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In his speech he addressed the fact that the Guatemalans backed out of the bi-national referendum - and discussed the pressures that their citizens continue to place on Belize's border.

Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"The Guatemalan claim is a constant source of anxiety to our citizens as well to investors in our country. Furthermore, both our territorial and our maritime border regions have been suffering from depravation and environmental degradation in consequence of the wanton and sustained illegal activities of Guatemalan campesinos, fishermen and other criminal elements engaged in narco-trafficking, human trafficking, smuggling, illegal panning for gold, the extraction of xate and other exotic plants and animals, the illegal felling of timber and the pillaging of ancient Maya ruins. The felling of timber in our rainforests are contributing to the denuding of our mountains which result in violent flooding in the rainy season and the transmission of top soil, sand and silt into the sea; these soils are then ultimately deposited into our pristine barrier reef, choking and destroying the fragile eco systems therein."

"Additionally, the increasing trespassing of the Guatemalans into our country has given rise to more frequent violent encounters between Guatemalans and the members of our Belize Defense Force resulting in fatalities in some instances; these incidents put a heavy strain in the relations between our country and Guatemala."

"The incursions of the Guatemalans will not in our view abate but will only get worse. Belize is resolved to do all in its power to protect her citizens and territorial integrity, but our efforts alone will not be sufficient to put an end to the forays of the Guatemalans into our country."

"The input of the international community will be vital in assisting with the development in the border regions of income generating enterprises to ameliorate the poverty which compels the Guatemalans to trespass in our border regions."

At 24 minutes, Elrington's speech was one of the longer presentations of the day. He also addressed global warming and its threat to small economies.