Did Attorney, Audrey Matura Go Too Far?

Today, Minister of Education and Culture and fellow attorney, Francis Fonseca was asked to comment on the incident involving Matura and the Guatemalan flag, and he was candid in saying that while Belize and Guatemala have an ongoing dispute before the International Court of Justice, we do have diplomatic relations and the Belize Embassy in Guatemala also celebrates Belize’s Independence in Guatemala unrestricted.

Francis Fonseca

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education, Culture

“We have diplomatic relations with Guatemala obviously, so as an embassy – and they have every right to celebrate their independence day. I think these matters obviously – we know our position, our legal position. There’s a process that’s underway through the International Court of Justice. We respect that process, so, I don’t think, you know, we should get into the back and forth with the Guatemalan Embassy here in Belize. Just as we have an embassy in Guatemala, the Belize Embassy in Guatemala, they celebrate Belize’s Independence Day there every year. So Guatemala has the right, the Guatemalan embassy has the right. They’ve been doing it for many, many years – celebrating and inviting other Belizeans to participate and help them celebrate independence. We’re not against Guatemala and against Guatemala’s independence. What we are for is Belize’s independence and Belize’s sovereignty and Belize’s territorial integrity, and that cannot be questioned. So, I don’t think we should engage in seeing ghosts where there are none. We should be confident in who we are and confident in the future of Belize. And then she’s put, or says she did, on the Guatemalan flag. Yeah, I don’t, you know, I don’t think that is necessary or acceptable. Um, we should respect all people. Um, we want everyone to respect Belize and respect our flag. And you, you get respect by respecting others.”