COLA Questions Authenticity of P.M.’s Comments on Guatemalan President Elect

Dean Barrow

Guatemala’s territorial dispute has become a highly charged political issue exacerbated by recent statements made by the new leader of Guatemala.  COLA has been leading the charge against the government for being soft on Guatemala. Today President Geovanni Brackett was asked about the tongue-lashing that the Prime Minister Dean Barrow gave to president-elect, Carlos Jimmy Morales. On Tuesday, PM Barrow told the media that Morales was a neophyte, a novice, who knew little of diplomacy and that he would essentially be taught what to say and how to say it. Barrow fiercely defended Belize’s territorial integrity, but COLA says that there is suspicion on whether the PM’s comments were genuine or just a political statement as we approach General Elections.

Geovanni Brackett, President, COLA

“I think that the Prime Minister is beginning to sense that this issue of Guatemala is one of the hot-button issues that can decide the elections. I think the Prime Minister always knew this; I think that his Foreign Minister has always lived in the clouds and has imaginary imagination and thinking. It is only the Foreign Minister that thinks that this Guatemalan issue is not serious. It is only the Foreign Minister that doesn’t think that the people of Belize don’t care about the issue of the Sarstoon and our territorial integrity. I am not surprised that the Prime Minister said certain strong statements because he is realizing just what we have realized many years ago—that this Guatemala issue is a very serious issue that cannot be taken lightly. I wish the protest note would have been as strong as the last interview with the Prime Minister. I wish the proof in the letter that he is planning to write is going to be as strong as how he spoke. And I wish that any communication within any government of Belize and with Guatemala in the issue of advocating our cause to this unfounded claim is going to be strong or even stronger than that statement. Those statements should have been stated at the United Nations when Minister Elrington was there. Those statements should have been addressed, not now; those should have been long addressed.”

Geovanni Brackett

Reporter

“But do you think this is a genuine realization of the Prime Minister at this time or do you consider it just a political gimmick this close to elections and then if he does win a third term returns to the same policies that they have been employing?”

Geovanni Brackett

“You are asking me to read the Prime Minister’s mind.”

Carlos Jimmy Morales

Reporter

“No suspicion arises for you?”

Geovanni Brackett

“I mean clearly, the time is opportune. I mean just the same way he announced that the [forward operating] base is going to be built and then call an election just a day or two later. That automatically makes you wonder if that was just a political statement. And promises are a comfort to a fool. Now we are exactly one week to elections and we have this statement coming up. Why wasn’t this same statement being addressed? Why couldn’t he address this statement months ago? We have to question that.”