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In the top segment, you heard our interviews with both Brigadier General David Jones and National Security Minister John Saldivar about Guatemala’s rejection of Belize’s 11 point proposal. You also saw the official opening of the Forward Operating Base at the mouth of the Sarstoon. Now while all that was happening at the Sarstoon, simultaneously at the western border there was a special ceremony at the OAS Adjacency Zone in honor of the Secretary General Luis Almagro’s first visit to Belize. Courtney Weatherburne was there for the ceremony but she also delved deeper to the parallel that exists in regards to the Belize Guatemala dispute. Here is her story.  

For Belizeans and Guatemalans, passing this western border crossing is almost an everyday occurrence. The visitors are already accustomed to the immigration signs, and basic protocols at the passport security booths. Although from the outside it might not reflect that easy and open passage, right beyond this barbed wired gate and these stop signs, Kids from both countries swayed and sung for peace.

This special show was held at the Belize – Guatemala Adjacency Zone office – and it was all for Secretary General Luis Almagro’s first visit to Belize

Magdalena Talamas - Secretary General’s Rep.
"This specific programme today was organised to honour the presence of the Secretary General of the OAS who is the first and only Secretary General who has actually visited the office in the adjacency zone."

The event showcased the live and flavourful sound of the Benque Viejo Marimba band

To the deep bellows of drums, and the Punta show down by the Ugundani Folkloric group

Now apart from commemorating Secretary General Almagro’s visit, these performances also promote the OAS’s culture of peace project. It was launched in 2009 and since then over 2,000 kids from both Belize and Guatemala have been benefitting from this project.

Magdalena Talamas - Secretary General’s Rep.
"The objective was to bring students, children, local youth together under one roof to partake in different workshops. But not only to promote talent and vocational skills but rather to promote the universal values of friendship and tolerance and brotherhood and over the years these children that have been working together; they've grown up together, they become friends, they look at each other no longer with apprehension and mistrust. But they learn from each other and they do things together and this is the objective that we wanted to accomplish and we're not only I think our goal but surpass our expectations."

And it is that same warm, jovial spirit of camaraderie that overtook the Secretary General, other delegates, our own Governor General and the entire crowd.

H.E. Luis Almagro - Secretary General, OAS
"I can tell you because very touching into my feelings. It's something so powerful, so nice, so humble, so powerful like their painting, like their music; the proximity, the warmth of the people that we have felt today."

But it seems that warm and welcoming feeling is confined only to this border crossing and Adjacency zone.

Over the past couple months; there have been several hostile confrontations between the Guatemalan Armed Forces and the Belize Territorial Volunteers on the Sarstoon River. Not to mention the aggressive standoff’s between the GAF and the Belize Defence Force in Belizean waters.

Tensions also escalated when Staff Sergeant Richard Lambey was shot on March 26th in the Caracol Archaeological Reserve. These are just a few of many aggressive encounters between Belize and Guatemala on the Sarstoon and along the border –dating back to 2006.

But regardless of how alarming this history of violence is, Belize maintains that both countries are at peace and that the only way to solve the Belize Guatemala dispute is through friendly exchanges and diplomatic means. Minister of National Security John Saldivar underscored that approach in his April 7th interview.

April 7th, 2016

Hon. John Saldivar - Minister of National Security
"There is not a military solution to what is happening here. We've got to continue to plow away at the diplomatic solution and that's what we're doing in the strongest possible terms. We are trying to make sure that we maintain the support of all our brothers and sister nations that have previously supported our independence and our continued territorial integrity and sovereignty, using the diplomatic channels. I am hopeful that we'll be able to resolve this."

And our Guatemalan counterparts share that same hope – that through programs like the culture of peace, a favourable and nonviolent solution can be found between both countries."