And moving on now to that other neighbor, Guatemala - you'll probably be aware that 5 former PUP foreign ministers have challenged Guatemalan Foreign Minister, Carlos Raul Morales. They say that he lied to the Belizean people last week Monday when he said that in the Confidence Building Measures, signed in 2000 and 2005, both countries agreed that neither Belize nor Guatemala would increase the number of military bases at the border.
So, what does the General of the Belize Defence Force think about that statement? After all, he's the leader of Belize's military. Here's what he said today about Morales's statement:
Brig. Gen. David Jones, Commander - Belize Defence Force
"In the Confidence Building Measures, it doesn't specifically say that we are restricted from constructing military bases along the border. What I do recall is in the Confidence Building Measures is that the other nation - each nation is not supposed to be expressing or showing that they are exerting their sovereignty over the other. But it doesn't restrict us from actually constructing other bases. The measures primarily address the western portion of the border, from up Arenal down to south where Cadenas is. But it didn't really specifically address the area of the Sarstoon."
Daniel Ortiz
"Sir, just on the fact finding basis, did the Guatemalan Foreign Minister specifically mislead when he suggested or said clearly that it exist in the Confidence Building Measures? Is there wording in the Confidence Building Measures which says that?"
Brig. Gen. David Jones
"I wouldn't be able to say precisely that he mislead the people. That would have to be answered by him. He read the Confidence Building Measures. He probably has a different interpretation from what we have here in Belize. From what we interpret it, we are aware and I am quite sure it didn't specifically say that we are restricted from constructing military bases on either side. But just as a matter of not exerting sovereignty is just a matter of discussing with each other."
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