Guatemala to attend technical talks
Besides the National Health Insurance scheme, the Prime Minister took a few moments this morning to discuss the Guatemala issue. He announced that the Guatemalan Government has agreed to attend a technical level meeting on the 25th of this month. The technical meetings will pave the way for later meetings on the territorial dispute at the ministerial level and then between heads of government. The Prime Minister said Belize must continue to press for a resolution of the issue because it has persisted for too long. He says despite recent inflammatory remarks by Vice Minister Rafael Salazar, the new administration led by President Alfonso Portillo has expressed its willingness to work towards a solution.
Said Musa
“Our goal is for the complete normalization of relations with the Republic of Guatemala. And Belizeans can rest assure that any future proposed settlement will be put to the people in a referendum. As an independent sovereign nation, who’s long established borders are enshrined in our constitution and recognized by the world community, Belize will not negotiate out of fear, but neither will we fear to negotiate.”
Prime Minister Musa also announced the composition of a National Advisory Commission on Belize and Guatemala. Members include: former ambassador James Hyde as Chairman, Attorney General Godfrey Smith, Area Representative for Toledo East Mike Espat, Dr. Gilda Lewis of the NABR, Herman Byrd of the Association of Tertiary Level Institutions, Eduardo Melendrez of the National Trade Union Congress, and a representative of the Association of National Development Agencies who is yet to be named. Ambassador Assad Shoman will be a special advisor to the Commission and Lawrence Sylvestre will be the rapporteur. An invitation to join the commission was extended to the Opposition United Democratic Party, but they have declined. The UDP says it considers the commission to be just a public relations exercise and is unwilling to participate in light of the government housing project which has been started on land near their headquarters by Bel-China Bridge before their was a court ruling on the matter.
