B.N.T.U. Issues Release on Guatemala’s Response to Diplomatic Note

On the heels of the statement by the president elect of Guatemala, the Belize National Teachers Union, the most active among the unions, sent out a release stating its position in respect of the claim to Belizean territory as well as recent incidents that seemingly erode sovereignty. The B.N.T.U. refers to the response by the Guatemalan government to a diplomatic note sent by Belize regarding the trip by the Territorial Volunteers to the Sarstoon Island. The union points out that there is a major disconnect between the diplomatic undertakings and the pulse of the people. It calls on leaders to put the country’s sovereignty at “numero uno” and at the same time, it demands to know what is the plan to assert sovereignty and to disclose what resources will be provided to the security forces to ensure the defence of the border. The union also calls for the internationalization of the dispute, construction of the Forward Operating base as well as how the new government of Guatemala will be treated.  According to the B.N.T.U., the time has come to hold leaders accountable for enforcement of national security.