V.I.P. Joins N.T.U.C.B., “Forward with Coastguard F.O.B. in Sarstoon!”
But with the construction of the F.O.B. on hold, the Vision Inspired by the People is joining the National Trade Union Congress of Belize in demanding that the coast guard proceed with the construction of the base near the mouth of the Sarstoon River. The call by both organizations is contrary to Guatemala’s position that the territorial dispute be resolved at the ICJ prior to the building of the F.O.B. This morning, during a lengthy press conference, VIP representative Patrick Rogers criticized the Government of Belize, describing its decision to refer the matter to the Organization of American States as an act of cowardice since the land in question is certainly within Belizean territory.
Patrick Rogers, Vision Inspired by the People
“If I own this thing I shouldn’t have to check with no O.A.S. Ih noh matter that Guatemala tell me wait til di ICJ mek wahn ruling. Why do I need to lap my tail now and go to the O.A.S.? Why do I not listen to my Belizeans? Why do I not listen to weh my Belizeans want do? Dah dehn wahn give up dehn life because as wih sehe, yo own something noh just by being ready fi kill for it but by showing you’re ready fi die for it. Now da lap tail weh dehn di do di show that dehn coward. Dehn noh fraid fi dead fi nothing. Dehn gah wi lee bredda dehn di kill up dehnself right now but di message ah being ready fi dead fi something weh you believe eena do noh wahn concept weh Belizeans know about. Dehn fraid fi dat. Now I wanna applaud wi coastguard, they were ready to die. Dehn stare down wahn bigga army eena dehn eye but as anybody weh undastand di art of war, ih noh matter bout di bigga army da who undastand di power ah dah stare weh you just watch di officers, noh worry bout di lee recruits dehn and yah, you know, fi dehn army three times bigga than fu we one with da standoff deh so but da who yoh wahn aim fa da di officers. And di officers done realize that we wahn win this but I might dead and so di officers dehn wah step back when you show dehn you ready fu dead fi dis. So I wanna applaud wi coastguard for showing the fortitude and di backbone weh lacking eena di cabinet and this government and they are ready to go put wahn forward operating base there and start stare down wahn bigga army everyday fi show that dehn ready fi protect sovereignty over territory that is Belize.”