O.A.S. Report on Sarstoon Incident Kept Under Wraps

Dean Barrow

Still on the matter of the Sarstoon….The O.A.S. report on the incident has been handed in to the Government of Belize. Today, News Five was able to confirm that the Ministries of National Security and Foreign Affairs have received copies. Last Wednesday at a press conference, Prime Minister Dean Barrow claimed that he had just received a copy, but in Spanish only. He further said that he could see no problem with making the report public if it would not go against O.A.S. protocol.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“I want to check as to what the protocols are in terms of the release of that O.A.S. document in toto and in the form in which we received it. I personally can’t see any objection to handing it up, but let me just find out from the diplomats what the position is. In any event though, that report won’t help you to determine the questions that you are asking. The report says that certain things happened at the mouth of the Sarstoon. I caution again that I have the report in Spanish and nobody ever accused me of being brilliant at Spanish. When they talk about the south canal they don’t tell you where that is…”

Reporter

“You mean in terms of latitude and longitude…”

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“No they don’t…there’s nothing like that in the report, but you can easily find out from our general and from our Admiral what the configuration is…you won’t get it from this report.

Today, News Five checked with the O.A.S. who told us that while they cannot hand it over, it is up to the government whether they want to release or not. Late this evening Ministry of Foreign Affairs C.E.O. Lawrence Sylvestre told News Five that reports from the O.A.S. are never made public, and in this particular circumstance, both government would need to agree to do so.