Territorial Volunteers plant trees at Gracias a Dios

Just before news time, we received word that the Belize Territorial Volunteers had returned from a successful expedition to the border marker at Gracias a Dios in the far south of Belize. The trip was timed with the signing of the April thirtieth 1859 Anglo-Guatemalan Treaty, and as on all expeditions to the border by the BTV and its supporters, spirits were high. Thanks to our colleagues at PGTV, freelance reporter Mike Rudon has the story.

Mike Rudon, Reporting

Early this morning this group of about forty, led by Belizean Territorial Volunteer Wil Maheia, headed out into the Gulf of Honduras, destination Gracias a Dios point to clear along the border line and to plant thirty mahogany trees in commemoration of the signing of the treaty on April thirtieth, 1859. From the Gulf of Honduras the group entered the mouth of the Sarstoon River. These communities seen here on the banks are small Guatemalan settlements…

From there it was back to dry land on Gracias a Dios Point

Wil Maheia, Belize Territorial Volunteers

“We are going to the marker and plant these trees because at the marker at Gracias a Dios where we are going to right now. The treaty was signed between England and Guatemala on the thirtieth of April 1859. From this marker, Gracias a Dios, there is a straight line to the other marker, Garbutt’s Falls. And we have another group at Garbutt’s Falls today. And on Saturday, we had the other group that went to Aguas Turbias. So there are three markers to line the Belize border and there is a straight line to each marker; Gracias a Dios to Garbutt’s Falls and Garbutt’s Falls to Aguas Turbias. So thirty trees, we will be planting them today to commemorate the thirtieth of April 1859.”

From that point it was a twenty minute hike through relatively open bush to the Gracias a Dios marker

And then it was on to the business at hand…clearing the border and planting thirty mahogany trees along it.

And if the expeditions have not served any other purpose, they have served to unite Belizeans from all walks of lifeand all cultures in one purpose for the good of the country they love. Mike Rudon for News Five.

Today an expedition was also mounted by the Belize People’s Front, led by President Nancy Marin, to the monument marker at Garbutt’s Falls. The group reports that while they did observe Guatemalan citizens passing by in the bushes, the expedition was successful and the Belizean flag was raised.