Minister not interested in theatrics of Territorial Volunteers

Wil Maheia

With the rejection of the Guatemalan referendum proposals there is still one initiative that keeps popping up. Caught somewhere on the periphery of the continuing back and forth between Belize and Guatemala are the Belize Territorial Volunteers, led by activist Wil Maheia, who have stated that they will clear, as in chop to the ground, a line three feet wide along the entire border line between the two countries. Today, Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington dismissed that action as pure theatrics, saying it will not be countenanced, even as Maheia says that they have made a formal request to the Ministry and to the military for support.

Via Phone: Wil Maheia, Belize territorial Volunteers

“I think it has actually strengthen our case because now that they are not serious about resolving this dispute; which in we were not supporting the idea of going to court in the first place.  I think that our government, to show some serious…stop playing games with Guatemala should make sure that they should assist us in clearing our border. So through this medium, I would like to appeal to the Foreign Minister, appeal to the Minister of Defense and the B.D.F. that at least give us some sort of cover or support while we go into the area to clear our borderline.”

Wilfred Elrington

Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“Nobody will not even entertain them. What is he trying to do?…something that the British would not do for all the years that they were here. I could understand people being nationalist, but that is not nationalism; that is not nationalism. All that Maheia is doing is theatrics you know. He is going nowhere near to the borderline; as a matter of fact, he will not be able to find it. So basically, in my view, it is only theatrics he is practicing. If he really wants to do anything, he could go patrol with the B.D.F. people. Join the B.D.F. people and decide to go on patrol with them; those who are patrolling the border for a week or two if he really wants to do anything.”

Elrington reiterates that if the Belize Territorial Volunteers persist in their stated intention, it would pose a serious risk not only for them, but for any military personnel who might be forced to intervene on their behalf.