B.T.V. Heads to Sarstoon Tomorrow
A small detail of territorial volunteers, led by Wil Maheia, is headed to Sarstoon Island on Tuesday morning again. The trip is the first of several planned visits to the remote location where Belize Defense Force personnel will be on routine patrol. As explained by Brigadier General David Jones in a previous interview with News Five, B.D.F. soldiers traverse that area on a weekly basis while en route to the Cadenas Observation Post. That lookout point is situated in the southwestern corner of the country, near the border with Guatemala. While the B.T.V. team may not be going that far up the Sarstoon River, the group of men will be navigating the distant waterway alone, once again with no support or cover from any of the local law enforcement agencies. In speaking with Colonel Louis Sutherland, B.D.F. Chief of Staff, earlier today, he told News Five that, as a matter of military protocol, civilians are not included in any patrol. Nonetheless, Maheia and his men are prepped for Tuesday’s journey.
On the Phone: Wil Maheia, Founder, Belize Territorial Volunteers
“Our plans are firm, you know, we still intend to go to that area. We will be heading out there tomorrow morning early and at the end of the day Belizeans need to know, have we lost our Sarstoon River? Have we lost our Sarstoon Island? And we will continue to go their until we get the answer, I mean if the government has lost it then they need to come clean with the people.”
Wil Maheia
Isani Cayetano
“Now Wil, are you going to be joining the B.D.F. patrol in that area or are you going independently?”
On the Phone: Wil Maheia
“We are going independently, you know, we know that they say that they are in that area on Tuesday. Clearly they are not going to be doing any collaboration with us. So we respect them and we support the work that they’re doing but we will be there to see how that plays out tomorrow. We will go up the river and see if they too will have confrontation with the Guatemalans.”
Isani Cayetano
“How many of you guys are going on the trip tomorrow?”
On the Phone: Wil Maheia
“I can’t say at this time. It’s definitely, it’s going to be smaller and tighter just in case of anything we’re going to be able to move in and move out in a much more faster time than the last time… As a result, we’re not really inviting the public on this trip, you know, we have a few people that’s going and basically we’re going to try and see what’s going on at the Sarstoon Island.”
Isani Cayetano
“Okay. You mentioned during last week’s press conference that your trip to the Sarstoon Island, going forward, is contingent upon fuel and other logistics. How is that coming along?”
On the Phone: Wil Maheia
“Yeah, I’m glad you asked that question because so far, we haven’t really received much donations in fuel but we will work with what we have and, you know, if anybody would like to chip in to the fuel bill, if they could donate some fuel that would definitely work because we definitely need fuel.”
Isani Cayetano
“Are you prepared sir, for whatever is to happen on the Sarstoon River should there be another confrontation with Guatemalan armed forces and seeing as though you will be on your own?”
On the Phone: Wil Maheia
“Well we’ve always been on our own and we have never been deterred and we will not be deterred this time either. Never before have they given us any kind of support or escort and we continue to go because we feel that as Belizeans it’s our right to know and we believe that we are a group that’s concerned about Belize and we want to inform the Belizean public about what’s taking place inside our country and as far as we are concerned our country starts at the mouth of the Sarstoon River, including Sarstoon Island.”
News Five has attempted to get a comment from Commander Jones on the matter, but we are told that he is presently away in Colombia.
To make a difference someone has to do something so I applaud Wil!
Wily, what is your end game. Why are you endangering the lives of our citizens. You should know as an intelligent man that your actions are provocative and that there is no way we can fend off a Guatemalan attack. Guatemala has a better and well equipped army. Why Wily, are you poking the ants nest. We have diplomacy at work to settle our differences. You are circumventing the actions of our diplomatic corp with your foolish tactics, Wily, for God’s sake, stop your foolishness before blood start flowing. Let our elected officials handle their jobs. We have good relations with the people of Barrios and Livingston, some of them are our relatives. We have daily ferrys that travel back and forth every day. Stop your foolishness Wily. I really question your intent. Do you really know what YOU ARE DOING. I implore all the people of PG and Belize, don’t let Wily coyote get you killed.
@ El Chapo Guzman…do you honestly believe Belize’s elected officials will or even has been doing their job with regard to this matter? They are on Belizean soil!!! The whole world is watching so if Guatemalans attack Belizeans ON THEIR OWN SOIL there will be hell to pay. Everyone already knows that the Guats are constantly in Belizean waters doing all sorts of rubbish and still have the nerve to spin lies. Go with God. I applaud the FEW brave Belizeans who will risk their lives to show their patriotism and to be better educated regarding our terf.
Three is a clear line between patriotism and foolishness. Every so often the Palestinians launch an attack to claim their homeland and the Jews respond by blowing up their cities and killing thousands of innocent children women and old people. Diplomacy has been the Palestinians strongest weapon. THE WHOLE WORLD EXCEPT FORTHE STRONG Jewish LOBBY in the US sides with the Palestinians.. It ill take some time. With patience an elephant can eventually mount a rabbit.