The latest Sarstoon encounter unfolded with Rear Admiral Gregory Soberanis on board a vessel near the forward operating base, as Belize Coast Guard personnel stood their ground despite being outnumbered. The repeated confrontations raise serious concerns about security along the southern border. Today in Orange Walk, Prime Minister John Briceño voiced concern over the growing frequency of these encounters while praising Coast Guard officers for keeping their composure and maintaining professionalism.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Well certainly it is of great concern to all Belizeans, including us as a government. And I have to commend the BDF, because on the way they act with such professionalism, because the reality is that we can’t afford a flare up whereby people start a fight out there, because it is obvious Guatemala is eighteen million. We are fourteen thousand, a physical fight. But we can win that fight diplomatically and in the courts. And that is exactly what we are doing at this moment.”
Reporter
“As you concerned that as a matter of force, we know the Sarstoon is ours, but we have essentially lost it because military and civilians like the BTV are prohibited from entering that side of the Sarstoon?”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Well, we have not lost the Sarstoon. We just continue to stand our ground. But there are instances when these boats are in front of us with a guns and what do you want us to do. We have to face reality. But we are very confident that we continue to win the war diplomatically. I made it known in the UN. We go to the OAS. We go to our friends like the Americans and the European Unions and the UK, Canada. I was at the heads of the commonwealth meeting in Antigua and Barbuda. I brought up the concerns. They took out in their communications, support for Belize. So, we continue to win on the diplomatic front. And I have every confidence that in the courts we will also win. We have been discussing with the Americans, the UN, and the EU and all our partners that one of the important things is that once that vase is over will be the implementation. We have to ensure that Guatemala lives by the ruling of the courts.”
Reporter
“I know you went in 2016, would you go again?”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Of course, I would go.”
Reporter
“Soon?”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I don’t know if soon, but I would go, depending on my agenda.”
Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.
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