Musa and Barrow present united front to Guatemala
With the exception of a short lived truce in the days of the Maritime Areas Bill, observers of Belize’s history today witnessed an act that generations of their forefathers never got to see: two opposing Belizean political leaders publicly embracing a common policy. News 5’s Stewart Krohn was on hand for the landmark event.
Stewart Krohn, Reporting
Today’s session with the press was important for two reasons: a rare display of unity in the face of adversity and the Prime Minister’s first public statement since last week’s agreement in Miami. Said Musa early on sought to explain why he balked at just unilaterally expelling the illegal settlers.
Prime Minister Said Musa
“Had I proceeded with the removal and an armed confrontation had occurred, with the resultant loss of Belizean and Guatemalan lives, we would not have had the unequivocal support of the international community. I believe I acted correctly in so doing.”
“I took the decision and I stand by it, I could not risk the lives of our Belizean sons and daughters just because I refused a request from the facilitators to wait a few more days.”
While acknowledging that there was no legal barrier to deal with settlements clearly outside the adjacency zone, Musa defended the decision to halt the operation.
Prime Minister Said Musa
“We had a choice, we could have taken the position that the November eighth agreement only refers to settlements inside the adjacency zone, and that settlements further into Belize than one kilometre could be simply removed by us without reference to Guatemala. There were good reasons, however, why we decided, why our team decided that it would be very unwise to do so. Firstly, because if Guatemala felt we were acting unfairly, it would take umbrage at a unilateral removal of its citizens and we would be back to the situation we faced only a few days ago, when armed confrontation was a real possibility. I am sure none of us would want that to occur. Now under the protocol, Guatemala is agreeing to the removal to the removal and there should be no room for stirring up hostility or tensions in the media, or other wise.”
For Opposition Leader Dean Barrow, it was a chance to make the big step from politician to statesman, in the face of common threat.
Dean Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“The Guatemalans and indeed the world, must have no doubt that as a people we are one in rejecting both their claim and their acts of bad faith and aggression. The UDP will therefore continue to support the national unity effort and the negotiating process, to which we originally signed on.”
But in politics, there is always a but…
Dean Barrow
“Of course unity does not necessarily mean uniformity. Thus even as we continue to support the process, we reserve the right to disagree with particular aspects of the way the process is handled. In other words, across the table from Guatemala, the negotiating team of Belize, which includes UDP representative Fred Martinez, must speak with one voice. Here at home though, the UDP will give expression to any legitimate disquiet people feel about certain of the elements in the mix
But Barrow despite criticising the government’s handling of public education on the issue made it clear he was on board for the full ride.
Dean Barrow
“I close therefore by saying again that notwithstanding the hiccups to which we have pointed, no one is to have any doubt as to where the UDP finally stand. We are fully committed to continuing as part of the negotiating process, to demonstrating to the world that Belize is in the right. And to reaffirming that at the end of the day, after every peaceful diplomatic, and political means would have been exhausted, we are with the rest of our compatriots, ready to make the ultimate sacrifice in defence of that right.”
Stewart Krohn for News 5.
Other matters covered during the press conference included a commitment by both leaders that the immediate border issues should be settled prior to any discussions on the substantive dispute. The Prime Minister also disclosed that the government had hired a “dream team” of distinguished international lawyers to advise them on the negotiations and that for the first time in a decade the Belize Defence Force has six full companies in the field. This is not nearly enough to defeat the fifty times larger Guatemalan army, but presumably enough to show the world that we’re serious about defending ourselves.
