7 News Belize

Sore Sight On Belize Side Of Sarstoon
posted (April 20, 2016)

And while the drone was just a brief annoyance, the really sore sight on the Sarstoon today was the amassing of Guatemalan Navy Vessels clearly on the Belize side of the river – which seemed to be calculated very clearly as an affront. 

But, depending on who we spoke to, their presence was described as either suitable vigilance, or an illegal incursion. Here's what National Security Personnel told us:

Daniel Ortiz
"Were the Guatemalans invited for this particular opening ceremony sir? I ask because there is the concern that the presence that you see from the Guatemalan boats is somewhat watchful and the suggestion is if they are not invited here, they incurring."

Brig Gen. David Jones - Commander, BDF
"No, they are not invited here. We are in Belize; this is an event that is orchestrated by Belize. It's only fitting that they will be watchful, it's an international boundary so even goes in to this river, more than likely is it a possibility they will incurred into Guatemalan waters. So they are doing what is expected of them, they are supposed to be around here, they are supposed to be watchful. If something was occurring over on the Guatemalan side, we of course would also be watchful doing the same thing as they are."

Reporter
"The Guatemalan military vessels were within Belizean territorial waters as were fishermen. What is the procedure? Will the coast guard send a report to the ministry and asked for it to be followed up through the diplomatic channels, what happens?

Adm. John Borland - Commandant, Belize National Coast Guard
"The reporting lines are never circumvented. Whatever happens has to be addressed jointly so the security forces on a whole produced their reports and submit those reports to the Ministry of National Security, they make it to the National Security Council and also to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and it's from there the decision is made on what actions are to be taken. Clearly again you are absolutely right that we can see the Guatemalan vessels as we speak in our sea spaces. I don't know what the arrangements are for this particular event, I don't know if that is an invitation, if they have the authority to be here, I will need to speak with my counterpart the commander of the Belize Defence Force to see what the real situation is with them being so near clearly in our sea space."

Mike Rudon - Channel 5 News
"Now looking out there we see Guatemalan armed forces. All that is left for them is to come on and tour the forward operating base. Do you feel that is a direct act of aggression or at least an insult to us doing this today?"

Hon. John Saldivar - Minister of National Security
"I think we would be naive to assume that the Guatemalans do not claim Belize and as a result they act accordingly. We say Belize is ours and we act accordingly so that is why we refer to it as an area of conflict but we will stand our ground in terms of defending our territorial integrity and sovereignty."

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