And one of the many topics he may choose to explore is the recent encounter that the Belize Territorial Volunteers had with the Guatemalan Armed Forces at Sarstoon River.
We showed you how the volunteers held their second annual Sarstoon Island Eco-Challenge and got the attention of the Guatemalan Navy when they took a patriotic stance on Sarstoon Island where they sang the Belizean National Anthem.
Belizeans were incensed by images of the Guatemalans attempting to restrict the movement the eco-challenge participants and the Tide vessel which had Coast Guard officers.
Well, keeping to PUP Party line, the Opposition laid blame at the foot of the Barrow Administration:
Dalila Ical - Love News
"Your position as to the recent events at the Sarstoon River?"
Hon. John Briceno - Leader of the Opposition
"I think that is just a progression of what has taken place since the UDP has gotten into Government. I think for misconstrued idea, or I don't know what, the Government believes that by appeasing Guatemala, that they could get Guatemala to the negotiating table, and could get Guatemala to back off. And we see that appeasement does not work. Half of the Sarstoon River, coming north, belongs to us, including Sarstoon Island, and these soldiers had absolutely no excuse, absolutely no reason to be there, but to just to try and intimidate us, and to try to make the point that they own that land, or they own that portion of the river. When you look at what is happening also - now that has taken all the attention, but when you look at what is happening to the Chiquibul National Park and Forest Reserve, it is even more alarming at the right that the Guatemalans are coming into our territory. They are cleaning out the forest. They are starting to have cattle farms. They are planting corn, and in some instances, they are planting even marijuana. And I feel that the Government just sits back quietly, hoping and praying for a miracle. That miracle is not going to come, unless we as Belizeans take a serious stand, and the Government, this UDP Government - and I hold them personally responsible for what is happening - they also need to get their act going. When you have the Foreign Minister saying that we don't have internationally recognized borders, and the Prime Minister remains quiet about it, it seems that he is sort of accepting what the Foreign Minister is saying."
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