New Developments in Belize/Guatemala I.C.J. Journey

There is significant development to report on tonight, in respect of Guatemala’s territorial, insular and maritime claim to Belize.  That claim was filed before the International Court of Justice back in April of this year, following referenda in both countries in 2019.  Guatemala’s Memorial, as it is known, avers what Guatemala is claiming in terms of continental land, islands and seas, as well as the legal grounds for such claims.  The rules of the World Court, however, do not prohibit the disclosure of Guatemala’s pleadings, and Belize is required to abide these rules.  A release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs late this evening states, “the ministry is aware that all Belizeans are rightly anxious to know what Guatemala is claiming, since it has made varying claims to different parts of Belize’s territory over the years.  While at times it has laid claim to all of Belizean territory, at others it has limited itself to claiming a part, albeit a substantial part.”  The most explicit formulation of the claim made in modern times was that contained in a letter from Guatemala’s Foreign Minister addressed to Belize’s Prime Minister on October eighteenth, 1999 in which, although the claim to other parts of the territory was not expressly abandoned, Guatemala declared that the territory between the rivers Sibun and Sarstoon should, quote, revert to Guatemala, being an integral part of the Verapaz province. The letter also protested the, quote, de facto occupation of the islands adjacent to Belize, unquote. Guatemalan governments since then have tended to follow the line laid down in that letter and have refrained from claiming the entire territory. Foreign Minister Eamon Courtenay and Leslie Mendez represent the Government in this process. Leader of the Opposition Patrick Faber has named Michael Peyrefitte and Godwin Hulse as representatives of the Opposition who will remain fully engaged and informed of the process.