Guatemalan Squatters along Border a Recurring Problem

The squatting problem along the Belize/Guatemala border by residents of El Barrio Judah in Guatemala has been a recurring issue. Pictures obtained by News Five show Guatemalans clearing lands near the border, on Belizean territory. The pictures and videos were posted by the Mayor of Melchor de Mencos, who reportedly told the residents that they can settle in the area.  It is an issue that the National Security Council has discussed several times and PM Dean Barrow says he does not doubt that the report is true.

Dean Barrow

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“Every time we have a National Security Council meeting there is a report. And that Barrio De Judah is a continuing problem. Remember how the protocol is, we received reports. The B.D.F. goes confirm, makes the in fact the complaint to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Foreign Affairs passes it to the O.A.S., the go and they verify and once they say yes the settlement is in Belize then we are entitled to destroy it. You do it, a few months later they come back so I haven’t heard of this latest incident but I would have no doubt that it is true because it is recurring problem.”