A No Vote Can Be Catastrophic for Belize

We are one hundred and four days away from the April tenth I.C.J. Referendum. The Belize Referendum Commission is the official body in charge in carrying out a proper and well-resourced referendum campaign. The People’s United Party is demanding that the education campaign be re-designed, managed and implemented by a well-resourced, independent commission. The government supports a YES vote to take the claim to the I.C.J. for final resolution.  Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred Elrington, who was seen as the face of the referendum campaign, tells News Five that he had proposed to cabinet that the Prime Minister should play a more active and public role in the campaign.

Wilfred Elrington

Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“Controversial and scandalous statements, again I have always thought that people who characterized them as controversial and scandalous are people who really and truly did not appreciate the meaning of those expressions. So I have never attributed much importance to those assertions. But since 2008 I have been the Foreign Minister of Belize, the only Foreign Minister and if I would to tell tales out of school, once we had achieve the 2008 Special Agreement and once the Guatemalans has successfully concluded their referendum I had said to Cabinet and to the Prime Minister that he had to be the face of the referendum now. I could not take it any further because it is a matter of such great importance. It is a matter of such great national importance that he should step to the fore. It is similar to the situation where you have John the Baptist proclaiming the coming of Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ comes and the Baptist has no more role. This is crunch time and the person who must lead at this moment is the Prime Minister. It has been tremendously uplifting to see the enthusiasm with which Ambassador Shoman has in fact joined in the process. I have oral as well as written communication showing where my support for his involvement has been absolute and unconditional when it comes to this Belize/Guatemala issue and the education campaign, absolute and unconditional. His position on these issues is identical to mine. His passion to my mind is identical to mind and maybe it is even more passionate given the fact that he understands because of the Arab/Israel conflict how catastrophic a no vote can be. It is the last thing he wants to see for Belize. So he has no hesitation in jumping with both feet in this education. So I have not been sidelined as I have said over the years.”