B.P.P. Weighs In on Upcoming BTV Trip
The N.T.U.C.B. could not support the trip the Sarstoon, but according to B.P.P. Chairman, “those who on their own volition choose to go on the expedition know the inherent risk, but anything worth having is worth sacrificing for.”
Paco Smith, Chairman, B.P.P.
“Our counterpart association, the Belize Territorial Volunteers, we plan to visit the Sarstoon Island on the thirtieth, this weekend, and if you listen to the ebb and flow of yesterday’s press conference, it was highlighted that Guatemalans traverse the Sarstoon River with impunity—we don’t stop them, we don’t attempt to stop them. Yet when a group of Belizeans, unarmed, really just basically want to visit a place within our sovereign territory, a lot of red flags go up on behalf of the government. It’s as if though there is a dual standard whereby we are being placed as second class citizens in our country.”
Duane Moody
“People would say that the BTV’s goal of drawing attention to that area and what was happening in that area, basically they got what they wanted. Now why push it further? Why go to that length when you know that you’re putting yourself at risk? Maybe a causality, a Belizean being killed?”
Paco Smith
Paco Smith
“Definitely we do not feel that we are going too far. Is it too far to say that you want to go to an area in your country? Now the question remains…is the Sarstoon still part of Belize? Maybe they can answer that for us. If it was not a part of Belize, then I can understand that they are saying it is no longer part of Belize, so you cannot go to Guatemala. But from when last I checked, irrespective of the flip-flopping that the Guatemalan government has done with regards to so many things, incidentally the Sarstoon is not one of them because they categorically say that it is for them—we know that it is not. I should think that the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister know that. But you see, what we have is the insistence of fear mongering. That has been taking place for many, many, many years and it ties in to the cognitive dissonance unfortunately that a lot of people have whereby individuals cry wolf and because of their elected position, all are expected to just go along with what they say. To answer your question directly, no it is not taking it too far; that is Belizean territory.”
Duane Moody
“But at a risk… Do people going understand the risk that they are going to take? That if an event happens, it can lead to a crossfire between the military of both countries.”
Paco Smith
“There’s definitely a risk in whatever you do. There is a risk if you chose to walk across the street. The bottom line is this, in terms of the BTV, someone has to take a stand in terms of demonstrating Belizean resolve with regards to what we know is the truth and the case.”
