Email

Print

Tonight, we've have that story for you:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
At around 10 a.m. yesterday, approximately 200+ persons gathered onto this pier in Barranco Village. They came from the Orange Walk and Belize Districts, spending anywhere between 3 and a half to 6 hours on the road.

On this Sunday, they were there to travel to Sarstoon Island and see for themselves a spit of land in a wide river that has become ground zero for the Belize Guatemala territorial dispute.

In Barranco, they were pleasantly surprised to find police officers Coast Guard personnel on site. They were there to ensure the safety of those boarding the boats heading to the landing zone, a sand bar with waist deep water, right before the mouth of the Sarstoon River.

The Coast Guard's lead officer for the day took an opportunity to brief the gathering that they were there to ensure that life vests were worn, and that none of the 5 boats making the trip would be overloaded.

Coast Guard Officer
"We want to go through preventative measures for your safety. No overcrowding of the vessels. The vessel can take 20 persons, cooperate and I believe there will be one vessel that will be making several trips. So everybody is here to support, we understand that, but we want to be safe at the same time."

Also, they conducted a firearms checkpoint just to be sure that no one was armed if they encountered the Guatemalan military.

But, for this trip, the Coast Guard's Boston Whaler, with armed officers, would not move from its position out in the sea in front of Barranco Village. They were under orders from the Government to observe, and handle citizen safety due to the rough seas, but they were not to accompany the expedition because contact between the two militaries could become deadly.

So, the 5 boats loaded up with passengers and set off to the landing area at the Sarstoon's mouth. Several trips were made back and forth, so that everyone who had made prior arrangements could get out there. In the end, though, only 160 - at $25 dollars a head - could make the trip, because any more than that and the boats would be overloaded.

At the landing area, the persons who had made the expedition gathered for a patriotic ceremony. The leaders were pleased with the turnout, but they would have wanted more:

Orlando De La Fuente - Co-Leader, Sarstoon Expedition
"If you think that we have a population of like 350,000 and we have 160 shows up - it's poor. I mean I really would have expected like a ground swell, but we are very grateful for the Belizeans that did show up. They didn't show up here because it's easy, because you could be at home watching TV, watching a game or barbeque. But the ones that are here are patriotic and we really appreciate it. It says a lot."

Nancy Marin, Travelled to Sarstoon River Mouth
"I am happy about the number of persons that came out. I think it's a pretty good turnout for the distance that everybody had to travel to be here. It is a good show. I was hoping to get closer to the island, but I guess this is the point where we can all stand. It is very important that Belizeans stand up, especially for this area. It's a very strategic military area and there are more reasons that one why Guatemala is claiming it."

But, from our observation, this chosen location in the water looked more like a swimming trip, than a high impact statement. It was a bit tough to get into character for the serious role that they had gathered for, yet, the importance was not lost on anyone.

Efrain Alpuche - Travelled to Sarstoon River Mouth
"Standing here is quite a pleasure. This is serious fun, but it's necessary to be done. It's about high time I think as Belizeans we stand together and make a stand about our patrimony - about our natural heritage and such. So standing here is worth the while."

Richard Dickie Bradley - Travelled to Sarstoon River Mouth
"Glenn Tillett and my son Richard, we have come along to support what Wil Maheia and the Territorial Volunteers are doing, because in the face of Guatemala's ramping up their harassment of our citizens - it is important to remember that while the island is in dispute, while they say it belongs to them or they are claiming it and we say it has always belong to us, we inherited it, in the meantime why we should not be able to come here."

Geovannie Brackett - Travelled to Sarstoon River Mouth
"A couple of us have made it out here from COLA and we are here to represent, we are here to support the cause to Wil and Orlando, has been advocating for. I think the support we've seen here today, clearly indicates that not only is this issue taken traction, but its having a massive wave of support and I think it's also a symbolism of that while many of us have lost faith in our political leadership, we have not lost faith in ourselves and the people are out here today in more than defiance, but is out here to say that you know what, if the government won't defend - we will."

Marcel Cardona - Travelled to Sarstoon River Mouth
"When we say we are Belizean we have to be proud of who we are. Proud of our national identity, proud of being part of this 8,867 square miles."

All around, Guatemalan Boats, some for the military, one for Guatemalan press, and two for teams representing the Organization of American States, moored in different locations. There was even a gunboat which resembled the one which ran aground a few months ago on Belize's barrier reef. One look at the military presence reminded that as beautiful a location as it was, this was no pleasure trip. Guatemala was playing for keeps.

Richard Dickie Bradley - Travelled to Sarstoon River Mouth
"It is an interesting thing that our government is telling us 'don't go there, it is dangerous, it is aggravating the situation, it is a place in dispute.' But they are not claiming only the Sarstoon Island, they are claiming Toledo. They are claiming Stann Creek, they are claiming all the southern part of our country from the river Sarstoon down to where we are. So the logic of that argument "don't go to Sarstoon Island, because it is a part of the dispute" then we should not come to PG."

Glenn Tillett - Travelled to Sarstoon River Mouth
"I was born a few miles up the coast from behind Monkey River. I've been coming to southern Belize nearly all my life. If you come to the Sarstoon area, to these areas, you will see more Guatemalans than Belizeans. I believe that possession is nine tenths of the law. We do not come to these areas regularly. We will lose them. There is one of the reasons I am here today."

Jose Novelo - Travelled to Sarstoon River Mouth
"I have gone to Gracias Adios, the last time when the 37 of us were taken to Livingston and we were made to suffer a night there. Well I decided to come back again and study these Guatemalans."

Audrey Matura-Shepherd - Travelled to Sarstoon River Mouth
"I just thought it was important to lend solidarity and support to the group and I was ask if I would be in the background to help, should anything arise. But clearly nothing will happen, because I think kudos to the Belize Territorial Volunteer especially those who travelled from Orange Walk and organize such a big contingency. Kudos to them for standing their ground, despite all the intimidation, despite all the press releases against them - despite everything. They are standing strong and I think that it was just appropriate that if they ask me for my help to just come in the background."

Hon. Lisa Shoman - Travelled to Sarstoon River Mouth
"I don't see that there is anything that will be on toward happening here. I think that there is one Guatemalan military boat that I saw, but it was well within Guatemalan waters and I don't expect that we will have any incidents today. The worse that will happen is we will get a bad sun burn."

But, the Senator could not have foretold that as soon as the Belizeans left this location, the Guatemalans immediately stepped up and confronted them on how far they could go uncontested.

About 3 and a half hours later, Coast Guard commander John Borland pensively observed from a clearing far removed from the Barranco Pier. When he was satisfied that the Belizean citizens were all safe, he left the location, no doubt informed that a confrontation had taken place on the water - an area that they are most at home - but today - they had to play an observer's role.

As we said earlier in the news, we'll have the Government's side for you tomorrow.