Viewers may remember when the 37 Belizeans were detained 4 weeks ago by the Guatemalan marines and taken to the port town of Livingston. They were accompanying the Belize Territorial Volunteers on an expedition to the Gracias A Dios border marker. On their way back on the Sarstoon River, the Guatemalans captured them.
In the wake of that incident, the Organization of American States released a statement saying that the volunteers should be more careful because they almost caused a border incident last year when they planted coconut trees on the Guatemalan side between the Jalacte, Belize and Santa Cruz, Guatemala.
The volunteers challenged that official position. They went further than that and challenged the OAS to go back to the area with them where they can do a joint verification using GPS to prove that the volunteers did not trespass on Guatemalan territory.
That trip was conducted yesterday where 7News tagged along to see for ourselves where these palms were planted. Daniel Ortiz reports:
Daniel Ortiz reporting
The Territorial Volunteers first arrived in Jalacte a little after 9 yesterday morning, and the attendants quickly removed the items they would take with them on the trail. Those who attended quickly huddled for a quick last minute conversation, and then, expedition leader Wil Maheia led the trek down the first hill. The equipment for the day's activities included a posthole digger, flags, young coconut trees, GPS and other equipment for verification at the border line.
For the next hour of hiking up and down the hills, the volunteers encountered a constant stream of Border crossers on trail. The contraband was flowing like any other normal day.
Our news team hadn't been in area for just over 2 years, and in that time, it appeared that a lot more Guatemalan farms and cattle pastures had sprung up illegally on Belizean territory in that time.
This all Looks like private property but it's crown or Maya Communal Lands. But, it seems the Illegals couldn't care less that they are encroaching on Belizean soil. They keep operating right before our eyes.
Call it coincidence or just plain faceiness, but this tree was felled at the right time for our camera to catch it on tape.
These farmers have cleared large hills, put up barbed wire fences, even thatched houses in Belizean territory, occupying huge tracts of land that they have no right to.
On top of these hills, it's a beautiful scene to take in, but a reminder of all the natural resources, being lost.
Wil Maheia - Leader, Southern Territorial Volunteers
"It's very sad to see that any one of us Belizeans cannot really come out here and start making pastures, because the Lands Department, somebody from government will come and stop us until we go through the proper documentation. Yet, as far as your eyes can see right now, it's occupied by Guatemalans. It is being utilized by Guatemalans."
But the Volunteers had two important missions: to show that they didn't trespass on Guatemalan territory, and to replant their coconut trees. So they put that visual affront aside for the time being and moved to the disputed area.
They eventually arrived at the place where palms were planted and later uprooted. GPS readings were taken to prove, using map readings and grid coordinates, that the area where they had planted, was firmly on Belizean soil.
Wil Maheia - Leader, Southern Territorial Volunteers
"We came out to GPS again for a second third time to make sure that there were no errors, that, we were on Belize side. So, today is basically to show the world that yes those trees that we planted were on the Belize side."
But no OAS representative showed up to dispute their readings.
Giovanni De La Fuente - Representative, Northern Territorial Volunteers
"I am disappointed today when Wil Maheia sounded and issued that press release inviting the OAS to come and re-verify the planting of the coconut trees. Well, I decide to come along to see for myself and I tell you, I am very disappointed. We are here and as far as I could see the OAS hasn't showed up."
They intended to replant their coconut trees as a marker of Belizean territory, but the Volunteers chose to operate on Container Hill. This hill, viewers will remember, was site of a border dispute in December 2008 over where Belize ends and where Guatemala begins. It was later determined to be Belizean territory, and that's where the new trees would be placed.
Giovanni De La Fuente
"Today, it's symbolic that we go back to Container Hill and plant some coconut trees as a gesture of goodwill and friendship with our neighbors - all of us will share from these trees."
Finally, the expedition arrived on Container hill after steep uphills and treacherous footfalls, and proud Belizeans foisted the national colours at this location.
The Volunteers immediately moved to take their GPS readings, and they then planted the trees only a few metres from the Border.
Rufus Bol - Former BDF Soldier, 9 Years
"The last time when we came and plant the coconut last year out there, I told Mr. Wil, why we are we still planting the coconut so far from the border, because this could create some initiate or ideas to the Guatemalans 'oh here is the Belize border, so we go live here' - it's something like that I think and I say why don't we plant the coconut on the exact border - that's my concern. But, again, as a Belizean, I think we have a responsibility to take care of our land."
Wil Maheia - Leader, Southern Territorial Volunteers
"Today significance to plant the trees here at Container Hill - it's within a few feet of the border line and I think that we have to continue to highlight that. Container Hill, will always be special to us. We will always want to come to Container Hill, because, again, like I said, this is where the movement started. This is our land. No disrespect to Guatemala, we love our neighbors. We should be friends with our neighbors, but your yard is your yard and my yard is my yard. We need to take care of what belongs to us."
Reporter
"Mayor Bernard, tell us your reasons for accompanying the group to the trip today?"
Mayor Kevin Bernard - Came On Jalacte Expedition
"First of all I must tell you that it was a privilege for me to be here. As a Belizean, I think it's important for us to make the statement, that, Belize belongs to Belizeans. Just like in some countries, like in Mexico, you would hear Mexicans say Mexico belongs to Mexicans - well Belize belongs to Belizeans."
Reporter
"Given the response towards the group in these efforts, you may fall under the criticism that you are here because you are the only elected PUP official."
Mayor Kevin Bernard - Came On Jalacte Expedition
"I am not here as a politician. I am here as a Belizean and that is reason why I am not wearing any political hat. Yes, I am the Mayor, but at the end of the day, I came here as Belizean supporting a movement. This is a Belizean movement."
And if the illegal incursion didn't offend the volunteers enough, expedition leader Wil Maheia showed them the expanding informal garbage dump in Belizean territory. It sits right at the foot of container hill just off the road believed to be Guatemalan territory. The shoulder of the road is considered to be Belize, something which Maheia couldn't stress enough.
Wil Maheia - Leader, Southern Territorial Volunteers
"We have to show the world that this border line is important to us. Belize is important to us and every square centimeter of Belize is important to us."
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