7 News Belize

Cabinet Ends Sarstoon Ban Early
posted (May 24, 2016)
Now we've all heard that so many times before, so if you're scratching your head and wondering what's the real takeaway from the meeting, well…maybe the Prime Minister knows. He's the chair of the National Security Council and the report he got seems to have given him confidence about the way ahead. Shortly after the joint releases went out, another Government release arrived announcing that the 30-day ban on the Sarstoon is over - the S.I. has been pulled a few days early. This release says quote, "the Government of Belize has asked the Governor General…to sign a Statutory Instrument revoking, with immediate effect, the Sarstoon Prohibition SI." End quote.

The release then goes unto say, quote, "While the formal mechanism is being worked on, the two sides have informally accepted a situation in which there will be untrammeled traffic for Belize's military and civilians along the Sarstoon." End quote.

Now that's very different than the very plain language of the joint release, as it suggests that all the antics and intimidation by The Guatemalan military in the Sarstoon will come to an end, and Belizean vessels, the BDF included will be able to go up the river without harassment.

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