In our first segment we told you about the Sarstoon Forward Operating Base, where we've learned that there's no Coast Guard presence. That facility was introduced as the Joint Forces Forward Operating Base, but since it was officially opened, we understand that the Coast Guard doesn't have a regular patrol placed there.
Now, the Coast Guard is responsible for enforcement of the laws on the territorial waters. That includes curbing the illegal fishing which continues unchecked on Belize's coast just north of the Sarstoon Base.
So, we asked the National Security CEO if and when the Coast Guard will have a regular deployment at the base. Here's how he answered that one:
Reporter
"The Forward Operating Base at the mouth of the Sarstoon River, we understand only accommodates for the Belize Defence Force personnel as well as a single police officer. There seems to be no room for the Coast Guard. Can you explain to us what went wrong there seeing as though it was built as a joint operating base?"
George Lovell - CEO, Ministry of National Security
"Well Isani, nothing went wrong actually. My understanding is that the Coast Guard needs to have a team that can operate as a team at that location. I am currently working with the commander of the Belize Defence Force to see how we can accommodate that. They had initially two people placed out there, but they cannot operate with two people - that is the Coast Guard. Certainly it is the Ministry of National Security's intention for us to have a joint base we had intended for it to be."
Daniel Ortiz
"Illegal fishing that takes place in that particular location continues unabated and the absence in this particular instance of the Coast Guard seems as though it's an oversight. Shouldn't we have been there already enforcing Belize's laws in that location?"
George Lovell - CEO, Ministry of National Security
"It's not an oversight. Coast Guard were out there for a very short time, but they cannot operate with just two people. They need to have the right compliment for them to be effective in carrying out their mandate. As you know the military and the Coast Guard, they will have two separate mandate while they are out there. The Coast Guard will enforce all those fisheries regulations and everything else that are north of the Forward Operating Base, while the military will be looking after what occurs along the Sarstoon."
But, while that is the official explanation, our information is that the issue is more complex than that where the commanders of these two armed forces have very different outlooks on Sarstoon engagements with the Guatemalans.
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