P.U.P. Says NO to I.C.J. in People’s Declaration; Demands Removal of Minister Elrington

The People’s United Party has taken its formal possession on the April tenth referendum. Following a series of nationwide consultations and a meeting of standard bearers of the thirty-one constituencies, the P.U.P. launched what it calls a People’s Declaration.  P.U.P. leader John Briceño was flanked by standards bearers when he delivered a consensus document that had been approved by its National Executive and will now go before the party council for its nod. The declaration says that after considering all the aspects of the education campaign, the unreadiness for the referendum and the position of supporters, the party says NO to the I.C.J.  The P.U.P. also makes a number of demands on the government. News Five’s Hipolito Novelo reports.

Hipolito Novelo, Reporting

The People’s United Party is recommending that Belizeans vote NO to the I.C.J.  The recommendation comes after P.U.P. Leader, John Briceño, held consultations in all thirty=one constituencies. Briceño today launched the People’s Declaration.

John Briceño

John Briceño, P.U.P. Leader

“The People’s United Party recalls the Party’s proud history of defending the rights of the Belizean people to self-determination and successfully leading Belize to political independence with all our territory intact as defined by the 1859 Treaty. Deplores Guatemala’s refusal to accept the integrity of the long established Belizean borders and its insistence on maintaining its unfounded claim to Belizean territory.  Respects  the sacred right of the Belizean people to decide whether or not we should submit the unfounded claim by Guatemala to Belizean territory to the International Court of Justice for final adjudication. Convinced that the Belizean people as a matter of conscience should exercise their right to decide on this issue free from fear mongering and on the basis of informed consent, which can only be achieved after an open, balanced and comprehensive education campaign. Strongly condemns the mismanagement of Belize – Guatemala relations by the Barrow Administration and the continued incompetence of Foreign Minister Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington especially in relation to activities along our borders, including the government’s failure to negotiate a protocol on the Sarstoon. Having duly considered all aspects of the education campaign, the state of un-readiness for the I.C.J. Referendum scheduled for the tenth of April 2019 and the majority no position of party supporters.”

And with that Opposition Leader declared that ‘the decision whether or not to submit the Guatemalan Claim to Belizean territory for final adjudication is a national issue that should only be submitted to a referendum after a balanced, fully resourced and comprehensive education campaign and that the ‘current education campaign being conducted by the Government of Belize is disorganized, under-financed and not sufficiently balanced.’ Briceno then made several demands including the immediate removal of Wilfred Elrington as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Wilfred Elrington

John Briceño

“That the education campaign be re-designed, managed and implemented by a well-resourced, independent Referendum Commission. That: the Referendum Act be amended to make the results of all referenda binding; the Maritime Areas Act be amended to claim for Belize the full extent of rights under international law; the Representation of the People Act be amended to allow Belizeans abroad to vote in the Belize – Guatemala I.C.J. referendum, and to guarantee the integrity of the voting and counting of ballots in an I.C.J. Referendum and; that the current legal opinion be revised and updated to include the latest information and developments on the territorial and maritime claim and that the updated opinion be widely circulated. That the backlog at the Vital Statistics Office, which is being caused due to political interference and mismanagement, be cleared up so that Belizeans applying for their documents can receive them in a timely manner and that immediate action be taken to ensure equal access and treatment be given to all Belizeans. That all persons who have satisfied the requirements for registration as electors be allowed to vote in an I.C.J. Referendum. The immediate removal of Wilfred ‘Sedi’ Elrington as Foreign Minister.”

Briceño says that the P.U.P. will ‘remain vigilant and proactive in defending the national interest at this critical time in the history of Belize.’ Hipolito Novelo, News Five.