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Here's how she explained it to the press this afternoon at her Belize City office:..

Hon. Lisa Shoman, PUP Senator
"I've written to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the military on my own behalf. I decided to accompany the BTV and also others who are going with them. I believe the media is going and a few other supporters. And the reason that I did so was because I became very concerned yesterday after listening to the declarations that were being made by the Ministry of National Security. It is clear to me that Sarstoon Island is a part of Belize and even if it is an area that Guatemala is claiming, the point could also be made that Guatemala is claiming half of Belize and all of the cayes. That is absolutely no reason for people not to go Sarstoon Island and I became very concerned that enough care and attention was not being taken and I decided that it was my responsibility, since I have been a part of this process to take seriously the concerns that the BTV and others have, particularly after the incident of yesterday and after some reflection/consultation with the Leader of the Opposition who I represent, I decided that I would accompany the BTV. Reached out to Mr. Wil Maheia, let him know that I was interested and received his kind invitation to accompany them."

"I am a member of the National Assembly, among other things and I think that it has to be taken very seriously when any member of the National Assembly is deciding to do something like this because I am well aware that the government is of the opinion that this is some kind of a dangerous move or unwise move. So I am letting them know formally that I will be accompanying the BTV."

Daniel Ortiz
"Is it your hope that the office you hold will sway them to take certain actions?"

Hon. Lisa Shoman, PUP Senator
"I would hope that the government of Belize would take this expedition seriously enough to provide the safety and concern of all those who are attending. It's not a matter that my office is any special office to need more protection than anyone else, but it is certainly my intentions to highlight that Belizeans deserve the care and concern of their government and any part of their country from internal or external threat."

As you heard in all the stern warnings, all the government officials who have commented on this issue publicly all say that to send the Coast Guard or the BDF along with the Territorial Volunteers will have the effect of escalating any incident if one does occur. So, this afternoon, we asked Shoman, who is a former Foreign Affairs Minister, about that concern, and she asserted that it is ridiculous:

Hon. Lisa Shoman, PUP Senator
"That is utter rubbish. For years there have been link ups along the adjacency zone and those are always notified prior. This is not the adjacency zone and there is absolutely no reason why the Ministry of National Security cannot inform their counterparts in Guatemala and even offered to do the kind of link up that they do along the adjacency zone. I am saying that there is absolutely no reason to supposed that because Belizeans military forces are in Belizean waters, that there will be any incident. I am sure that of the Guatemalan armed forces cross over into Belizean territorial waters, that we have enough sense and prudence to speak to them calmly and inform them what we are doing. Which is that simply Belizeans are going to a part of Belize to make a statement."

Daniel Ortiz
"If I understand the toughest critics of this issue is that while the persons who lead this charge say its a patriotic effort, some have liken it to and that is what is to be taken as negative."

Hon. Lisa Shoman, PUP Senator
"What's next? The Ranguana Cayes, the Sapodilla Cayes? I have not before this made this kind of a move or made this kind of a statement. I am a careful person. I've spent 15 years of my life working through diplomatic channels on this issue. The reason I am going is because I feel very strongly that the time has come for us to make a statement, that when it comes to Belize, we will defend our sovereignty and our territorial integrity and if that means that Belizeans should be able to go to any part of Belize and raise their flag and sing their anthem, so be it."

"I spent years of my life trying to get Santa Rosa out of Belize. Ultimately we were successful. Ultimately that work paid off. I don't see any reason why a Belizean going to Sarstoon Island is a matter of aggression for anyone and I am going to give the Guatemalans the benefit of the doubt until they show me otherwise that they have aggressive intentions towards Belizeans."

As you heard in last night's interview, Wil Maheia explained that a part of the confrontation included a discussion between him, Orlando De La Fuente, and the boat captain. They were trying to decide whether or not to heed the call of the Guatemalan Navy when they were summoned to explain their presence in the area yesterday. The boat captain, who frequents the area regularly, convinced both men that the best thing to do was to concede and speak with the Guatemalans for fear of escalating the situation. Yesterday, our colleagues from CTV3 News asked De La Fuente to expand on that, and he said that he found it offensive, since he was in Belizean territory:

Orlando De La Fuente, member - BTV
"Upon entering Sarstoon Island, the Guatemalans have a marine base there and I personally think that we don't have to check in with the Guatemalans. But it's customary that all Belizean boats check in with the Guatemalan. The Belize government has taken no step to stop that practice or tell the Guatemalans to cease and desist and they insist that Belizeans boats check with them at the Guatemalan base. It's just a small pier. I told the captain to go, we don't have to check in with them, because we would not veer onto the Guatemalan side. But he says that we have to, that a situation could escalate if you didn't check in. So we actually stop at the pier and informed them that we were heading up the river a bit."

That's an issue that De La Fuente and Senator Lisa Shoman also have common ground on. When we asked her today about it, she was also outraged at the thought of being questioned by Guatemalans about movement in areas considered to be Belizean.

Not surprisingly, though Shoman and the UDP Government do not see eye to eye on her decision to go with the Territorial Volunteers this Sunday. A release from the Government calls it an outright Political Ploy.

A statement released from the Government today says, quote, "The Government expresses great consternation that Senator Shoman would join the excursion considering she has a particular role as the Opposition's representative on the bipartisan committee dealing with the Guatemalan territorial claim." End Quote.

The Government immediately puts distance between themselves and Shoman's venture saying, quote, "The Government advises the public that while Shoman is a senator she is not going on this visit to the Sarstoon in her capacity as a senator but, instead, as a private citizen. While she is trying to convey that she is going officially, Shoman has no authorization from the Senate. Similarly, she is not visiting the Sarstoon Island as a representative of the bipartisan committee." End Quote.

The end off by giving Shoman a stern scolding, saying, quote, "The Government views this as irresponsible of Senator Shoman and concludes that her actions are totally political. Her actions further demonstrate and expose the desperation of the Opposition to use this all important and deeply emotional national issue of the Belize/Guatemala border dispute for naked political gain." End Quote.