PM – Any Assertion of Sovereignty Should be Handled by B.D.F. and Diplomatic Corps

At a press conference on Wednesday, PM Barrow sent out an appeal that any assertion of sovereignty should be left to the military and to diplomats. B.D.F. Commander, Brigadier-General David Jones went so far as to state outright that the actions of the volunteers are putting his soldiers at risk. De la Fuente today says that he accepts that point.

Giovanni de la Fuente, Head, Northern Territorial Volunteers

“Of course I do. It not only puts the soldiers at risk. It puts everybody at risk. But as we outlined to the Prime Minister, there comes a time in your country when the military is called upon to do its duty that they are sworn to do, and when that time comes the military will have to stand up. But you cannot take away from the fact that in most countries that have gone through trials and tribulations, the people, the ordinary citizens have also…the government needs to take into effect that the ordinary people can also be counted on, and we made him cognizant of the fact that the NTV, as well as other organizations in Belizeans, have shown that they are ready and more than willing to stand for Belize.”

Reporter

“What do you make of the fact that the diplomatic efforts on the part of the government of Belize sort of fell through when it comes to the Guatemalan military aggression on Sunday?”

Giovanni de la Fuente

Giovanni de la Fuente

“Well I don’t like it any at all. Many of you were there and I’m sure you don’t like it either. As a Belizean it goes to the core of my heart to know and see and feel what transpired and hence the reason why we have decided that while we consider to make border expeditions we also need to start a real and meaningful dialogue with our government officials so that we can try to find a way as to what is the best way that we can continue to safely take Belizeans to these border markers.”