CARICOM heads support Belize

The Belizean four may be home to stay, but their ordeal in Guatemala continues to send ripples through the international community. At the conference of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in St. Kitts and Nevis, leaders this week expressed concern, as they learned that Guatemala had reiterated it’s territorial claim to Belize. They were dismayed that on February 24th, members of the Guatemalan military had illegally detained four Belizean security officers and held them for nine days in a detention center. The delegates were also concerned that following the officers return to Belize, Guatemala “requested” that Prime Minister of Belize Said Musa replace interim Ambassador to Guatemala, Salvador Figueroa, claiming that Figueroa had broken Guatemalan laws by allowing the men to return to Belizean soil. This despite the fact that Guatemala’s Foreign Minister confirmed to the Secretary General of the Organization of American States, that the men had been judicially processed and granted their freedom. The delegates say it staunchly supports Belize’s independence and sovereignty and respects the internationally recognized borders. They called for continued talks between the two countries and hoped that a peaceful resolve could be reached soon.