P.U.P. rejects Guatemala’s proposals
A Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting the government is expected to take a position in respect of Guatemala’s latest proposal on the referendum. But the People’s United Party has jumped out in front and issued its own take. The background is that Belize and Guatemala met at OAS headquarters in Washington on March seventeenth. At that meeting Guatemala handed over proposals which include a change in the referendum act and believe it or not, that if Belize succeeds with a yes vote on October sixth then Guatemala would hold a referendum. On March twenty-first Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington made a statement outlining those proposals in the House of Representatives. This evening, the P.U.P. said it soundly rejects those proposals, and indeed any proposal which would be in breach of the Special Agreement signed between the parties in December 2008.
Francis Fonseca, Leader of the Opposition
“On Sunday, March seventeenth, 2013, Guatemalan put forward certain proposals that make clear its intention to breach its agreement with Belize to hold simultaneous referenda on October sixth 2013. The P.U.P. rejects any proposal which violates the spirit and letter of the Special Agreement signed by Belize and Guatemala in December 2008. Neither option proposed by Guatemala is acceptable. Guatemala’s latest proposals raise very serious concerns about its good faith in finding a just and definitive solution on this longstanding claim. The P.U.P. has consistently rejected this unfounded claim while always remaining supportive of any initiative that would lead to a definitive and just solution. The P.U.P. does not support the holding of any unilateral referendum on October sixth 2013 or on any other date. We do not support the amendment of our national laws to reduce our threshold participation in referenda simply to accommodate Guatemala. The P.U.P. therefore calls on the Government of Belize to remain resolute in maintaining national and international support for Belize’s inalienable right to self determination with full territorial integrity. Belize is for Belizeans; long live Belize.”
BRAVO. THREE CHEERS FOR SENOR FRANCIS. At the beginning, I was fully in favor of a NO vote but, after reading the research paper of an ex-member of the Guatemalan Belize commision in regards to the Belize Guatemala issue, and as an independent, I was considering a Yes vote but only on the original terms: SIMULTENOUS REFERENDUM. Guatemala has never acted in good faith with Belize and what they have always done is buying time.
It’s about time unu show some cojones and stand up for the belizean people this is a hell of a lot more than than what the udp gov and judas barrow is doing they keep selling out the country.
I say hell with the referendum in any case! Whether it is done simultaniously or other wise what they heck is in this for Belize? NOTHING: so I say NO to the whole process!
In its latest note, Guatemala says it will go forward if we can guarantee their success at the ICJ.
Belize NEVER was ruled by Guatemala, so there is no basis for any claim. They are just a warlike neighbor and the grass on our side of the fence is greener than theirs.
Until the Guats have a fundamental revolution to introduce real democracy, we will always be under threat of aggression from them. We need to prepare for it. We don’t need to conquer Guatemala, we just need to be able to inflict such a high price of blood and money on them that they lose their appetite for conquering us. I believe even our tiny nation can do that.
thanks, PUP is the best party to resolve this. like always.
where is Assad Shoman?
Remove that dun @$$ Elrinton or artificial border man,
Belize unite and take out the UDP not good for Belize
voice your concerns at Belize C.A@belize_1981 on twitter