Sarstoon Showdown! G.A.F. Orders Belizeans to Return; B.D.F. Stands Its Ground

The Sarstoon is back in the news tonight and according to BTV Leader Wil Maheia, Guatemalan Armed Forces attempted to sink the boat Belizeans were attempting to traverse the river in.  This morning, Maheia was escorting members of the Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management up the Sarstoon to Black Creek. The purpose of the trip was to investigate reports of Guatemalans stealing timber. After notifying the Belize Defence Force of their trip and purpose, Maheia and the others set out to Black Creek. After a few minutes on the river, the group of Belizeans noticed that they were being followed by the GAF, who attempted to block their passage.  Video of the incident shows the GAF telling Maheia that the Sarstoon River is incorporated in Guatemalan laws and he proceeds to demand documentation from the Belizean group.  The GAF further orders them to return because Sarstoon Island and the river are not part of Belize, but Guatemalan property. Maheia explains.

Wil Maheia, Leader, B.T.V.

Wil Maheia

“This was a trip where the BTV offered to take SATIIM  up the Sarstoon into Black Creek to investigate some alleged stealing of timber by Guatemalans. So we left Punta Gorda Town at around seven thirty this morning en route to the Sarstoon with the intention of going to Black Creek. We stopped in at the BDF base. We checked in. The BDF was very nice and everything and when we got to the BDF base they told that we can go ahead and proceed. About ten minutes after we were on the river, we heard this sound coming. When we looked back it was the Guatemalan Armed Forces. They came and they stopped us. You’ll see in three instances where they stopped us. We explained to them that we were in Belize. Secondly, you’ll see where they tried their best to intimidate us, trying to sink our boat as a matter of fact.  I just want to say that the BDF today showed themselves really well against the Guatemalans who insisted on blocking us from going up the river, The BDF held their own and when the Guatemalans tried to block, the BDF stepped up and was really professional about it and stopping the Guatemalans from blocking us.”