Last week, the government signed 13 bilateral agreements with Guatemala at the SICA Summit. The 13 had been in the works since the start of the year - with input from the opposition, but when they were signed last week the Opposition spoke out and said the public should have been consulted first.
The agreements seek to find common ground between both countries in 13 essential areas. On the topic of border management, Belize and Guatemala have agreed to maintain 24-hour, customs, immigrations operations at all legal terrestrial entry points - which is pretty much what happens now.
Next, both governments agree that all efforts will be made prohibit sale of stolen archaeological, historical and cultural artifacts which belong to the other's country. They will take all legal measures to prohibit the entry of such illegal items into the respective countries, and all efforts will be made to recover and return any known, stolen artifact which belongs to the other country.
Both countries will also recognize and accept driver's licenses duly issued by the authorities in the other's state.
In the area of education, the Ministries of Education on both sides will grant equivalency, and recognize certificates, titles, degrees, diplomas and other documents issued by the school institutions of the other's country. This agreement is to foster the continuation of studies of the residents of both countries. To facilitate the process, both governments will exchange laws, regulations, course curricula, and other documents which govern teaching at the levels of pre, primary, and secondary schools.
For the facilitation of movement for students who travel across the border, such as the ones we've shown you at the Benque Border, there is a formal agreement to govern that. Students who have been accepted into the school of the other state must comply with the immigration rules of that country that they're traveling to. The immigration personnel will document each student and issue them with valid identification cards so that they can enter the country legally. The agreement allows for both countries to work on means of transporting the students swiftly and safely to their schools and back to their homes.
Keeping it on education, there is an agreement on the issuance of student visas in both countries. Immigrant students who are able to prove that they have registered at a school the other's country, will be exempted from student visa requirements.
On a more ambitious note, Belize and Guatemala will work be interconnected through the electrical grids of both countries. This means that after the required infrastructure is built, both countries will be able to buy and sell electricity from each other. Of important note is that in June 2001, Mesoamerica Project, previously known as the Puebla Panama Plan, allows for the grid connectivity of the nine southern states of Mexico, with all of Central America, Colombia and the Dominican Republic. Belize and Guatemala were the only 2 countries who did not agree to become interconnected to each other for the gains of the system.
Both countries also agree that conservation and protected areas management is important the maintenance of the rich natural resources in the other's country. Belize and Guatemala will establish a joint coordinating mechanism through the respective Ministries of Foreign Affairs to create an action plan which will focus on environmental safety.
In the area of deportation, the officials from the two states will work to efficiently send home persons who break the immigration laws of the other country. The cost of deportation will be borne by the state carrying it out.
On the issue of seasonal migrant workers, there is an agreement between both countries to govern that as well. Each worker will be documented by the Immigration Departments of the respective countries, and each worker and his/her employer will agree to the terms and conditions of the employment in the form of a contract. Of course, Guatemala has hundreds if not thousands of migrant workers in Belize, especially in the banana and citrus industries, but Belize is not known to have any migrant workers in Guatemala.
On that lucrative crime of vehicle theft and sale across the border, there is an agreement between both countries on how that will now be handled. Both sides will act as efficiently as possible through the legal and diplomatic channels for the prompt return of vehicles found in their respective territory, which have been stolen or illegally retained. A search and recovery unit for stolen vehicles will be established in both countries which will be the operational arm of the Central Authority. Whenever any law enforcement agency seizes a vehicle stolen from the jurisdiction of the other state, steps will be taken for its immediate security and quick return.
Finally, on agreement number 13, both sides have agreed on improving sustainable tourism in their respective countries. All 13 of the bi-lateral agreements were signed by Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington, and his Guatemalan counterpart Carlos Raul Morales.
Today, Prime Minister Dean Barrow was asked why they weren't publicly ventilated before signing and he explained:
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"We have bilateral agreements with various countries all the time. We don't go to the public for those."
Reporter
"Not a normal country."
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Well in deed, I won't quarrel with that and that is why to me this is such a signal advance, but no, those agreements were in fact agreements that were being worked on by our team. At some point they had the oversight of the referendum commission. The Opposition was there at all times. In fact I still haven't heard them say they disagree with what's being signed. How could they when they helped to negotiate what's being signed. Their argument is merely that it ought to have been circulated for consultation before the sign. I don't agree and if they maintain that position, then we will forever be at odds. We will take them to the senate, so that again, there can be a chance for more people to weigh in. But Lord man, let us not snatch a defeat from the jaws of victory. I really am satisfy that this represents a huge advance. There is nothing there as I indicated that's reflective of a sort of heads of agreement type scenario. These are innocuous understandings that can help both side in terms of cooperation in the various areas and certainly represent a chance for working together and getting to know each other better and that's the way ultimately that we can achieve the falling a way of the claim if we don't go to the ICJ before then."
Reporter
"For instance though, taking one of the seasonal workers' program. What would Belizeans expect to go do over in Guatemala in terms of seasonal work?"
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"I don't know that Belizeans go to Guatemala right now to do seasonal work."
Reporter
"So it means that it's only benefitting Guatemala."
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"If you have a matter of fact Guatemalan seasonal workers coming - what's wrong with regularizing that? And who knows, they may be opportunities for Belizeans to engage in seasonal work in Guatemala, I highly doubt it, but all you al doing is regularizing what happens as a matter of fact."
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