| On Wednesday, Belize's Prime Minister Dean Barrow handed over the pro-tem presidency of SICA to Guatemalan President, Otto Perez Molina.
But, most significant development coming out of that meeting was the historic signing of the 13 bi-lateral agreements between Belize and Guatemala.
Those agreements were released today - and as expected, they are voluminous, covering Prisoner Exchange, Operating Hours At land borders; Seasonal Workers; Items of Cultural And Natural Patrimony, Visa Waiver for Students, Deportation, Electric Power Connectivity; Mutual Recognition of Driver's Licenses; Movement of Students via land entry points; Protection Of the Environment and the Sustainable Use of Resources; Degree Equivalence; Sustainable Tourism; and Stolen Vehicles.
We're still going through them and we'll have a fuller profile next week - but the signing gave the Belizean media an opportunity to question the Guatemalan President on those burning at the Belize Guatemala border.
Love and KREM News president Perez Molina about the effects that the 13 bi-lateral agreements should have on the border incursions into Belize. He said that the hope is that they will curb the amount of incidents:
Otto Perez Molina, President of Guatemala
"We have a commitment and it is to see how we can achieve better conditions for our population in the adjacency zone because they come out and since they are in the adjacency zone, they cross over into Belize side and they go there seeking work. Today we signed an agreement on seasonal employment and that is very important because then they will no longer have to do it as they have been doing it. There will be those temporary working permits as necessary for both people from Belize and Guatemala as well as Guatemalans in the adjacency zone into Belize. I think that will reduce the incidents that have occurred."
But, there is that unfounded Guatemalan Claim which still hangs over the heads of the Government of people of Belize. The hope is that at the second try at a referendum in 2015, there will be more success.
But, you may remember that Guatemala backed out the last time, so when our colleague from Krem asked the President if he'll be able to move his people to that peaceful resolution, he says that he hopes so, but the 13 agreements should provide a back-up to the Special Agreement of 2008, if the referendums in both countries fail:
Otto Perez Molina, President of Guatemala
"It remain outstanding agreement which we continue to negotiate. That agreement seeks to establish how we can give it viability, so that in the event that the referendum is lost in either country the special agreement of 2008 is not lost and this an agreement that we have been progressing on little by little which we expect will be the next agreement we will sign. We expect that it will be like a protocol, additional to the special agreement which would allow us to find other mechanism so we can arrive at the final objective. The final objectives are not the consultations, the final objectives is to find the solution to this differendum in an international court."
But, bypassing all the bureaucracy, there is still the unresolved investigation into the murder of Tourism Police Officer Danny Conorquie, which happened at the Caracol Archaeological Site on September 25. It is still suspected, but not proven that Guatemalan cross-border bandits were involved in his death.
The president was asked about Conorquie, and he reminded the press that there have been deaths on both sides:
Otto Perez Molina, President of Guatemala
"There are incidents which have been committed on both sides. We both have the responsibility, both of us and here in Belize it's a justice in these cases and really when justice is done these incidents will decrease as it already happening. The incidents are every time less and I think that this show of between the authorities, the agreements and the implementation of these agreements will benefit people living in the adjacency zone. This will be accomplish and these incidents will hopefully disappear."
That interview with the president lasted only 7 minutes.
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