A Final Attempt at Convincing the Masses of Belizean Voters

The relentless media campaign promoting a yes vote has seen a total blitz of radio and television leading up to April tenth.  Ads in favour of Belize going to the I.C.J. are being aired in just about every commercial break.  In between the rollout of new propaganda, government has brought out several bigwig proponents, including five former foreign ministers back in January, who declared their collective position on resolving the Belize/Guatemala territorial dispute at the Hague.  Perhaps its biggest attempt at swaying the electorate has been the public unveiling of a revised legal opinion by former I.C.J. President Stephen Schwebel.  That introduction was done on Thursday to much fanfare from members of the Barrow administration, but was it enough to convince all and sundry that yes is the way to go?

Dean Barrow

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“That would have been a tall order indeed, but we were making an effort to try and persuade those that are still undecided to vote yes, and even perhaps to influence some of those that are currently no to shift to a yes position.”

Reporter

“Based on the authority of Judge Schwebel, but then it can be argued, he’s only repeating weh ih seh eena 2001.”

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“Yes, but as I said, there are those who have said, “Well weh yoh seh eena 2001 it ain’t necessarily so today.  It might not be valid, so I think it was important to have him reiterate the validity and to say, as he has, that the development certainly in the case law or since the opinion was first given, those developments have strengthened the original position.  So I think it was worth it.  You saw the man, I know that, well I imagine that you were altogether impressed with him and I believe it was important that we get this refresher opinion and have him pronounce once again on this issue.”