The Guatemala flag: up or down?

The debate has been slowly building for weeks. Fueled by frustration over Guatemala’s disrespect for Belize’s sovereignty, many Belizeans are looking for a gesture–any gesture–to accurately display their feelings. The Guatemalan flag at the northern entrance to the city has become a focal point, and Ann-Marie Williams was on site during the morning rush hour.

Ann-Marie Williams

“There were few in numbers, but their faith was strong. Strong in what they felt was the right thing to do, picket to protest the flying of the Guatemalan flag at this flag monument.”

The flag in question is this blue and white flag with the Quetzal bird in the middle. Guatemalan settlers, with the encouragement of their government, have established settlements on the Belize side of the border and are claiming our land. This has breathed life into the aged-old Belize-Guatemala dispute.

Attorney Sharon Pitts has been picketing each morning fore several days.

Sharon Pitts

“Where a country has a certain negative attitude to Belize, it’s claiming Belize and in addition it’s prepared to defend its claim against Belizean militarily as was the position last week. The Guatemalan flag should not be flown at this roundabout, along with other flags in a place, which we would say is a place of honour for flags. All the other countries have good relations with Belize and we want Guatemala to know and understand that we will not tolerate their situation.”

Frank Lizama says he too will not tolerate their situation.

Frank Lizama

“I’m out here again today because I think the flag that is flying over our place of honour is a disgrace to my country. On the borderline, the soldiers are told to let the Guatemalans take down their flag when they come over this side, yet our Prime Minister put the Guatemala flag at a place of honour in Belize and I think that this is wrong.”

And several Belizean drivers we spoke to had mixed feelings.

Citizen #1

“I think all Belizeans should just come ahead and fly our flag and show that we are ready to unite with each other and fight for Belize.”

Citizen #2

“Generations from way back and generations to come, all the people and the parents and the politicians, are teaching their young ones that Belize is there’s from day one, so they don’t have any respect for us, so take it down. As simple as that.”

Citizen #3

“Of course you should, that’s one way we can show our support as Belizeans.”

Citizen #4

“The more you give them, the more they’ll want. If we leave them with that little piece that they are on now, they’ll want more after that, so it better to take it down.”

Citizen #5

“I think if they have something where they can actually show protest, but lower it, I’m more for that.”

Citizen #6

“Depending on how you feel about Guatemala and what they’re doing, in terms of hampering the efforts that we are trying to keep peace at the border and all that, if you are that type of person, then you’d say take it down. But if you’re the person who wants to keep peace, you’d say keep it up.”

Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.