I.C.J. Referendum in Guatemala in November; Belize Getting Ready

Wilfred Elrington

For the past three days, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been meeting with the country’s top pastors and priests. It has to do with the public education campaign on the Belize-Guatemala claim and the effort to reach as much of the population, before a referendum is held.  Elrington told News Five exclusively this afternoon that the Guatemalans have settled on a date in November for their referendum on submitting the claim for adjudication at the International Court of Justice and Belize has begun making its own preparations.

Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“We have been talking with members of the clergy with respect to the Belize-Guatemala claim; we are intensifying our public education campaign and we are trying to educate the leaders of the Church, so that they can in fact impart correct information to the congregations that they minister to with respect to this matter.”

Reporter

“I imagine that these pastors have a fairly large reach; far greater than the Government could wish to have?”

Wilfred Elrington

“They do have a very large reach, a very diverse reach; and we are trying to make sure that we could do all in our power to reach everybody, every single Belizean, so that they can in fact learn first-hand what the issues really are, so that they are well-informed when they go to cast their ballot on the day of the referendum.”

Reporter

“Speaking of the referendum and Guatemala specifically, are the Guatemalans still on track with regard to having their referendum in September, I believe it is?”

Wilfred Elrington

“The last I heard was that it was going to be more in November than September, but all indications are they are on track.”

Reporter

“So there will be a decision made this year, at least as far as Guatemala is concerned?”

Wilfred Elrington

“That is the evidence which have come to us so far; they are doing advertisements on the media, social media as well – and I have been shown some of what they are saying and publishing and I have received word that they want to do it in November.  The objective really, is to do the education campaign in as attractive a manner as possible; so we’ll have it where kids can look at it, find it attractive, and learn from it, as well as adults too.”