Tonight, we'll have every interior and exterior angle on this story, from beginning to end. Daniel Ortiz reports:..

Daniel Ortiz reporting
It should have been just an expedition to the Gracias A Dios border marker at the southern-most point of the country, but on the way back, the expedition of 37 persons representing the Northern Chapter of the Territorial Volunteers were intercepted by the Guatemalan Military and taken to the Eastern Port town of Livingston, Guatemala. The initial concern was that they were being detained, possibly to be imprisoned, for making an incursion into Guatemalan Territorial Waters.

Wil Maheia - Southern Territorial Volunteers
"Yesterday morning these folks arrived here from Orange Walk. They left Orange Walk actually around midnight, to reach PG by 6am - 7am and by 7:30am, they were onboard the vessel that was going to take then to Gracias Adios. They boarded the vessel and everybody was in a festive mood. It was very patriotic, people taking out their flags and blowing their horns and going to Gracias Adios. As you know it's the southernmost marker and they went up there to put the plaque on and on their way back, the Guatemalan Marines had intercepted their boat. One of the marines boarded our boat and then tied up our boat to the vessel and they took it to their military station at the mouth of the Sarstoon. When they came back down, the Guatemalans took them to their military base, then escorted them to the Livingston, Guatemala. When they got there, they were detained and they were questioned by the Guatemalan authorities and then after that, they were set free."

They were free to roam around, and free to leave, but the captain decided that the 40 persons ought to stay the overnight in Livingston because the seas would have been choppy and dangerous.

The captain realized the next morning that by sleeping in Guatemala, the Port Commander and other government officials had enough time to prepare a document that they asked him to sign. That delayed their return to Belizean soil longer.

Wil Maheia - Southern Territorial Volunteers
"This morning when they were getting ready to leave again, as they were getting ready to board the boat, there comes the Capitan del Puerto, which is the boss of the port over there - the government boss and call in the captain. That's where they are right now."

Reporter
"Call the captain for what?"

Wil Maheia - Southern Territorial Volunteers
"We don't know. They just summon the captain, so that's why the boat hasn't left Livingston yet."

Maheia and others, including National Security and Foreign Affairs CEO's George Lovell and Lawrence Sylvestre, and other Foreign Affairs staffers were forced to wait for their arrival. But, why did the Guatemalan marines escort the Belizeans to Livingston? Well, the Territorial Volunteers say that the military personnel informed them that they had strayed into Guatemalan territory for 5 minutes. At the diplomatic level, that was communicated to Belizean government also, but more importantly, the Guatemalans informed Belize through the military and diplomatic channels that it wasn't a detention. No, they are claiming that it was a humanitarian effort - that they rescued the Belizeans from choppy seas, and from a vessel which appeared overcrowded and dangerous.

Ret. Col. George Lovell - CEO, Ministry of National Security
"The Guatemalan officials - they detained them because they were: 1.) in Guatemala and 2.) The amount of passengers that they had on the vessel appeared to them to be very unsafe and it was for their own safety, that they decided to detained them and that's the reason why they were taken into to Livingston. They were clear to mention to us that they were not arrested and they were not going to be put in jail."

But, the Guatemalan Port Commander delayed the captain with this impromptu morning meeting for 3 hours past their intended departure time, and by 10:50 a.m. yesterday, signs of the Belizeans started showing on the horizon.

By the time they arrived at the pier, they received a patriotic welcome. Tales of their "detention" unleashed a firestorm of commentary on social media and on national radio.

After all the unplanned celebrations completed, 5 key persons of the forty taken by the Guatemalan military were asked to debrief the Government officials, which lasted for about 2 hours. The leader spoke with the press after.

Giovanni De La Fuente - Leader, Gracias Adios Expedition
"This morning we had some negotiations with the commandant of Livingston and we were released. There was no charge for the group and the captain was released with no penalty. He only had to sign a documenting stating that he had accidentally entered a creek for the distance of 100 yards and a time of approximately 5 minutes."

But Wil Maheia, founder of the Territorial Volunteers, vouches for the captain that with his expertise and knowledge, he would never have crossed into Guatemala.

Wil Maheia - Southern Territorial Volunteers
"Our captain have a wealth of experience. There is no way he would have strayed into Guatemalan side, so if they are saying that, I could tell you that that's a lie."

Daniel Ortiz
"It is taken at face value that the Guatemalans who detained the Belizeans are right in saying they were in Guatemala."

Ret. Col. George Lovell - CEO, Ministry of National Security
"No, we can't and that's the reason we need to hear what they had to say, no we need to hear what our people have to say."

Giovanni De La Fuente - Leader, Gracias Adios Expedition
"He signed off on that paper, because it's the truth. On our way up the river, there are many tributaries and creeks and he accidentally took one of these creeks for approximately 5 minutes, less than 5 minutes and we covered a distance of approximately 100 yards and then we notice we were on the wrong route and we turned back. So, that is the truth."

But that's not what the captain, Guillermo Avila, is saying. He has retained attorney Audrey Matura-Shepherd for legal advice to undo what his signature to this document means for him in Guatemala. He's admitted to a maritime offence, and although there was no penalty for it, he claims that he makes a business ferrying clients back and forth from Livingston to PG. His attorney told the press that he only signed the documents under duress, that if he didn't sign his passengers would not have been allowed to leave.

Audrey Matura-Shepherd - Attorney for Boat Captain
"The only way they would have released them to today, is if they sign such a document which he signed. This is a copy of the document he signed. He does not read Spanish, he signed a document he is not fully aware as to every word and its content and its meaning, but Mr. Avila wants it to be known, that it was clear to him that if he did not sign, he and the vessel could not leave and the passengers could not leave and he had to make a judgment call to get the people here back in Belizean territory. Now, we are hoping that our government, through diplomatic notes, can deal with this, because this was signed under duress."

That may well be the case, but the Foreign Ministry gave a stern, well publicized warning that this could happen. So, wasn't this ordeal somewhat self-inflicted?

Daniel Ortiz
"How do you answer to the criticism that this detention was somewhat self-inflicted because you all went there knowing that this could have happen?"

Giovanni De La Fuente - Leader, Gracias Adios Expedition
"Listen, the captain has already signed off on a document stating that he accidentally entered a tributary for 100 yards, approximately 5 minutes and that is the truth and the truth will set you free."

Wil Maheia - Southern Territorial Volunteers
"People who say that, I would consider them very unpatriotic. This is our country all 8,867 sq. miles - belong to all Belizeans. So, if you are telling us Belizeans that we are agitating when we walk or defend our country, then I consider those who make those statements, very unpatriotic."

Whether due to the improved relations over the years, or because of the recent signing of the 13 bilateral agreements between Belize and Guatemala, the 40 person expedition team was released less than a day after they were taken into custody.

Wil Maheia - Southern Territorial Volunteers
"Fortunately, for the Belizeans onboard, which is in my opinion, a blessing in disguise - there were a Cuban consulate or some top person from the Cuban Embassy who was onboard, so with their help, they were able to like quickly free the people. In Belize, I consider everybody to be equal, but the fact that we had some, I would say high profile people on the boat, I think that was kind of what led to the quick release."

Ret. Col. George Lovell - CEO, Ministry of National Security
"I believe that our action was swift and the action of our authorities may have caused them to take the action that they took."

But the activists say that if nothing else, this ordeal ought to show the Belizean Government that better efforts ought to be made to maintain a presence on the border, instead of only relying on BDF manned observation posts, manned by the BDF.

Wil Maheia - Southern Territorial Volunteers
"Our government has been promising, under both administration, to put a base at the mouth of the Sarstoon. Money was allocated. It was never put there. It's just like basically a disgrace that we Belizeans when we go to our borderline, we have to ask the Guatemalans permission to go up our river."

Nigel Petillo - President, BGYEA
"To you Mr. Foreign Minister, this again is having you understand that you need to come out here personally and see what's taking place and put something out there, so that other Belizean could feel safe as when it comes to walking in our country Belize. I want to know that walking from here to there, I am still in my country and I am not supposed the fear the idea of Guatemalans detaining me."