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When we sat with the Foreign Minister Elrington today, we asked him about developments in Venezuela where the Opposition leader, Juan Guaido, has installed himself as the interim president though Nicolas Maduro is the elected president. For Belize, it is a very sensitive matter because the country has benefited from the Venezuelan largesse through the […]
The People’s United Party has taken its formal possession on the April tenth referendum. Following a series of nationwide consultations and a meeting of standard bearers of the thirty-one constituencies, the P.U.P. launched what it calls a People’s Declaration. P.U.P. leader John Briceño was flanked by standards bearers when he delivered a consensus document that […]
On Tuesday, cabinet approved a consensus position of a YES vote, which means that the lines are clearly drawn between the two main political parties. In a release, the government said that the entire cabinet was fully convinced that Belize needs to take the territorial claim by Guatemala to the International Court of Justice. Today, […]
A significant event in the city today was a mock referendum on taking the Guatemalan claim to the International Court of Justice. It all happened at Saint Catherine’s Academy and we partnered with the high school for the event as part of our I.C.J. series. Now, preparations began since last year and culminated today with […]
Belizean Citizens Abroad has taken offense to comments made by Foreign Affairs Minister, Wilfred Elrington. On Monday, Elrington was asked about the possibility of Belizeans who are living in another country to vote in the upcoming I.C.J. referendum on April tenth. Elrington responded by saying that the referendum should be for Belizeans who live and […]
And while that is Elrington’s views – Minister Edmond Castro says he believes Belizeans living abroad can vote as long as they meet the requirements set forth by law. The requirement is that they must be living in the country for two months which is most difficult for most Belizeans who live in the U.S. […]
Last week, we saw the monumental signing of a declaration by five former Foreign Ministers, including Prime Minister Dean Barrow, to say “Yes to the I.C.J.” And as you have seen on this newscast over the past few months, several members of the House of Representatives have gone on record to say how they will […]
At midnight on December twenty-first, the U.S. Government initiated a partial shut-down and it has stretched on to be the longest shut down in that country’s history. Because President Donald Trump rejected a congressional budget compromise that triggered the shutdown, suggesting that it could “ last a very long time” unless he get the funds […]
Prime Minister Dean Barrow is in Cuba on his state visit to the island where he recently underwent surgery. He met Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez and both paid tribute on Tuesday to José Martí, a national hero of Cuba. During their meeting, President Díaz-Canel and PM Barrow discussed issues of regional integration and areas […]
While Briceño says there is no rift in the party, in the wake of the signing of a seven-point declaration, several P.U.P. politicians have spoken out giving various reasons for and against taking the Guatemalan claim to the International Court of Justice. Today, former opposition leader and attorney general Francis Fonseca gave his perspective. Fonseca […]
Last Wednesday, former Prime Minister Said Musa agreed that a protocol should be in place between Belize and Guatemala where it concerns access to the Sarstoon River. He also said that the agreement should have been put in place ahead of the I.C.J. referendum in April. Today, former P.U.P. leader Francis Fonseca was asked the […]
Earlier today when we caught up with the P.U.P. leader, we asked him a number of questions with respect to the I.C.J. In October 2018, John Briceño embarked on a countrywide listening tour to get feedback from party supporters on the upcoming referendum on April tenth. Last Tuesday, he sent out a release saying that […]
The media also asked Briceño for a reaction to the comments made by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wilfred Elrington, on Monday. When asked about his thoughts on Diasporans voting in the upcoming referendum, Minister Elrington said that the referendum is for Belizeans who “live in Belize and who work in Belize and who will suffer […]
In 2010, the People’s United Party began discussing what is referred to as the Courtenay Doctrine, after former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eamon Courtenay. Courtenay was the only former foreign minister who did not sign the I.C.J. Declaration. Courtenay believes in an alternative to going to a referendum on April tenth. He believes there is […]
Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred Elrington on Wednesday sat front row and center, observing five former Foreign Affairs Ministers sign a declaration expressing their firm support to take Guatemala’s claim to the ICJ for final resolution. It was a historic event that unfolded in Belize City with former P.U.P. Prime Minister Said Musa sharing the stage […]
The I.C.J. remains a hot-button issue. On Wednesday, the only ex-Foreign Affairs Minister who did not sign the I.C.J. Declaration was Senator Eamon Courtenay. That’s because he chose not to be part of what he described as a “circus.” According to Courtenay, former Prime Minister Said Musa had emailed him in October 2018, requesting him […]
Written on January 14, 2019 | Posted in
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According to Eamon Courtenay, certain conditions must and should have been fulfilled before Belizeans go to the polls on April tenth. He says that the legal opinion on the I.C.J. must be updated along with the Maritime Area Act. Courtenay also believes that the Representation of the People’s Act must be amended to allow Belizeans […]
Written on January 14, 2019 | Posted in
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The media also asked Minister Wilfred Elrington about a recent telephone poll conducted by pollBelize.org regarding the I.C.J. Referendum. According to the poll, there is an increasing number of voters who have chosen to vote ‘no’ on April tenth. But for Minister Elrington, the results of the poll are not relevant. He says that polls […]
Friends for Conservation and Development has been documenting threats within the Chiquibul Forest for eleven years. Those threats include illegal logging, poaching, and gold panning, which was the biggest threat in 2017. But according to Executive Director Rafael Manzanero, there is an even bigger threat on the horizon. It’s known as “narco-cattle ranching” and it […]
Written on January 14, 2019 | Posted in
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Former Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Courtenay has made it quite clear what he thinks about the Government’s latest move to push a ‘yes’ vote for the upcoming April tenth ICJ referendum. On Wednesday, five former Foreign Affairs Ministers Said Musa, Godfrey Smith, Lisa Shoman, Assad Shoman, and PM Dean Barrow signed a declaration in support […]
According to Courtenay, one of the fundamental reasons why he decided not to be part of the collaborative work of the five former Foreign Affairs Ministers is because the declaration is misleading the Belizean public. Eamon Courtenay, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs “This thing for example as far as I am concerned misrepresents things, […]
During the discussion this morning, Courtenay proposed an alternative to holding a referendum and taking Guatemala’s claim to the I.C.J. Courtenay is proposing a ‘deep freeze’ scenario in which both countries would agree to halt negotiations for two and a half decade. Eamon Courtenay, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs “My belief is that we […]
Courtenay says that if Belizeans go to the polls on April tenth, he will not attempt to convince them to vote ‘yes’ unless certain conditions are achieved by the government. Eamon Courtenay, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs “One, there must be and update for a legal opinion. Two, there must be a legal opinion […]
Earlier you heard former Foreign Minister Eamon Courtenay saying he won’t support going to the I.C.J. if certain conditions are not met. Another P.U.P. colleague shares similar views. Caribbean Shores Area Representative, Kareem Musa says he does not agree with his father, two-time Prime Minister and Fort George Area Representative, Said Musa who supports a […]
P.U.P.’s Cayo South Area Representative, Julius Espat, says that he was not impressed with the five former foreign ministers who signed the I.C.J. declaration in support of a ‘yes’ vote. According to Espat, Wednesday’s high profile event was nothing more than a show in which the government showcases its disregard for the public’s sentiment on […]
