Progressive Party Chairman Demands Response from Foreign Minister

On behalf of the B.P.P., Smith called on Belize’s diplomatic leaders and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington to issue a formal rebuke of President Morales’ remarks. He told us that anything less would not be acceptable.

On the Phone: Paco Smith, Chairman, B.P.P.

“It is obvious that based on the facts, with regards to that particular situation, Belize has been exonerated and to do anything less than totally refuting what the Guatemalan president said would be tantamount to basically speaking to the foreign policy of appeasement, acquiescence, adherence and accommodation. And as we all know that has put us in this quagmire whereby Guatemalans are, for the most part, exercising administrative control over the Sarstoon River—and I could speak to that personally because I was at the BTV kayak adventure this past weekend. And we were followed by the Guatemalans in Belizean waters. So insofar as the B.P.P. is concerned, the representative of the Government of Belize needs to hold steadfast and correct President Morales with regards to the mischaracterization with relation to the situation. Anything less than that is unacceptable.”

Belize, which joined the United Nations four days after independence in 1981, is expected to address the General Assembly sometime early next week.