Obama appoints Coloradan Vinai Thummalapally as Ambassador to Belize

By Joshua | June 12th, 2009 | No Comments

Perhaps its their predilection for the outdoors and active traveling, but people from Colorado seem to end up in Belize in disproportionate numbers than other travelers and expatriates. I myself bounce between Boulder and Belize and I’ve met many-a reformed mile-higher who has opened a bed-n-breakfast or dive shop in Placencia, Hopkins, and Ambergris Caye.

Well, get ready to add one more Coloradan-in-Belize to the list: As reported in the Times of India, “President Barack Obama has nominated on old Indian college classmate and buddy of his to be the American ambassador to the tiny Central American nation of Belize, in keeping with the American tradition of rewarding political contributors, personal friends, and party groupies with sinecures.”

Thummalapally’s main claim to fame seems to be speaking candidly to the press about his old college friend, who he called “a cool guy who drank a few beers, smoked a lot, partied till the wee hours of the morning, but would still crank out a paper due later in the day and get brilliant grades.”

Originally published on this Belize travel blog->