So that’s where we were at that point – verification from no less than the O.A.S. that the Belizeans detained had been released. And that’s where the confusion comes in. What exactly are Belizean authorities waiting for? We’re not sure exactly what the problem is, although it is clear that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs […]
So with all the confusion and miscommunication arising out of what seems a very clear cut border incident, what happens next? Well…the Police investigation continues, of course, and then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will do what it has to do, whatever that is. Ret’d. Col. George Lovell, C.E.O., Ministry of National Security “I […]
There is support coming from the Commonwealth Ministerial Committee on the territorial integrity of Belize. After weeks of tension between Belize and Guatemala since the death of Julio Alvarado Ruano, the government has been seeking support from its allies. Earlier this week, Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington met with the committee to discuss recent events happening […]
Tonight we have more details on the alleged kidnapping of two – not one, Mennonite farmers who were clearing fire breaks on a large plot of land which adjoins the Guatemalan border last Thursday. To recap, in Monday’s newscast, we brought you Roger Plett’s very compelling story of being taken off his tractor by Guatemalan […]
There was another incident on the farm the next day. Watchman Rogelio Barrientos was allegedly approached by fifteen military officers, and a request was made for heavy equipment to be handed over to the Guatemalans. A distress call was sent to Police who responded, and then called in backup. But local law enforcement allegedly decided […]
That brings us to officialdom – first the Police. San Ignacio Police aren’t talking. They would only say that an investigation is underway and a release was sent out from the Commissioner’s Office on Monday. We never got that release. They cannot provide any other information because of the sensitive nature of the incident – […]
There is an incredible story coming out of the borderland between Belize and Guatemala behind Spanish Lookout. It involves allegations of kidnapping, assault and damage to property. Last Thursday, Mennonite Roger Plett claims that he was physically detained by the Guatemalan military and taken off the farm he was working, into Guatemalan territory. It’s a […]
We break from Plett’s mesmerizing account of his kidnapping to take you on the ground for some real time perspective. As we told you, the Plett farm lies on the border with Guatemala, and a fire is what apparently led to last Thursday’s unexpected and dangerous encounter. Our News Team went hiking through still burning […]
There’s plenty more to this story, including how Plett managed to make his way back, and also the matter of his bulldozer operator who was also detained by Guatemalans and only just managed to escape by driving straight through the fire. We’ll have all that in Tuesday’s newscast. But here’s an amazing thing. The Police […]
Over the weekend News Five was able to reach a representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via phone. He told us that they had been able to verify with the O.A.S. that no military personnel from Guatemala were in that border area behind Spanish Lookout. Plett, however, says that he was there and he […]
Finally, talks between Belize and Guatemala are to take place all the way in Istanbul, Turkey. Government announced today that protocols for the Sarstoon will be discussed at the Istanbul meeting on Saturday between Foreign Ministers Wilfred Elrington and Carlos Raul Morales and their respective delegations. The venue for the meeting has been determined following […]
Over the weekend, several photos of at least three events were posted on the official Twitter and Facebook accounts of the Guatemalan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Guatemalan military. The first set of photos shows the Guatemalan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Raul Morales, along with the Guatemalan Minister of Defence, Brigadier General Williams Mansilla […]
As we bring you the news tonight, Cayo Police are still trying to verify very disturbing reports at the farthest regions of their jurisdiction near the Guatemalan border. Unofficially, News Five understands that two Mennonite farmers were clearing a fire-break with a bulldozer on their farm near the El Pilar archaeological site. That’s when we […]
And on more issue on the Sarstoon. A provocative article appeared today in Prensa Libre, the mouthpiece of the Guatemala government which is upping the ante on the Sarstoon. The Guatemalan government is maintaining that the B.D.F. is provoking it’s troops stationed in the Sarstoon. According the article, the B.D.F. is not complying with established […]
A video released on Tuesday here on News Five shows two vessels of the Guatemalan Armed Forces provoking the B.D.F. and blocking soldiers from entering the Sarstoon. It is not the first time that this has happened. The G.A.F. is now in control of the Sarstoon and pronouncements, at the highest level, of peace and […]
The government of Guatemala has responded to the disturbing video in which the Guatemalan military tells the B.D.F. to “respect the protocol,” while the B.D.F. was attempting to traverse the Sarstoon last week. Today’s edition of the Prensa Libre newspaper states that Foreign Minister Carlos Raul Morales could not ascertain when the incident happened. But […]
Since the discussions in Washington last week between the Foreign Ministers Wilfred Elrington and Carlos Raul Morales, there have been no further talks about the deteriorating situation in the Sarstoon where the Guatemalan army is consistently harassing the B.D.F. In fact, while Morales and Elrington sat with the O.A.S. Secretary General, two G.A.F. vessels blocked the B.D.F. […]
Protests by indigenous people in Guatemala City on Wednesday paralyzed a major part of the City after main thoroughfares were blocked. The indigenous people are demanding access to basic necessities which deprive them of a decent way of life. But while President Jimmy Morales is facing deep discontent, the military continues to taunt the B.D.F. […]
Guatemalan military officers have been caught on camera bullying the Belize Defense Force in the Sarstoon which they now fully control. The B.D.F. is now told to “respect the protocol” to traverse the river. While there is anger in many quarters, earlier today we canvassed the opinion of regular folks on the disturbing situation in […]
Two weeks ago, we aired a video of an encounter between the Belize Defence Force and the Guatemalan Armed Forces in the Sarstoon in which the B.D.F. and the police were caught off guard in dealing with the Guatemalan military and at least one sergeant was later demoted. But there has been little official information […]
As recent as March sixteen this year, we asked the B.D.F. Commander, brigadier David Jones if in fact the situation in the Sarstoon was regressing for the B.D.F., as well as for civilians. Now, we know that the recently enacted Sarstoon Law prevents passage by Belizeans to the river without authorization. That is in addition […]
Aside from the B.D.F., Coastguard and Police, others are similarly being blocked from traversing the Sarstoon River. The Sarstoon and Temash Institute of Indigenous Management, SATIIM, is one such N.G.O. Its park rangers were prohibited from traversing the Sarstoon River last Thursday when they checked in at the Forward Operating Base before commencing their monthly […]
As much as fifteen million U.S. dollars will be invested in climate change programs in Belize. The Japanese Government today launched the Japan Caribbean Climate Change Partnership Project which is intended to make Belize resilient to the impacts of the natural phenomenon. News Five’s Duane Moody reports. Duane Moody, Reporting Climate change is recognized […]
At news time it is still not certain if there are any planned meetings between Belize and Guatemala in respect of the Sarstoon even though government says it is cautiously optimistic about a resolution. The Foreign Ministers of Belize and Guatemala met in Washington last week, but from what we gathered, there have been no […]
Still on the issue of the controversial Sarstoon Law….as we said, the People’s United Party held its first National Party Council meeting at the Belize Elementary Auditorium. The N.P.C. discussed and passed a resolution on its role in respect of the ongoing talks with Guatemala, following a request by the Prime Minister Dean Barrow last […]
