BTV Lauded for Patriotism, but Slammed for Risky Endeavor
Dean Barrow
PM Barrow says that they don’t just talk the talk about maintaining sovereignty, but actually claim it. Every Tuesday, the B.D.F. travels down the Sarstoon to change shifts at the Cadenas Observation Post, and do not ask permission from the Guatemalans stationed at the mouth of the Sarstoon to do so. According to the PM, the soldiers are routinely approached by the Guatemalans and even told to turn back. In fact, as recently as last Tuesday, the Prime Minister claims B.D.F. soldiers were threatened with the ramming of their boat and even a gun battle. So while he lauds the BTV for its passion and patriotism, he says that when they chose to fill what they call a sovereignty vacuum, they were perhaps misinformed.
Prime Minister Dean Barrow
“Proceeding from this mistaken premise, they decided to show that they could fill what in reality is a non-existent void, that they should assert a sovereignty that, albeit seemingly unknown to them, was already being asserted by those both charged with and capable of doing the job, the Belizean military. That is how, as I see it ladies and gentlemen, last Sunday’s expedition came about. I want to make clear that I perfectly understand and indeed applaud the sentiment that motivated the territorial volunteers. Their decision arose from feelings of patriotism that are not just commendable, but inspirational. Nevertheless, theirs was an incomplete grasp of the facts, a situation for which perhaps government is at least partly to blame. As a result their actions, though well-intended, were wrong. For it cannot be right to insert any Belizean, but especially children, into a situation so fraught with danger…danger arising both from the presence of the Guatemalan Navy and from other conditions including overcrowded expedition boats. In the end those boats were taking on water and some frantic bailing had to be done. We appeal to the territorial volunteers not to return. The point you thought necessary to make has been made. Your courage and patriotism were on display for all Belize and the world to see, and nobody was hurt. Let that be enough and for the sake of all, but especially for the children, do not let us tempt fate a second time.”
MR. PM I DON’T THINK IT WAS A RISKY BEHAVIOR IF OUR MILITARY AND COAST GUARD WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE. THE GUATS FOR SURE WOULD BE MORE CONTROLED AND WOULD THINK MORE THAN TWICE IF THEY WOULD TRY ANY FIRE EXCHANGE. IF SO IT WOULD MAKE A BIG PROBLEM THAT GUATS NO REALLY WANT TO HAPPEN DUE OT THEIR INTERNAL TURMOIL WITH THEIR POLITICIANS.
He will tell us when the inevitable happens. When the belizeans living down in PG and the surrounding areas are packing up and moving north to Dangriga and the City. The entire PG population should have been on that trip. Remember people. Guatemala is claiming all that territorial LAND. Not the territorial PEOPLE. When the government turn all that over to them, its because you-all will have to pack up and leave. Guatemala wants the LAND. Not YOU.
Patriotism!! That’s what Hitler used to kill millions. Serbia ,Croatia, south Africa, north korea, I can go on and on with many wars that were caused by patriotism. When the war starts with Guatemala, I suspect that the boat people will be under their beds. You people don’t know what you are doing. Should we replace the boat people with our diplomatic corp? Please understand Belizeans, diplomacy is our strongest weapon. Can we realistically defend our territory from a Guatemalan invasion. The only thing that is preventing that now is diplomacy. Patriotism will kill us all. Lets reserve patriotism for other things like sports etc. Our government should arrest all the boat people who are provoking a war. This is serious business. Its all fun and games till the blood starts flowing. We are misled that Britain will send its army across the ocean to protect us a la Falklands. I am telling you all, foolish patriotism will kill us all. Let the diplomatic corp do its job. Its better to live with our neighbors as friends. Whther or not we like it Guatemala will always be our neighbor and we have been living peacefully for years, trading, visiting, fornicating, families on both side of the border etc etc. make love not war.