O.A.S. and Guatemala Foreign Minister on Tour over the Weekend

Over the weekend, several photos of at least three events were posted on the official Twitter and Facebook accounts of the Guatemalan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Guatemalan military.  The first set of photos shows the Guatemalan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Raul Morales, along with the Guatemalan Minister of Defence, Brigadier General Williams Mansilla Fernandez, and the Guatemalan Ambassador to Belize, Manuel Estuardo Roldan.  According to the caption on the photos, the trio were overseeing infrastructure works ‘near the adjacency zone.’ Another caption, however, claims that the work is taking place in San Luis, Peten, an area which according to Google Maps, is at least fifteen miles away from Belize. There is yet another set of photographs, this time of Morales and Brigadier General Fernandez aboard a Guatemalan military vessel along other military personnel. They are also captured walking on a jetty. The photos are accompanied by a caption that translates to (Quote) “Minister of National Defence and Minister of Foreign Affairs travel to inspect the banks of the Sarstoon River.” (Unquote) Now, Guatemala is in full control of the river. The B.D.F., Belizean N.G.O.s and others now have to get authorization to traverse our side of the river while the Guatemalan armed forces freely roam in the area. It is not certain if the Guatemalan ministers crossed into the Belize side; but the photo is certainly causing a stir. While the photos were posted on Saturday night, it is unclear when they were actually taken.  That same day, the twitter feed for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also posted photos of Morales, this time in different clothing and accompanied by Magdalena Talamas of the O.A.S. According to the O.A.S. website, Talamas bears the title of ‘Special Representative of the O.A.S. Secretary General for Belize-Guatemala Affairs’. The two are seen visiting the community and family of young Julio Alvarado, the Guatemalan minor shot in the Chiquibul last month.  In two of the pictures, the Guatemalan Foreign Minister is seen sitting with Julio’s father.