PM Speaks on Sarstoon Forward Operating Base

Dean Barrow

On Wednesday, we heard from Foreign Minister Carlos Raul Morales in respect of the Forward Operating Base that is being constructed on the banks of the Sarstoon River and not on the island as first announced.  Morales disclosed that the shift in location was agreed to in discussions with Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington. The PM says that really nothing was lost by the change in location.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“There may well have been discussions between him and our foreign minister and I don’t want to say what may or may not have taken place during those discussions or what may or may not have said. All I know is that when we had first looked at the actual island from an operational standpoint, logistical point of view not to make much sense. While the principal motivation for the change in location did not have to with the protest from Guatemala I freely concede that in the circumstances it is just as well that we did not seek to proceed with the island. In the circumstances I don’t know that anything was lost in the change of location and if that change as a sort of byproduct of a decision that was made for operational purposes also succeeded in not increasing not escalating any tension with us and Guatemala then that is to be welcomed.”

We’ll have more on the interview with the PM on Open Your Eyes on Monday as well as in our newscast. He talks about the relations with Michael Ashcroft, his timeline for leaving office, and much more.