The Ministry justified the value by saying the Land Cruiser, had it been taxed, would sell for over $350,000. But government vehicles are not taxed — and public officials don’t get to enjoy luxury perks just because taxes were waived.

In a country where average annual income is less than $15,000 BZD, how can a $250,000 vehicle — second-hand or not — be justified for ministerial comfort?

And why must it take leaked letters, investigative digging, and union outrage for the Belizean people to learn how their government operates?

❓Still Waiting on Answers

As of today, CEO Amalia Mai has not disclosed the name, nature, or purpose of this strategic partnership. Nor has she confirmed whether the donation was vetted by the Ministry of Finance or the Office of the Contractor General — two constitutional safeguards designed to prevent gifting-for-influence schemes.

The Belizean people deserve to know:

• Is this “gift” a Trojan Horse?
• Is our foreign policy for sale?
• And most importantly — who's really driving foreign affairs in Belize?

Until those questions are answered, the blue SUV isn’t just a vehicle — it’s a symbol of secrecy, privilege, and a government losing its moral compass.