P.M. Barrow on Guatemalan Presidency and Territorial Dispute

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Dean Barrow

omedian turned Guatemalan politician Jimmy Morales shocked that nation by winning the first round of elections in early September. He will be facing Sandra Torres in a second round on October twenty-fifth which will determine who will be the next President in Guatemala. Morales’ victory in the first round would be just a point of interest, but the fact is that of the three candidates, Morales shows the most interest in actively pursuing Guatemala’s territorial claim on Belize. The Prime Minister told News Five that while they’re watching the situation, it’s not a real concern just yet.

Dean Barrow, Prime Minister

 “Let’s wait and see. I don’t know that he will necessarily win, but again let us be absolutely clear. The timing of our general elections has to do with our local circumstances. There is no external element or consideration that figured in our timing. We’ll deal with what happens when it happens. He’s made some statements or at least one statement that is troubling, but I am hoping that if he does win the Guatemalan foreign policy establishment, the Guatemalan political elite and certainly the international community will make absolutely clear to that gentleman that any notion of pursuing their claim in a way that is disruptive of the good relations between Belize and Guatemala, that is threatening to Belize simply will not be tolerated. So I am sure that we’ll be able to deal with that situation if and when it occurs.”