7 News Belize

Wilfred Ready To Work
posted (October 26, 2015)
On last week Friday's newscast, we showed you a portion of our interview with Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington the two term representative for Pickstock. It was our first opportunity after weeks and weeks of trying to speak with him about the controversies he had to face late this year on the Sarstoon issue and the flare up between Belize and Guatemala.

Tonight, we have part two of that interview in which he discussed with us how his critics have been unrelenting in their attempts to convince the public that he is a failed foreign minister. For context, we pick up the conversation with Elrington where he was commenting on whether or not he would want the Foreign Affairs Ministry if he is re-elected to office. Here's that back and forth:

Daniel Ortiz
"If he decides to give you foreign ministry again, will you consider it? Will you take it on given that that you've been one of those foreign ministers who seems to be embattled?"

Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"It's a myth. I am not embattled."

Daniel Ortiz
"But sir, every time you speak, people feel as though you've put your foot in your mouth."

Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"A small group of uninformed people in the media and outside. It is not a popular sentiment. It's a myth to suggest that in fact I am putting my feet in my mouth. How can one be wrong by doing the right thing?"

Daniel Ortiz
"So what do you make of the criticism that you often speak and sound as an apologist for Guatemala and not representing the sentiments of the hot blooded Belizeans?"

Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"Those are people who are mis-informed and ill-informed. A diplomat role is to make peace and harmony. I am not in the military to go and fight and kill anybody. My role is to make peace and harmony."

Daniel Ortiz
"Let's draw comparison between yourself and the Prime Minister. He is perceived as someone who speaks very measured, intelligently and carefully. Because he is considering all the implications of his comments. But whenever he speaks, there is a clear line drawn in the sand - that this is what our position is. Some have taken the position that you have never drawn a line in the sand and it always comes across as though you are slowly conceding on all of the points which Belizeans believe are supposed to be strength of this country."

Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"Let me tell you. I am on record as being the only foreign minister who in 2013 went to the United Nations and called out the Guatemalans for having their people coming across panning in our rivers, killing our animals, destroying our ruins. No other foreign minister ever did that - ever did that. That was no act of apology. That was no act of appeasement. That's was in fact a clear explorations of the Guatemalans and they took measures immediately to cease and desist from doing."

"I would have no hesitation if I were to say something as foreign minister that had a negative or inimical impact on my country, to tender my resignation to the Prime Minister."

Daniel Ortiz
"I am saying the negative response from the public..."

Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"I am saying that if I was to do something wrong - that is genuinely wrong, the public would be outraged and the public were outraged, I would tender my resignation to the Prime Minister. I would not wait around."

IN related news, there is a new president ELECT in Guatemala. Political newcomer and former TV comedian Jimmy Morales received 2.7 million votes or 68.7% of the ballots cast yesterday in the second round of the elections.

He defeated his opponent Sandra Torres, a former first lady, who had the battle the widespread perception that she was connected to the old power establishment, which saw President Otto Perez Molina being jailed for allegations of corruption.

His rise to the presidential office is especially notable for Belize because he has publicly shared his view that the Belize Guatemala territorial dispute needed to be a priority for all Guatemala Citizens. That suggests that that Guatemala's foreign policy could become more aggressive with Morales as President.

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