In fact, border tensions between Belize and Guatemala have been steadily increasing since February of last year.

It started with the arbitrary detention of the Northern Territorial Volunteers while they were returning from their trip to the Gracias a Dios border marker on February 28 of last year. To get there, one has to travel through the Sarstoon River, and the Guatemalan military accused the Belizean civilians of making an incursion into their territorial waters on their way there. They were escorted to Livingston, Guatemala, detained there, and it took the intervention of the Belizean Government to get them back home.

From Sarstoon to the Chiquibul, on April 26, FCD rangers caught Guatemalan Xatero David Alvisures Cheche inside the Chiquibul. He was detained without incident, and he was arrested, charged and arraigned.

About a month later, on May 28, Coast Guard Officers had to stand their ground on the Sarstoon Island when the Guatemalan Military confronted them and demanded that they leave it. They were there to conduct a reconnaissance mission to find the best location to put the now completed Sarstoon Forward Operating Base.

On June 11th, a Guatemalan gunboat got stuck on Belize's reef. It was removed without penalty.

Shortly after that, on the weekend of June 13, 5 Punta Gorda men were arrested in Santa Cruz, Guatemala, a village which is right across the border from Jalacte. They claimed that the detention was hostile, and arbitrary. They were released without charges

And then, on August 15, there was that infamous confrontation between the Guatemalan military and the Belize Territorial Volunteers at the mouth of the Sarstoon. Belize sent a diplomatic protest note to point out to the Guatemalan Government that their military made an incursion in Belizean territory. The Guatemalan Government responded by saying it's actually their territory.

A few days later, border activist Wil Maheia took the press to the Sarstoon once again, where the cameras caught the Guatemalan Navy pursuing the BDF vessel carrying the change-over detachment from the Cadenas Conservation Post.

Shortly after that, the National Security Ministry commissioned a report from the BDF to examine the recent history of conflict on the Sarstoon. That report revealed a 10 year pattern of aggression, which the BDF concluded was calculated at provoking an armed conflict.

In November 2015, the FCD rangers caught 3 Guatemalans illegally farming in the Chiquibul. Again they were detained, and arrested and charged.

Then, on February 27th, the Territorial Volunteers attempted to go back into the Sarstoon River, but they were blockaded by the Guatemalan military, which is based at the mouth of the Sarstoon.

A few days later, on March 4th, the BDF were in the Chiquibul doing marijuana eradication when 2 Guatemalans shot at them. That happened during the day, and the officers were able to disarm one of the men by shooting him in the leg. The other armed Guatemalan was detained without incident because he surrendered after realizing that he was surrounded.

10 days later on March 14th, the BDF reported that the Guatemalan Navy confronted them at the Forward Operating Base on the bank of the Sarstoon river. Belize protested that through the diplomatic channels, and it triggered bilateral talks in Washington DC.

Four days later on March 18th, the FCD rangers caught 2 Guatemalan men illegally farming in the Chiquibul in an area known as Cohune Ridge. They were arrested and charged without incident.

On March 29th., BDF Staff Sergeant Lambey was shot by unknown bandits in the Chiquibul.

Then, on April 6th, conservation group SATIIM reported that they were stopped and questioned by the Guatemalan Navy on a river patrol.