And while you heard John Saldivar discourage anyone from going to Sarstoon Island – one Cabinet minister who is no stranger to caprice wasn't quite so
emphatic in his disavowal of the territorial volunteers.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation & Poverty Alleviation
Mark King served in the BDF for 7 years and is very familiar with the borderline. Today he told us that if he weren't a member of cabinet – he'd be on
that island:..
Hon. Mark King - Area Representative, Lake I
"As you know I am quite patriotic to this country. I've served in the military for 7 years Jules, I walked those border lines. I walk every inch.
Matter of fact, my team was one of the first team to cut a line from Garbutt falls to Gracias Adios. And so, I am patriotic to this country - whereby
it comes to the claim I am very concerned and very respectful to the fact that those measures with foreign affairs must be respected; to a large extent
as to keep peace, as to have things not erupt and so forth. I'm sure nobody in this country wants to see war. Where it comes to the claim on the
Sarstoon Island alone, I normally say what da fi Belize, da fi Belize - and the Sarstoon is for Belize. That is separate to me from the issue of having
Belizeans go there and something happens and then all of us regret it."
Jules Vasquez
"So then you don't support the Belize Territorial Volunteers going there this weekend?"
Hon. Mark King - Area Representative, Lake I
"I didn't say that either. Belizeans have a right to go where they want to go in their country - but I don't think it is advisable because if they take
children out there and if they take other Belizeans out there and somebody gets hurt; then erupts a situation between two countries."
Jules Vasquez
"Would you go?"
Hon. Mark King - Area Representative, Lake I
"Absolutely not."
Jules Vasquez
"Why?"
Hon. Mark King - Area Representative, Lake I
"Boss, I just explain it to you."
Jules Vasquez
"You are known as the intrepid man."
Hon. Mark King - Area Representative, Lake I
"You don't know."
Jules Vasquez
"I see you walk on the railing at the national assembly."
Hon. Mark King - Area Representative, Lake I
"Of course, but as to the situation, as a minister of government, as a member respecting cabinet. Remember I don't only speak for myself."
Jules Vasquez
"Let's subtract all of that. If you were a private citizen Mark King, not in politics, not having a sworn oath of office etc. Would you on the
objective circumstances as Mark King; the citizen, not the public official, the citizen. Would you go on such a move like that?"
Hon. Mark King - Area Representative, Lake I
"Jules, I think you know the answer clear, clear, clear to that brother. Nobody would stop me from going anywhere…"
Jules Vasquez
"You would be on the bow."
Hon. Mark King - Area Representative, Lake I
"In the country of Belize; I would have been on the island before anybody reaches there. Simple as that yes. It is our country man; we have to be able
to go anywhere we want to go in this country."
The group expects to reach Sarstoon Island at about 10:30 on Sunday morning – and, of course, 7News will be there.
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