But the PUP is not convinced. The Party issued a release today condemning the new law – which marks a change of course for the party after it had been taking a bi-partisan approach to Belize-Guatemala affairs. But, according to a statement from the PUP today, Opposition Leader John Briceno told the Prime Minister Dean Barrow, quote, "that the PUP does not support this draconian measure."
The statement says the party is appalled at the new law, which it calls, "retrograde and highly prejudicial."
The party warns, quote, "preventing Belizeans from entering Belize's portion of (the Sarstoon)…may be viewed in law as acquiescence by Belize to Guatemala's assertion of sovereignty over the entire Sarstoon." It adds, 
quote, "the regulation only serves to embolden Guatemala and harden its resolve to assert sovereignty over the entire Sarstoon." End quote.
And the release goes further, it calls it an act of "cowardice" for the Government to threaten to arrest those wanting to go down the Sarstoon when, quote, "Guatemalans illegally pour over our Western border every day committing a range of illegalities, pillaging our resources and damaging our environment." The release adds that the Government has failed to consider those Belizeans who go up and down the river everyday to earn a living.
The statement concludes by saying that the "legality and constitutionality of the Regulation is highly suspect," and calls on the government to, quote, "Declare whether the Regulation will be equally and impartially enforced against Guatemalans who enter into Belize's portion of the Sarstoon River; and 
Immediately rescind the unpatriotic Regulation."
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