P.U.P. Leader Says GAF Actions at Sarstoon Constitute an Act of Aggression

John Briceño

Before that shooting near Cebada, the biggest thing in the news would have been the actions by Guatemala on Wednesday, as the Ministry of National Security inaugurated its Forward Operating Base at the Sarstoon. Vessels from the Guatemalan base stationed themselves well within Belizean territory, and at one point were less than one hundred feet from the dock at the camp, even as the B.D.F. and Coast Guard maintained a heavy presence. The Opposition has become completely engaged in talks on Guatemala, and today P.U.P. Leader John Briceño told News Five that the government must respond to what was without a doubt an act of aggression.

John Briceño, P.U.P. Leader

“I believe that we need to send a very strongly worded diplomatic note to Guatemala. I certainly find that as an act of aggression on their part and that is why it is important more than ever that we get the international community more involved in what is taking place. It is important for us as a government and as a people to be able to speak to our friends in Central America, the Caribbean, here in Latin America, to the Americans, to the British, to the Canadians and even to our friends in Africa to talk to them about what is really taking place on the ground, and to point out that it is something which really needs to be addressed. We have said since I was elected leader of the Party that when it comes to the sovereignty of the country that we should not play politics. That is why I appointed a team of great advisors that can help us in that process. We have been cooperating and working along with the government on this issue. We are going to continue to work with the government. We are going to push the government to take a stronger stance to ensure that we can protect every single square centimeter of our territory be it in the marine or the rivers or land. That has always been the position of the P.U.P. since its inception in 1950 and that certainly has not changed now in 2016.”