P.M. Barrow comments on I.C.J. process

Turning to another hot button issue, on Monday the document, which sets out the path to the I.C.J., will finally be signed in Washington by representatives of both Belize and Guatemala. But ever since it was announced that the compromis has been agreed upon, Belizeans far and wide have been expressing concern about what is in the document and asking that the document be made public before it is signed. We broached that topic this morning with P.M. Barrow. According to the P.M., the decision to keep the compromis confidential was a mutual agreement between the countries and was a way for Belize to assist Guatemala to “move ahead without missteps” as the internal processes in that country continue to be tricky. Barrow reiterated that Belizeans will still get to have their say come next week.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow
“It’s not as though in making that kind of commitment to the way the process would unfold, we were in anyway short changing the Belizean people. You negotiate agreements on a fairly regular basis as part of your foreign policy and as long as you ensure that ultimately what you negotiate is going to have the light shun on it in terms of publicity, in terms of the Belizean people knowing what’s taking place, you are okay. After the agreement is signed it will be taken to the National Assembly, it will be made public right away, so there will be a chance for public debate. One critic suggested that a reason for taking it before hand is that the national assembly might reject it. There is some merit conceptually to that but practically, I don’t think that holds much water. I’m not trying to presume too much but, but the government does control—for now—does have the majority not only in the lower House, but in the Senate so there’s hardly any chance of that materializing. But even if it were to materialize, then that is as it should be.”