And while those are technicalities, at bottom, the dispute is over whether the Guatemalan Coast Guard's interception of the Belizean boat was an act of aggression or whether it was justified. Last week Thursday, we asked Prime Minister Dean Barrow where he stood on the matter. He told us that the Territorial Volunteers did veer into Guatemalan waters:

Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister
"These territorial volunteers man, really need to think carefully before they continue with the sorts of actions that, though well-meaning and though dressed up in the guise of patriotism and ascertain of sovereignty, really are not helpful and when you take innocent citizens on your so-called excursions, it just makes it impossible for government to feel comfortable about your activities. As I understand it, there is absolutely no doubt that they went, however unwittingly, into Guatemala. Colonel Lovell was familiar with the run of the river, so to speak, tell me that you go left after that plot of island in midstream - you are following an inlet, when you think you are coming back out into the river proper. You follow an inlet that takes you into Guatemala and that's precisely what happened. So, for them to talk about, no, we are always operating in exercise in our sovereignty, will not do when they are always in areas where even the professionals with their GPS and other instruments, can find themselves on the wrong side of the imaginary line, which is precisely the point, there is no defined boundary, there are no markers and in those circumstances, as I said though, well intentioned - they are not helping, in my view, the national cause, by doing what they are doing."

Jules Vasquez
"Sir, you will express no formal complaint when you meet your Guatemalan counterpart? Because, it was, yes, as you've said, they may have strayed, but man, it was unnecessary and actually imperil them for the Guatemalan Coast Guard, to do what they did and they did it just because they could."

Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister
"Well, again, I am not sure of the facts. I don't think you can ever sliced it in such a way, as not to express more than concern. So, as not to communicate some note of protest or some element of protest to the Guatemalans, arising from the towing of the vessel to Livingston."

The Captain claims that he was led down a wrong tributary by the expedition leader, and he only signed a document implicating himself so that the 36 other Belizeans could return back into the country safely.