… But removing bodega near Jalacte will take time

But one issue that is still unresolved is a bodega well within southern Belize. Last week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent out a press release confirming that the illegally erected bodega near Jalacte is within Belizean territory. And while Belize, Guatemala, and the O.A.S. agree that it needs to be dismantled, the O.A.S. was asking for more time before it activated its machinery. Today, the Prime Minister revealed that removing the storage container is taking so long because Leonel Arrellano, the Guatemalan who built it, is playing hardball.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow
“The reason we are literally keep our powder dry is because this Mr. Arellano or whatever his name is, seems to have the support of the villagers in Santa Cruz. The container will have to be dragged from Belize territory and put across to Santa Cruz. The Guatemalan military is committed to helping us. Arellano and the villagers have said, you try to pass through here with any kind of equipment, we will attack you—are talking about their own Guatemalan soldiers. It is in that kind of a—and certainly we try to haul it across to Guatemala, they threaten to attack us. It obviously is an impossible situation unless the Guatemalans agree that they have to muster the political will to assist us in getting this thing back in their territory. I have heard now that they are contemplating compensating Arellano. Bottom line is unfortunately, I can’t say to you that it will happen next week or it will happen in the next two weeks. I am confident that it will happen, the O.A.S. is confident that it will happen. They are asking us for a little more time so that, as I said, the Guatemalans can get all their ducks in a row.”