P.U.P. Leadership is Hopeful that Guatemalan Discussions will be Treated Seriously

Eamon Courtenay

Last week the P.U.P. announced that it would be withdrawing its representative from the talks with Guatemala. That move is designed to send a clear message that the P.U.P. believes that the negotiations status quo has got to go. Senator Eamon Courtenay told News Five that for the Opposition it’s anything but a game, and P.U.P. Leader John Briceño says he is hopeful that the Prime Minister will realize that and treat the matter with all seriousness.

Eamon Courtenay, Opposition Representative, Negotiating Team

“The People’s United Party has a very proud history of dealing with the Belize/Guatemala issue, before and after independence. This idle thought that we feel hurt, that we feel disrespected and so we are pulling out like children…it is utter and complete nonsense. The reason that we have taken the position that we have taken is because we fundamentally disagree with this approach of talk and hope, and unless and until talk and hope is stopped as a national policy, we are not participating. And I am saying that we are going to go on an offensive to get that policy changed, to convince Belizeans that the policy has failed and we need a different strategy.”

John Briceño

John Briceño, P.U.P. Leader

“I believe that we at all times – I have a responsibility to this country to try to keep a cordial relationship with the Prime Minister. That does not mean that we will support everything that he says or he dictates, and certainly in this case – this is one of them that we cannot support the direction that they are taking this. I am hoping that he would see what we are attempting to do. I am hoping that he will then realize that we are trying to be helpful partners in addressing the Belize/Guatemala issue and especially how to deal with Guatemala and that wewant to be a part of the process. This is our country. It deals with our country and it’s not about partisan politics.”