Leader of Opposition Says Immediate Government Action in Sarstoon is Critical

Following talks in Washington between Belize and Guatemala on Tuesday, there’s been no clear sense that progress has really been made in resolving the conflict in the Sarstoon. Certainly there is no agreement on paper, no draft proposals or protocols and no clear-cut timeline. The Opposition seized on the recurring uncertainty following G.O.B.’s every diplomatic encounter to call for the removal of Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington and to convene a national team. P.U.P. Leader John Briceño told News Five that immediate action is critical to halt the raping of our resources and the annexing of our territory.

John Briceño

John Briceño, P.U.P. Leader

“We have called for a national team that would include not only the political parties but also our other social partners be it labor, academia or the business sector to be able to see how we can address this issue head on with one voice. The team, the national team’s approach should be three things – one is to make sure that we have a communication strategy – that we’re not contradicting one another as has been happening between the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister and the Minister of National Security. Secondly, looking at the issue of a national strategy as to how we’re going to be addressing our talks and negotiations with Guatemala and thirdly a plan to internationalize what is happening on the ground – that Guatemala has not only annexed a part of our country, the Sarstoon, but also we have to talk about the plundering of our natural resources, the pillaging of our natural resources, the degradation of our environment, the poisoning of our water, the stealing of our natural heritage from Maya sites, our lumber that they are taking. They are taking everything that they can and we need to be able to let the international community understand what is taking place and that they can help us in getting Guatemala to draw back to its original line, to stay in their country and to find a way how we can address the pillaging of our natural resources in Belize.”