| And while the diplomats are talking in Washington, and trying to hammer out that protocol, in Belize, at best, public opinion is split on the Statutory Instrument, and there's been very vocal opposition to it.
Wil Maheia and the territorial Volunteers say that they intend to conduct surveillance for themselves to make sure that the SI is enforced across the board, on everyone, including the Guatemalans who travel and fish on the Belize side of the river.
While we were in Barranco, we spoke to a few of the participants to get feedback on this law. Not surprisingly, the majority of those we spoke to are disappointed that the Government took this step. Here's how they explained it:
Geovannie Brackett - President, COLA
"That law against - if anyone had any ill views of the government and how they've been handling this situation, it shows clearly that this government is more concern again in yielding to Guatemala unfounded claim. That law we believe is unconstitutional, it is a symbol of power and it's a symbol of a lack of faith and hope and that's what we think about that law."
Richard "Dickie" Bradley - Attorney/Private Citizen
"No magistrate will enforce that law. It's a fool-fool law. In Jamaica, they would say "idiot mi bwai" - the law itself is signed on a legal error. But somebody asked an important question, the Opposition must go to the Supreme Court and strike that down. It just show the haste with which - you can't reason with us? You can't tell what happened - so and so? Everybody here is reasonable people, but they are not happy. Something is happening. You were here in this river and you see how Guatemala behaves?"
Hon. Oscar Requena - PUP Area. Rep., Toledo West
"We know that Guatemala has been amassing their troops on the border and they have made it absolutely clear, in all diplomatic channels, in their media, that the Sarstoon belongs to them and by government now signing this SI, by government now saying Belizeans you cannot access that area, it is sending a clear message that Belize is giving in to Guatemala and we must condemn that. Today the people of Barranco, the people of Graham Creek, who depend upon the natural resources to make their living, be it fishing, be it gathering food. These people are now being deprived from their livelihood. I want you to also record that the village of Graham Creek for them to access their area, they travelled through the Sarstoon River. So what is the government saying to these Belizeans who are living out there? They are now going to held hostage within their community for a month? Let the government answer."
Hon. Valerie Woods - PUP Senator
"The questioned even the penalty. I was talking to the folks from FCD and some of the penalties that have been imposed on those who have illegally encroached from Guatemalans is not $2,000. Some of it is less."
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