The other security issue of national importance, which was discussed at the press conference today, was the Hunting Caye forward operating base for the Coast Guard. As has been widely reported, the US Army Corp of Engineers subcontracted it out to a Guatemalan contractor named Binarq. After public uproar made that untenable the contract was cancelled and other options were sought. But, it seems no Belizean firm was big enough to meet what are known as the prequalification terms to be eligble for a US Corp of Engineers contract. So, the US gave Belize two choices. The Security Minister outlined them today:..
Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of National Security
"We have been advised by the US Army Corps of Engineers that at this point there are only two options for Belize; one, that the construction of the forward operating base continues under the existing contractual arrangements with BINARQ and no change in their workforce configuration. Option 2 is for the Government of Belize to complete the construction of the forward operating base. These two options were presented to Cabinet on Tuesday by my ministry and Cabinet has made a decision to go with option 2 which is for the Government of Belize to continue and complete the construction of the forward operating base."
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"I am perfectly happy with the decision of Cabinet that in the final analysis we should be prepared to spend the 1.6 million dollars to complete what is after all our forward operating base - our facility. That decision is not in any sense meant to be a rebuke to the United States of America. The fact is that in contracting with the Guatemalans, they did what the status of forces agreement signed by the last administration perfectly entitle them to do, so they can be no quarrel with them."
Mike Rudon, Ch5
"You said in your address that the decision by the government at this point to take it over is not a rebuke to the US. Have you thought that maybe it might be a rebuke from the US - maybe in light of the decision taken with the Ebola threat?"
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Hope I am not being naive, but I know that the President of the United States made this powerful speech saying that his policy is that right makes might and not might makes right. I take him at his word and I therefore am certain that one thing has nothing to do with the other."
But there is a caveat: the Guatemalan firm Binarq did contact the government today to discuss a possible compromise. Saldivar told us what is proposed:..
Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of National Security
"As of today though we have receive a subsequent correspondence from the Army Corps of Engineers that indicates that BINARQ might be acceptable and agreeable to some compromise. If we are able reach a compromise with them, the matter will be taken back to Cabinet. We are hoping that BINARQ will agree to some configuration which we will still have to take back to Cabinet, but it basically involves the employment of Belizean workers."
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