Limited Funds Available for I.C.J. Referendum Campaign

Patrick Faber

Belize recently received a two hundred and fifty thousand U.S.-dollar donation from the U.S. Government for its referendum campaign on taking Guatemala’s territorial claim to the International Court of Justice. The education campaign has been ongoing, but low-key. The Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington has put the cost of the campaign at eight million dollars, but it is believed it will cost substantively more. Today, Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber told the media that the campaign needs to step up, but monies are simply not there.

Patrick Faber, Deputy Prime Minister

“The campaign is ongoing although we continue to try to find monies to ensure that it is stepped us. I believe that we received contributions from one of the countries that presented credentials to the Government General last week. The campaign goes on; you see ambassador Rosado from time to time in country. I know that he and his team have led these discussions and where the presentations have been made; I can tell you that I have seen people make complete turnarounds in terms of their position when they hear the facts as presented by Ambassador Rosado, when they listen to Ambassador Shoman speak, when they listen to some of the history that is sometimes overlooked with all the passion of the persons who are supporting a NO vote. You see that people see where a YES vote is possible and we see gradual movements. But I would agree with you that we do need to step up in terms of that campaign in terms of getting out the facts and in terms of appealing to Belizeans not to go so much by your emotions, but look at the facts.  We need to beef it up and I think it needs to be more on the mainstream media, but it all costs money and that is the big issue; where are these funds to come from and we continue to try to secure that kind of funding.”