BELIZE PRESS OFFICE

●Phone: 822-0094 or 0092 ●Fax: 822-2671 ● website: www.governmentofbelize.gov.bz

Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarifies recent media reports

Belmopan, 8th November, 2010. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
wishes to refer to recent articles in the media commenting on the termination of the
contract of Ms. Kamela Palma, Belize’s High Commissioner to the Court of St. James,
London, England.

Some sections of the media have speculated that Ms. Palma was released because the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade may be defending or protecting an
officer posted at the London Mission whose name has been mentioned in connection
with financial discrepancies. There is no truth in that speculation!

The High Commissioner’s contract was terminated because she had willfully
disregarded clear instructions given to her in writing by her Chief Executive Officer.
Additionally, she had subsequently written and published a correspondence to her Chief
Executive Officer that was not only disrespectful of the CEO but was wholly
unbecoming of the office of Belize’s Chief Diplomat in the United Kingdom.

Ms. Palma was given ample opportunity to explain her conduct and to offer an
appropriate apology to the CEO, but she remained unrepentant and unapologetic. The
Ministry, with very great reluctance, therefore, felt that it had no other recourse but to
terminate the employment of the High Commissioner in accordance with her contract.

No country can permit a Senior Foreign Service Officer to flout lawfully given
instructions or to act with impunity. Such a course of conduct conduces to erosion of
discipline and professionalism, and can imperil an entire nation.

Appended herewith is a copy of the offending correspondence sent by Ms. Palma to her
CEO.
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Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade,
Belmopan, Belize.