G.O.B. Needs to Clarify NSC Statement on Sarstoon Island Expedition

Orlando de la Fuente

The release from the National Security Council has been met with disbelief and outrage in certain quarters, largely because it does not even acknowledge that there was any incident at all. In fact, the NSC expresses its, “profound pleasure” that there was no incident. The BTV isn’t impressed by the release, and according to de la Fuente, he plans to write to G.O.B. for some clarification.

Orlando de la Fuente, Northern Territorial Volunteer

“I’m still in shock that the government could put out such a pathetic press release stating that everything went well. It did not go well and we will be drafting a letter to the government seeking their position of the Guatemalan incursion of their military into Belize. Likewise, we will be putting one out to the O.A.S. which is supposed to be neutral and they were very blatantly were not neutral. But if you don’t exercise control over a piece of territory and you lose it, you know what’s going to happen? It’s going to be like what happened with Russia and South Ossetia, when Russia invaded Georgia in 2008. They just occupied like two of the provinces nearest to them and once they had possession of it, then they sent in peacekeepers. At that time, Georgia is tumbling backwards; they can’t fight against Russia and everything. The United States came in, the Organization for Security in Europe came in and they drafted these peace plans and they told Georgia you sign here and Russia you sign here. And they did, but you know what, the status quo changed. Georgia lost those two provinces and they are occupied by Russia now. And the same thing will happen to the Sarstoon if we don’t exercise control over it and take possession of it. If Guatemala decides to take possession of it and installs a base there or houses and they say well we have to have our military there to protect our people. You know what happen to Belize? We wah call the O.A.S. and the O.A.S. will send in peacekeepers and they will say this is the status quo; it stays the same just as Georgia lost in 2008. They lost those two provinces; Belize could lose the Sarstoon. So the next step is big. The government has to go back; we have to go back to Sarstoon and around that island again so that the Guatemalans don’t take it. If you don’t use it, you could lose it.”