Hi there, it’s Mark in the chair for Jules this week whilst she is taking a break. Myself, I have just returned from a balmy UK, but am nonetheless content to be enjoying temperatures above 20C.
Whilst in the UK I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the England versus Belarus football game on 14 October. You're all aware of the result by now, but I must say that Wembley Stadium is mightily impressive…. and Peter Crouch is so tall!
The stadium will make a stunning venue for events at the 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games. I should take this opportunity to add that this weekend marks 1000 days until the opening ceremony, which will take place in London on 27 July 2012. To mark the occasion the city of London will be lighting up the sky with a spectacular firework display. You can learn more about the Games' preparations on the London 2012 website.
Here at the Embassy, preparations are gathering pace for our new computer system we hope to be receiving soon. It's incredible the challenges that crop up during such projects. We are to receive 6 pallets of equipment, but the logistical nightmare of getting a vehicle with a low enough headroom into our basement car park has tested everyone's negotiating skills.
We have exciting news for any candidates seeking to complete an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam here in Guatemala. Denise Long, Head of IELTS operations at the British Council in Mexico City, has visited Guatemala with a view to proposing increasing the number of testing sessions in the country from 2 to 4 per year. Demand for this highly important exam continues to grow, so I'm sure this is welcome news.
Honduras is never too far off the centre of our radar. Finally things there look promising & hopefully we shall see an end to the crisis in the coming days. The Hondurans have much work to do, but the progress that has been made over the last couple of days is encouraging.
Take care & have a great weekend. And drop us a line if you have time!
Posted at 11:14 30 October 2009 by Julie Chappell | Comments[0]
- Share this with:
-
-
-
-
-
I can’t believe it’s been a week since I last wrote! Honduras continues to keep us busy. Importantly, given the potential volatility of the situation there, we have now changed our travel advice to advise against all but essential travel to Honduras - not a step we take lightly. Our Foreign Office Minister, Chris Bryant, also issued a further statement: 'The UK is becoming increasingly concerned at the lack of progress on mediation following the coup in Honduras. As a result, I can confirm that we are now considering imposing travel restrictions against ten key individuals we believe to be obstructing the mediation efforts of President Arias and the Organisation of American States. The decision to consider targeted measures is in line with similar moves in the United States and Spain, which we fully support. As I said on 22 September, the United Kingdom continues to calls on both sides in this crisis to avoid any steps that could lead to further violence. Both sides must engage fully in a peaceful and constructive dialogue - with the ultimate objective of returning Honduras to constitutional government without delay.' To give a flavour of the rest of the week, I met: the Vice-President and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss the Copenhagen climate negotiations; HSBC who are opening a representative office here; and several NGOs and businessmen to discuss Honduras. I took part in a ceremony to address several hundred children about the power of young people to bring about change (I had in my mind the generational shift against drink driving in the UK). I was also lucky enough to meet Miss Guatemala (who is keen to help promote environmental awareness here) and "Jovenes por Guatemala" - part of the group who organised Football for Peace. They keep coming up with good ideas! This time they are working to encourage young people to recycle here in the City. More to follow! http://jovenesporguatemala.org/. Last but not least, we’ve had our Honorary Consuls (except from Tegucigalpa) and network of wardens here to talk about consular work in the region. Honorary Consuls are our consular staff in countries where we don't have diplomatic representation; Wardens are our network of kind British volunteers who would help us in a crisis. They all have day jobs but still manage to help us help Brits living and travelling in the region. We hosted a reception to show them our gratitude, as well as to thank others who have also helped us enormously with consular work this year - from airlines to the national disaster authorities to travel agencies and other embassies. Spanish text El tiempo vuela en Centro América No puedo creer que ya pasó una semana desde que escribí la última vez! Honduras continúa manteniéndonos ocupados. Primordialmente, dato a la potencial volatilidad de la situación allí, ahora hemos cambiado nuestros Consejos de Viaje para recomendar que no se viaje a Honduras a menos que sea muy esencial – algo que no tomamos a la ligera. Nuestro Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores, Chris Bryant, también emitió el siguiente comunicado: “El Reino Unido está incrementando su preocupación por la falta de progreso de mediación después del Golpe en Honduras. Como resultado, les puedo confirmar que estamos ahora considerando imponer restricciones de viaje contra diez individuos importantes que creemos están obstruyendo los esfuerzos de mediación del Presidente Arias y la OEA. La decisión de considerar de tomar estas medidas está en línea con movimientos similares de Estados Unidos y España, a quienes totalmente apoyamos. Como les dije el 22 de septiembre, el Reino Unido continua llamando a ambos lados de esta crisis a evadir situaciones que puedan llevar a más violencia. Ambos lados deben comprometerse completamente en un diálogo pacífico y constructivo – con el último objetivo de regresar a Honduras a un gobierno Constitucional sin demora”. Para darle sabor al resto de la semana, me reuní con el Señor Vice Presidente y con el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores para discutir las negociaciones de cambio climático de Copenhague; HSBC quienes están abriendo una oficina representativa aquí; y con varias ONG´s y hombres de negocios para discutir sobre Honduras. Tomé parte en una ceremonia para platicarles a cientos de jóvenes sobre el poder que tiene la juventud de traer cambios (tenía en mente el cambio generacional contra manejar tomado en el Reino Unido). También tuve la suerte de conocer a Miss Guatemala (quien está muy interesada en promover la consciencia ambientalista acá) y “Jóvenes por Guatemala” – parte del grupo que organizó el juego de fútbol contra la violencia. Ellos siguen teniendo muy buenas ideas! Esta vez ellos están trabajando en motivar a los jóvenes a reciclar en la Ciudad. Más por venir! http://jovenesporguatemala.org/. Por último, pero no menos importante, tuvimos a nuestros Cónsules Honorarios (excepto de Tegucigalpa) y los colaboradores consulares para platicar sobre el trabajo consular en la región. Los Cónsules Honorarios con nuestro personal consular en los países donde no tenemos representación diplomática; los colaboradores consulares son nuestra red de buenos británicos voluntarios quienes nos podrían ayudar en una crisis. Todos ellos tienen sus propios trabajos, pero aún así nos ayudan a ayudar a británicos viviendo y viajando en la región. Organizamos una recepción para demostrarles nuestro agradecimiento, así como para agradecer a otros quienes también nos han ayudado enormemente con el trabajo consular este año –desde aerolíneas hasta oficinas de reducción de desastres, agencias de viajes y otras embajadas.
Our Consul Carl on a visit to the British community in Panajachel
Jovenes por Guatemala meet some of the Embassy team
Posted at 18:55 30 September 2009 by Julie Chappell | Comments[1]
- Share this with:
-
-
-
-
-
Since the news that President Zelaya returned yesterday to Honduras, we’ve been working hard to keep London (and our high-level delegation at the UN meetings in New York) aware of the latest developments. Fortunately, one of our team is currently in Tegucigalpa, which means we’re getting quick, first-hand updates. On the consular side, we have had a number of Brits in touch with us from Honduras. Anyone reading this wanting to know more should continue to monitor our website Travel Advice (updated yesterday and again this afternoon) and be in touch with our Honorary Consuls. On the political front, our Foreign Office Minister Chris Bryant has just issued the following statement: "Following President Zelaya’s return to Tegucigalpa, I would like to add my voice to the international calls that both sides refrain from any action that could lead to an increase in tension and violence in Honduras. To that end, we condemn today's decision by the Honduran Security Forces to move the peaceful demonstrators outside the Brazilian Embassy in Tegucigalpa. What is most important at this time, is that this both sides look for opportunities for a peaceful and constructive dialogue - with the ultimate objective of returning Honduras to constitutional government at the earliest possible time." Spanish Text Desde la noticia de que el Presidente Zelaya regresó ayer a Honduras, hemos estado trabajando duro para mantener a Londres (y nuestra delegación de alto nivel en las reuniones de las Naciones Unidas en Nueva York) al tanto de las últimas novedades. Afortunadamente, un miembro de nuestro equipo se encuentra actualmente en Tegucigalpa, lo que significa que estamos recibiendo rápidas actualizaciones de primera mano. En el lado consular, hemos tenido un número de británicos que han estado en contacto con nosotros desde Honduras. Cualquiera que se encuentre leyendo esto y quiera saber más sobre la situación en Honduras debe monitorear el sitio de Consejos para el viajero (actualizado ayer y esta tarde) y estar en contacto con nuestros Cónsules Honorarios. En el frente político, nuestro Viceministro de Relaciones Exteriores, Chris Bryant, acaba de emitir la siguiente declaración: "Tras el regreso del Presidente Zelaya de Tegucigalpa, quiero sumar mi voz a los llamamientos internacionales que ambas partes se abstengan de cualquier acción que pueda conducir a un aumento de la tensión y la violencia en Honduras. Para ello, condenamos la decisión de hoy por las Fuerzas de Seguridad de Honduras para remover a los manifestantes pacíficos que se encontraban frente a la Embajada de Brasil en Tegucigalpa. Lo más importante en este momento, es que ambas partes busquen oportunidades para una el diálogo pacífico y constructivo - con el objetivo final de volver a Honduras a un gobierno constitucional con la mayor brevedad posible ".
Posted at 19:14 22 September 2009 by Julie Chappell | Comments[0]
- Share this with:
-
-
-
-
-
This career does have some great moments! Last night was one of them as I got to meet Liverpool legend Ian Rush. We're both currently in El Salvador - me to present my credentials to the Foreign Minister (as part of the official process to become the non-resident UK Ambassador here) and Ian to scout for young footballing talent. We got talking about just how brilliant it would be for England to host the 2018 football World Cup - Ian was barely a toddler last time round! To help our campaign to win the vote in Guatemala, Ian kindly helped us out with some autographs on shirts and footballs that we can now use to stir up some enthusiasm. (For more on the bid, see www.2018england.co.uk).
Interestingly, Ian and his team had just come from holding football clinics in Honduras. While much is still operating normally there, Honduran politics remain tense and polarised. The de facto Government has annouced elections for 29 November; President Zelaya has called for them to be boycotted. There is still no agreement to implement the San Jose package that includes the return of President Zelaya to Honduras. But there is increasing international pressure for an agreement - not least ahead of elections, which a number of countries have already said they would not recognise if held in the current circumstances.
Landing in the lush green of El Salvador
Ian Rush shows his support for the 2018 England World Cup bid
Posted at 22:43 27 August 2009 by Julie Chappell | Comments[0]
- Share this with:
-
-
-
-
-
What have Honduras, IELTS English language test, an out of date computer system, England World Cup bid, Chevening scholarships & a pub quiz got in common? Answer: Me! Hi my name is Mark Day, Third Secretary standing in for Julie this week whilst she takes a well-earned break with her partner Pete.
Since Julie's last blog, we've had a really busy time of it here in Guatemala, covering a variety of activities. Last Thursday & Friday we finally managed to host April's International English Language Testing System (IELTS) tests, which were postponed due to H1N1 influenza. That the examiner and invigilator are based at the British Council in Mexico City explains why the original tests had to be placed on hold. 29 nervy candidates sat the tests - the majority of which needed a score of 6.5 out of 9 to be considered for immigration to English speaking countries. They now await the results, the outcome of which will undoubtedly change lives.
Exam day nerves
Over the weekend I anxiously watched ousted President Zelaya on CNN Español as he approached his country's Las Manos border post from Nicaragua during his symbolic 'March on Tegucigalpa'. Thankfully the anticipated violent confrontations never materialised as he returned to Nicaragua for further consultation.
Monday morning presented every System Administrator's nightmare - no email or internet! Hurried resetting of servers, checking of UPS' and calls to the Help Desk had everyone up & running again with minimal inconvenience. Evidently, power went out in the building for 3 hours over the weekend. At least our good old IT system lived to tell the tale! The unsung heroes on our Help Desk deserve a pat on the back!
On Monday & Tuesday I had the pleasure of escorting Lucia Sanchez from the English Football Association (the FA) to various contacts & football related projects. Lucia was here on a reconnaissance visit ahead of the World Cup 2018/2022 bid presentation later this year. Most impressive was to hear the FA's approach to leaving a global football legacy should the bid be successful. Some of the ideas that Lucia came up with certainly opened some eyes. Learn more about the England World Cup bid at http://www.england2018bid.com/.
Felix showing his support for the England World Cup bid
On Tuesday evening I hosted a traditional British pub quiz for expatriates and locals. Whilst there is plenty in the way of entertainment available in Guatemala City, these events are incredibly popular. Once again we had a full house, with people from varying backgrounds enjoying the opportunity to mix. Whilst Delboy & Rodders running through the streets of London as Batman & Robin gained the biggest laugh of the night, the real stars were those businesses who kindly donated prizes. Thanks again to all.
Trivial pursuits..
Yesterday I had the pleasure of presenting Manuel Delgado Chavarria, our Salvadoran Chevening scholar for this year with his formal award letter. Manuel will be studying a MSc in Economics at Sussex University. Manuel has promised to email me from Brighton the moment he finds pupusas there. El Salvador is well-known for many things, not least of which is the scrumptious pupusa - a cheese-filled tortilla!
Posted at 10:45 30 July 2009 by Julie Chappell | Comments[3]
- Share this with:
-
-
-
-
-
Honduras: the confusion continues
We have kept a close eye this week on events in and around Honduras. Our Honorary Consuls (based in 3 key places in Honduras) have been particularly helpful in giving us accurate information about e.g. demonstrations in the major cities. We have also been meeting diplomatic, military and business contacts to get a feel for opinions in the region, as well as staying in close touch with other British Embassies – for example, in Washington where the Organisation of American States (OAS) has its headquarters. We hope that confrontation can be avoided ahead of the elections that are due to be held in Honduras in November this year. The OAS has a crucial role to play this weekend in helping to find a peaceful, political way forward. But for now, the situation remains unpredictable. Just today, we have issued a further update to our travel advice warning of possible confrontations over the weekend.
Posted at 14:16 03 July 2009 by Julie Chappell | Comments[0]
- Share this with:
-
-
-
-
-