Opposition Leader: “I believe that we are not going to lose any land”

John Briceño

Opposition Leader John Briceño is pro-I.C.J.  He says that after attempting all other avenues, taking Guatemala’s claim to the I.C.J. is the only way to settle the centuries-old dispute. Briceño strongly believes that Belize will not lose any land if the I.C.J. rules on the matter.

John Briceño, Leader of the Opposition

“I believe that we are not going to lose any land. I really believe that so I do not agree with the Foreign Minister when he says that. I believe that the British may have either a legal or moral obligation to live up to their financial commitment so at most I see a financial commitment may come about but that is something that the British will have to pay not Belize.”

Reporter

“How could the British be involved at this stage when we actually took it upon ourselves to gain independence and decide that we will try and resolve the Guatemala issue? The British is not a factor anymore.”

John Briceño

“It is. They don’t absolve themselves just by saying that it is your problem. They are the one who caused that problem. We as a nation we have to do everything possible to be able to find a solution to this unfounded claim by Guatemala which we do not support for a minute. But if there is anybody that should be held responsible, it is the British. We have our land papers. We are our borders. We have our country and it is a country that we will defend every single inch of it.”