Deputy P.M. Expresses Distaste for Activities by Guatemalans in Chiquibul

Friends for Conservation and Development is reporting that the “Yes” vote to the International Court of Justice may have embolden the Guatemalans because since then, they have been increased incursions deep within Belizean territory. Just this week, the FCD’s rangers were on patrol and found new survey lines and crops as deep as two point seven kilometers within the Chiquibul. In light of these recent developments, FCD is now asking for more patrols in the area. Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber told the media today that he didn’t know more than what was reported in the news.

Patrick Faber

Patrick Faber, Deputy Prime Minister

“What I can tell you is that while we continue to work things out diplomatically, something as serious as that, incursions, where they are putting up survey pegs and all of that in our territory; from my understand, very limited understanding I reiterate, it is not in the agency zone, this is actually in the Belizean territory and that kind of thing we ought to dissuade and we ought to move strongly against. We have not discussed it as a cabinet or beyond what I have seen or heard on the news.”

In related news, the Belize-Guatemala Joint Commission met for the second time this year in Guatemala City. Both sides discussed the implementation of four of the thirteen bilateral agreements signed between the two countries. The agreements include: the Movement of Students, the Protection of the Environment, Tourism, and the Operating Hours of Terrestrial Entry Points. The Parties will hold respective technical meetings prior to the next meeting of the Joint Commission which will be held during the last week of this month.