Sarstoon FOB Nears Completion
The Belize/Guatemala dispute is currently front and center of all national discourse, with special attention given to the Sarstoon where the Guatemalans are insisting that their permission is required to enter the area. There’s some welcome news in that arena. The Forward Operating Base north of the Sarstoon is close to completion and will formally be opened next week. News Five spoke to Minister of National Security John Saldivar via phone this morning.
On the Phone: John Saldivar, Minister of National Security
“Next week Wednesday we should be having a opening ceremony for the Forward Operating Base in the Sarstoon and I am happy that we are able to do it on time as was promised and we look forward to the various security forces like the Coastguard and the B.D.F. that will be manning that station. It is in collaboration of course with other agencies such as Customs and Immigration and the Fisheries Department to enforce the laws of Belize in that area as it pertains to Maritime and other territories.”
Mike Rudon
“I was going to ask you if you could explain for me just a little bit on the sort of presence that will e there and also the sort of work that they will be conducting in that area.”
On the Phone: John Saldivar
On the Phone: John Saldivar
“Like I said there will be a combination of agencies that will be housed down there, initially I know for sure police, the B.D.F. and coastguard. The work will be patrolling the coast, patrolling the river and basically ensuring that the various laws as it pertains to fisheries and other marine laws are enforced, our protected areas and also to try to deter the use of that area for trafficking drugs, firearms or humans, cargo I that area so basically to fight any kind of transnational crime that will be taking place in that area.”
Mike Rudon
“Are you anticipating or hoping maybe that the protocols that have been presented will be accepted by that point so they will little or no tension between the military forces of Belize and Guatemala in the Sarstoon.”
On the Phone: John Saldivar
“We are very hopeful that the Guatemalans will see that there is need for us to cooperate in that area and that as we have done so before we have had flash points before and we have been able to work out our differences and I have no doubt that this time around that we will be able to work out our differences also.”
This FOB should be built out of concrete, preventing the Guats from burning it to the ground.
And you really believe that this is going to deter the Guat Military?! Not a chance!
I am some what disappointed with the BDF FOB. I would have constructed an solid cement structure that would stop an AK47 bullet or a 50CAL which the Guatemalan’s has on their boats. Or maybe they are planning to have a solid cement wall surrounded the wooden structure which will offer protection for the Soldiers station at the FOB.I am all in defending the country I am willing to share my experiences learnt from Iraq and Afghanistan but I must truly say it will not be a fight between Belize and Guatemala it would be suicide committed by the Belizeans. Look at this, the Guatemalan army is 4 times the population of Belize how can Belize win? The Guatemalan army is armed with tanks and other equipment from the US what does the BDF have to go up against a tank? Nothing, lets step back and try to solve this problem with diplomacy and save life’s.