So, while the teachers gave it to Elrington during the question and answer session, Assad Shoman challenged the teachers to make two decisions which he thinks are in the best interest of resolving the Guatemala territorial Claim.
It is by now well known that as part of the education system in Guatemala, they teach "Belize es Nuestro" in their primary schools. Well, Shoman is requesting that the the territorial dispute be made a permanent part of the education system in Belize
Here's how he put it to them during his presentation:
Ambassador Assad Shoman - Opposition representative
"It would be a great outcome of this campaign, if your union, I'm going to make a proposal to you now, can pass resolution at your next convention demanding that the Ministry of Education put the Guatemalan claim on the curriculum. Don't just stand there and see your country sovereignty and integrity chipped away, do something about it. Let's move on. I want to suggest to pass another resolution asking the House of Representative to amend the referendum act which now says that by any referendum at least 60 percent of the people have to go and vote. Doesn't matter if you have more than 50 percent agree, if 60 percent of the people who register to vote don't vote then the referendum is no good. That is against democracy man. I thought democracy meant the majority. We are stuck with that law now and the Guatemalan government is using it against us saying to the international community that referendums would not be fair because in one country the majority and in the other country you need 60 percent to go and vote and the international community is beginning to support that position because that's logic. We are giving Guatemala a stick to beat us. If the Guatemalan government can succeed and it is trying, to paint us as the stubborn party, because we refuse to abide by the United Nations charter and take our dispute to the ICJ. If they succeed in that, our pork will roast."
Daniel Ortiz
"Sir are those resolutions in your mind things that you would want to support?"
Luke Palacio - National President, BNTU
"Definitely a number of the resolutions are in line with what BNTU is taking as a part of its Stand Up for Belize campaign, but again, like I said those would have to be articulated and then we will formulate the resolutions presented in... again like I said if the council determines that a special conference needs to be called to determine a passage of such or the presentation of such resolution then obviously have to go to our branches, sensitize them, so that when their delegates come to the special conference they would be voting according to their brace members would have indicated."
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