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The meeting lasted for just over an hour, and when they exited, we spoke with the Leader, Giovanni Antonio De La Fuente. Here's what he said about how the conversation with PM went:

Antonio De la Fuente - Leader, Northern Territorial Volunteer
"We came here and we met with the Prime Minister and we briefed him on the goals and objectives of the NTV and as you well know the goals and objectives on the NTV (I don't have to tell you again), but I would just briefly outlined - it relates to educating the Belizean people about their border markers. More specifically, the western border markers between Guatemala and Belize. So the Prime Minister has been enlightened and briefed about the goals and objectives of the NTV and we discussed the area of education and we both agreed that more needs to be done in the country of Belize to educate especially the primary school, high school and all students in Belize. More needs to be done by the Education Department to educate the Belizean people about the history of Belize and the border markers of Belize."

"The Prime Minister has indicated that he recognizes the need and the Ministry of Education will be encouraged to do more in educating Belize about their history and border markers."

Reporter
"Did you discussed with the Prime Minister any future trips to particularly the Sarstoon Island area?"

Antonio De la Fuente
"Listen, our group the NTV is limited in its scope. We as a group are not mandated to be doing all kinds things. Our only function is to take Belizeans to their border markers and try to educate Belizeans about their border markers on the western front of Belize. So we explained our determination to the Prime Minister that these field trips or expeditions will not stop. We will continue and we will continue to work with any Belizean group that is willing to participate in these activities."

So, since Sarstoon has become a heated and somewhat volatile location, will the De La Fuentes be going back there to assert their patriotism? That's what we asked Antonio De La Fuente, and here's what he had to say:

Antonio De la Fuente - Leader, Northern Territorial Volunteer
"Most definitely we have not compromise our position. We will not stop in our process of taking Belizeans to their border and so Prime Minister is knowledgeable of that fact and he knows that we will continue these trips."

Daniel Ortiz
"The Gracias Adios border marker which you have to pass through Sarstoon River, that is a area that is currently according to the general, a hot zone right now because of the activities of the BTV. Will you be making any trips in that general area?"

Antonio De la Fuente
"The NTV would love to make the next trip, a trip to the Gracias Adios area, because as you well know in February 27th, we install a plaque on that monument and the plaque has been stolen and removed and we informed the Prime Minister that that plaque needs to be replaced. But it is not an easy feet. First of all, nobody supports this group monetarily. The first thing we need to do is raise funds and get another plaque and these plaques cost over one thousand dollars. So, if you find somebody that is able and willing to donate another plaque, immediately that will speed us up on returning to that area. But to return to that area we need several thousand dollars."

Daniel Ortiz
"Do you take the point that the general has made that going to Gracias Adios which you passed through the Sarstoon River, passed the Sarstoon Island will put their soldiers at risks? Do you accept that point?"

Antonio De la Fuente
"Of course I do. It not only puts the soldiers at risk, it puts everybody at risk. But as we outlined to the Prime Minister, there comes a time in your country when the military is called upon to do its duty that they have sworn to do and when that time comes, the military will have to stand up. But you cannot take away from the fact that in most countries that have gone through trials and tribulations, the people, the ordinary citizens have also, the government needs to take into effect that the ordinary people can also be counted on and we made him quite cognizant of the fact that the NTV as well other organizations in Belize has shown that they are ready and more than willing to stand for Belize."

Mike Rudon, CH5
"Do you accept the government's position that it is directly because of the BTV, that aggression in the southern area near the Sarstoon has increased? The BDF Commander went so far as to say that it was never that way before. They were never intercepted before until the BTV went to that area."

Antonio De la Fuente
"As far as I know the BDF has been intercepted many times before. And so I don't think that it's a cause for our movement in that area that the aggression has stepped up. It seems to me that they have over many years been aggressing Belize."

There is, however, an unusual development coming from the meeting between the Prime Minister and the Northern Territorial Volunteers. Last night, while listening to PM Barrow discuss the activities of the Belize Territorial Volunteers, it sounded like while he understands their feelings of patriotism, he would really prefer if they would stop due to the headache that it gives to the Government while trying to maintain friendly diplomatic relations with Guatemala. But, it appears the Prime Minister is willing to assist the Northern Territorial Volunteers on their visits to Garbutts Falls in the West and Aguas Turbias in the north. Here's how De La Fuente explained the proposal that he will make to his fellow members of the National Security Council at the next meeting:

Antonio De la Fuente - Leader, Northern Territorial Volunteer
"We did explained to and we told him that it's quite possible in a few weeks the NTV will be embarking on another expedition to the Garbutt Falls border monument which is in Benque Viejo area. The Prime Minister has committed himself that at the next meeting of the National Security Council which should be occurring in September, he will present to the members and ask as of that point and in the future they should be finding and looking at different ways how they can assists the NTV and BTV as they visit two different border markers and these two markers that the Prime Minister is speaking about are the Tres Banderas border marker and the Garbutt Falls border marker. So the Prime Minister has stated that at the next meeting of the National Security Council, he will be bringing it up to them and asking for a vote and if it is a positive vote, the details will be worked out and at that point and in the future whenever there is a another field trip planned for these areas and is this group requests their assistance, which we always do, they would be more active than they have been in the past."