Senators Support Belize’s Accession to Bogota Treaty; NTUCB Neutral

Janelle Chanona

Despite Peyrefitte’s efforts, a majority of the senators supported Courtenay’s motion, including Kevin Herrera, senator for the business sector, Janelle Chanona for the non-government organizations, and Reverend Moses Benguche for the Churches. Notably, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize remained neutral on the matter, as their Senator, Luke Martinez outlined in his presentation.

Janelle Chanona, Senator, NGO community

“I do not think, as we have been advised that we want to end this matter before the court only to have to go back to address the Honduran claim. And my question then, on behalf of those I represent is why didn’t we take the opportunity in that – as we now know – very expensive campaign effort to make sure that that was addressed to the Belizean people because rue the day that we find out that all of a sudden part of our southern waters becomes a disputed territory.”

Moses Benguche

Moses Benguche, Senator, the Churches

“I want to believe that something was known previously by the other administration, that something must have been in place, Senator. (Interruption) I don’t believe, Madam President, that the Leader of Government Business would just bring up something like that overnight. I really don’t believe it, and I believe that he has done due diligence and enough homework on this issue.”

Kevin Herrera

Kevin Herrera, Senator, Business Sector

“I don’t think that if we have something hanging out there that that would be possible, so from all the information that I’ve seen, from all the literature that I have read about it, from all the advice we’ve seen from the legal experts on the issue. This seems to be the route that is most advised so I support the motion.”

Luis Martinez

Luis Martinez, Senator, N.T.U.C.B.

“We can’t be secret with these things, Madam President. We cannot be secret with these things. The former administration spent millions of dollars on a referendum. It cannot be that we were not aware, especially given that we’ve been making submissions to the I.C.J., especially given that we have attorneys. The previous government, this current government – the Government of Belize continues to spend millions of dollars on these international attorneys. I’m sure that an attorney would exercise his or her right on due diligence and share with us some of the pros and cons of our case and if the attorneys didn’t bring to our attention the Honduras issue, then maybe the government have to sue deh attorneys.”