Shifting now to international affairs, Belize’s Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington spoke at the OAS Permanent Council two weeks ago. He and his Guatemalan counterpart Sandra Jovel both made a pitch to the international community that they were serious about taking the Belize Guatemala dispute to the ICJ.
The first concrete proof of this is Guatemala’s decision to hold a referendum in mid - April. Belize has committed to do the same later this year - but it will have to do so without Ambassador Stuart Leslie. He is the coordinator of the International Boundaries Unit - which is in charge of public education on the ICJ effort - leading to a referendum.
But even as the referendum effort is gathering steam - Leslie is leaving the Ministry. Today Elrington discussed the parallel developments starting with the Guatemalan effort
Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Belize
"And so yes the entire intention is very serious. Guatemala seems to be resolved to deal with this issue of the claim at the ICJ and they have been putting their money where their mouth is. They have been spending lots of money to get the referendum done and they are doing all the right things in that regard it's only now for us to do the same and we are working on it assiduously."
Reporter
"We are told that Mr. Stewart Leslie is no longer a part of the referendum unit can you confirm or speak to that?"
Hon. Wilfred Elrington
"Yeah I can speak to that. Actually Stewart had come to me maybe 3 weeks to a month ago and said to me he was being pressured actually by people in his own party as to were... disengage, so he had to make a decision as to what he would do - whether he would stay with is or go with the leader of the opposition. Stewart is first and foremost a general of the People's United Party, we knew that all the time but Prime Minister and myself have very great regard for him. You don't often find people who are honest and competent and really nationalistic and I think Stewart is one of them."
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