Military Relationship Warm Compared to Political Deep Freeze

David Jones

Recently, Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington indicated that he has been unable to engage Guatemalan Foreign Affairs Minister, Carlos Raul Morales in any discussion. The breakdown in communication has been since the results of the international independent investigation into the shooting death of thirteen year old Julio Rene Alvarado Ruano exonerated the B.D.F. from killing the Guatemalan minor.  Commander David Jones says that his experience with his counterpart in Guatemala is quite the contrary.

Brig. Gen. David Jones, Commander, Belize Defense Force

“No, I’m not having the same experience. General Perez is in communication with me every week. If there is something that needs to be discussed, if there is something that occurs in the Sarstoon we talk about it. As soon as the incident occurred with the SATIIM vessel, I spoke with him on the phone and we don’t have a difficulty communicating. I can reach him any time I want to; he can reach me anytime he wants to…so the relationship I have militarily is still the same; it hasn’t changed. I haven’t seen any hostility from General Perez towards myself; the relationship is still cordial. We still want to work at a peaceful solution to what’s happening in the Sarstoon and along the western border with Guatemala.”