And so, now that the government has announced that it has, quote, "a contingency plan to try to deal with all possible consequences" - what does that mean for the Coast Guard? They're the ones tasked with keeping Belizeans safe on the sea - but as you just heard, it's the BDF that knows how to handle the Guatemalans in the Sarstoon. The Commander of the Belize Defence Force has already said that they cannot accompany these civilians because their presence could be an aggravating factor.
And what about the Belize Coast Guard? That's what we asked the commander, Admiral John Borland today:
Admiral John Borland, Commander, Belize National Coast Guard
"I've seen that latter and as you've said you were hoping that I would entertain you. Unfortunately I can't. The government of Belize has given its position on this matter, on this issue. I go with what my civilian leadership decides. As you know we are a discipline armed organization, we follow orders and we go by the policies of those that we have committed to support in our duty as a member of a military force."
Reporter
"Sir, do you know whether or not the government had decided to send the coast guard along?"
Admiral John Borland
"The last I have heard when I saw the news last night, there hasn't been any decision to send the coast guard on any mission to support in escorting or providing cover for those people going in on that expedition. I believe that there may be a need to provide for maritime safety, as we saw the last time a expedition went where they went despite a small craft warning and those vessels were overloaded. I believe that that's a role that we will be able to play, but it does not involve or include any form of support in form an escort or providing cover for the people going in to do the Sarstoon Island expedition."
Reporter
"Would you advise against it?"
Admiral John Borland
"I, as I said go along with what my government position's is. We heard the minister speak just yesterday. We heard the general speak on it and I am not going to go against what they have said."
Daniel Ortiz
"Do you appreciate this entire move, so to speak, was sort of a righteous indignation on behalf of the coast guard who went on that reconnaissance mission and were confronted. Do you accept that that is an element of this trip?"
Admiral John Borland
"I don't know if it's a consequence of what the coast guard did a couple months ago. We were on a mission, missions are handed down to us from national Security Council. Strategy and policy comes from that direction and we execute. We are operators."
Again, in the release from the security council today, the wording says, that that government has put in place, quote, "a contingency plan to try to deal with all possible consequences."
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