Washington talks: No date yet for voting

Despite all appearances that the Belize Guatemala referendum is struggling in the intensive care unit…this week there were signs of life in Washington, D.C. On Monday, Attorney General Godfrey Smith met with Guatemala’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ramiro Ordonez, O.A.S. Assistant Secretary General Luigi Enaudi and facilitators Sir Shridath Ramphal and Paul Reichler, for technical talks. Few details were released, but it appears that all concerned are trying to somehow find a way to get a referendum organised in Guatemala, a country in which the term “foot dragging” has acquired new meaning. About the only thing clear is that the illegal settlers, who have set up shop in Belizean territory just across the border near Benque Viejo, will be allowed to stay put…for now at least. According to a release from the Organization of American States, “As an immediate confidence-building measure, the O.A.S. recommended that both Governments take the necessary steps to ensure that all settlement activity in the Adjacency Zone be frozen.” Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Affairs David Gibson told News 5 late this evening that “frozen” means that construction of new structures will be prohibited, but the people who presently reside there will continue to do so until the situation can be resolved. That issue, along with the crucial rescheduling of the delayed referendum, will be addressed again at a two day technical and ministerial level meeting planned for December second and third.