Minister Balderamos-Garcia: “What Israel is doing is Genocide”

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia

Also speaking on the Israel-Hamas war today was Cabinet Minister, Dolores Balderamos-Garcia who expressed full support of Belize’s position and actions against Israel. She says that Belize must be on the right side of history, pointing out that there is still Guatemala’s unfounded claim before the International Court of Justice. But, should the government expect any sort of blowback from Israel’s allies like the United States? Balderamos-Garcia told reporters today that she does not expects too much fallout.

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Human Development, Families & Indigenous People’s Affairs

“I stand absolutely firmly with the decision of our government to have the sanctions on Israel because of the genocide that is happening in Gaza. We must have the courage of our convictions, and we have to stand up for what we say is right. I mean, let us recall. Again, I don’t want to get deeply into the politics of it, but let us recall that we still have a claim by Guatemala that is now in front of the International Court of Justice, and as I said to colleagues when we were Deliberating on this difficult but important decision and bold decision. I said to colleagues that we must never in Belize forget where we came from and how we arrived at our independence and who supported us. Think about it, it’s 2023 and still we haven’t had a decision of the International Court of Justice on Guatemala’s unfounded claim to our country, so we have to know where we stand, People call it a bold move but I believe it has been well thought out. Our Foreign Minister has been an excellent proponent of what we have decided to do. Despite whatever negative fallout, I think we have to stand up and be ready to take it. And I don’t see too much fallout because even CARICOM, who have not been able to really hold one head together, even CARICOM has put out a statement saying that what Israel is doing is genocide and we have to condemn as absolutely wrong.”