The information from the commandant is that when Mr. Ramirez was intercepted the first time, he refused to be searched, refused to go through the normal procedures at the outposts. He then left or escaped Belize and then two hours later, I’m told, he reentered Belize illegally. And when he was sighted by the security forces, he came out of the house wielding a machete. The security officer who avoided him, and from the reports the Ministry has received, he stepped back several times and every time he spoke in Spanish, after speaking in English, saying “alto”. And I guess after he could not move any further and after the deceased insisted on aggressing the officer, wielding the machete and I understand, one or more of the chops came inches away from that soldier’s head and I believe if he had not preserved his life, then he would have been chopped and possibly killed.

We have nothing to hide. We are not going to cover anyone. And while we continue to believe the reports we have received from the Commandants of the Belize Defense Force, the Commissioner of Police, because of the importance of maintaining a healthy professional relationship with Guatemala, our government has appointed a commission of inquiry that in fact will even offer the Guatemalans to make representation. And in fact we have invited the Guatemalans to come and observe the proceedings because we take it seriously. And as I said in my statement, we seek confrontation with no one but we do insist that everyone recognizes our sovereignty and respects our laws.