In his press conference last week Prime Minister Dean Barrow claimed that if the P.U.P. goes to the Sarstoon it could undermine all the progress that has been made in talks with Guatemala. We’re not sure what real progress has actually been made, since none is visible and the government hasn’t provided details of any. […]
The government of Belize has rejected the P.U.P.’s demand to rescind the Sarstoon Prohibition Regulation, via a release interestingly titled Government Announces Limited Access to Sarstoon. The release clarifies that there were two rationales behind the law – one, to avoid harm to Belizeans going into the Sarstoon because of the tensions there and two, […]
Government says it is cautiously optimistic about progress to solve the situation at the Sarstoon. But the Guatemalan military is not indicating any such optimism. Over the weekend, press reports say that the government beefed up its military vessels inside the Sarstoon River. According to a report in the Prensa Libre, customs and immigration officials […]
On Thursday, we told you about a SATIIM trip cut unexpectedly short after rangers were denied entry to the Sarstoon by the Belize Defense Force. The boat carrying rangers was heading on a routine patrol to monitor illegal activity in the area of Black Creek, which must be accessed via the Sarstoon. That infamous S.I. […]
At a press conference on Thursday, the Prime Minister appealed to the People’s United Party to stand down from a visit to the Sarstoon. He asked them to return to the negotiating table in respect of discussions on the ongoing situation at that volatile zone. The P.U.P. has indicated that it will, if certain conditions […]
The National Trade Union Congress of Belize has also come out swinging against the recently enacted Sarstoon Law. This afternoon, the N.T.U.C.B. issued a release decrying the piece of legislation, as well as the manner in which it was brought into effect a week ago. The N.T.U.C.B. criticizes Section Two of the Public Safety Act […]
The N.T.U.C.B. has taken a singular position chiding government for its outwardly impulsive decision to effect the Sarstoon Law. Its executives, however, were not all sold on the idea that the law is altogether a bad thing, but what is unanimous is that the law is seemingly a knee-jerk reaction which comes with a sweeping […]
Now here is the thing. There is, according to the Prime Minister, a breakthrough coming out of the meetings in Washington, but he can’t tell us what that breakthrough is. There is progress, but the Prime Minister is also not able to say what that progress is, in even the minutest detail. There was no […]
If all that leaves you shaking your head, we’re in the same boat. But the media persisted, very interested in hearing details about all the splendid progress, and especially interested in this breakthrough in discussion on the particularly volatile Sarstoon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister “Sir, the press conference is to report to the people […]
The government of Guatemala is incensed at comments made by Prime Minister Dean Barrow at a press conference held in Belmopan on Tuesday. So incensed that today Guatemala issued a fiery release which states that, “The Government of the Republic of Guatemala regrets and rejects the unfortunate statements made by the Prime Minister of Belize, […]
That very interesting and passionate release from Guatemala also took another turn, in between furious rant and commitment to peaceful resolution. It makes reference to the bi-lateral meeting between Belize and Guatemala held on Tuesday, stating that, “there was a meeting between the foreign ministers of both countries, in which this and other matters relevant […]
On Tuesday, we brought you the highlights of the Prime Minister’s press conference on the very volatile state of events between Belize and Guatemala. But there was much more of interest coming out of that short briefing during which the PM fielded questions – including this pointed query. How did we get from the point […]
The People’s United Party announced on Tuesday that it plans to proceed with a scheduled trip to the Sarstoon River, despite an existing Statutory Instrument forbidding travel to the river now controlled by Guatemalans. The last trek to the river by a delegation of Belizeans was met with resistance by police and coast guard. So, […]
So the P.U.P.’s National Executive and delegates of the Party Council may head to the Sarstoon sooner, rather than later. But as the BTV found out on Saturday, heading to that controversial river is not the same thing as actually reaching that controversial river. It’s going to be an interesting proposition for the constitutional Opposition, […]
And speaking about fishing, since the Coast Guard and Police are so diligently enforcing the laws in the Sarstoon and surrounds where Belizeans are concerned, will they do the same for Guatemalans who are breaking the law by not only fishing illegally, but also trespassing illegally on the Belizean side of the Sarstoon? You probably […]
The P.U.P.’s position on the recently enacted SI is fairly simple. From the onset, the party has flatly rejected and continues to criticize the knee-jerk piece of law, banning local travel to the Sarstoon. In fact, the Opposition is challenging the legality of the Sarstoon Law and wants it rescinded. On Tuesday, former P.U.P. Leader […]
Last Friday, the Government of Belize passed a most controversial law to prevent the Belize Territorial Volunteers from entering the Sarstoon, over which the Guatemalans are now in full control. We will have that story later, but today, the Prime Minister spoke for the first time of that law and other developments in the Sarstoon. […]
There are many issues on the table between Belize and Guatemala, including what the Prime Minister has termed a crisis averted. But even before that crisis following the Chiquibul incident, the Sarstoon remained a volatile point between countries. So what exactly will the Belizean delegation discuss when it sits across from Guatemala in Washington? […]
As we said a little later, an expedition planned by the Belize Territorial Volunteers for the Sarstoon this past weekend was halted by elements of the Belize Coast Guard and the Police. In fact, the expedition didn’t even get off the ground, so to speak. The Prime Minister had no apology today, and instead hoped […]
With the Sarstoon under lock to Belizeans by both Guatemalan and Belizean law enforcement, all eyes are on the diplomatic channels being maneuvered. That hasn’t worked out so well to this point, but at least where government is concerned, hope springs eternal. But today, PM Barrow explained that it’s not really eternal at all – […]
In one of his recent interviews condemning Belize, Guatemala’s Foreign Minister Carlos Raul Morales claims that he has an agreement with his counterpart, Wilfred Elrington, in which no Belizean would go to Sarstoon Island. That’s an extraordinary agreement to which we’ve certainly not been made privy. Prime Minister Barrow today told us that that’s because […]
Hours prior to the Prime Minister’s press conference in the capital, the People’s United Party briefed the media in Belize City. The National Executive approved five measures that the party will be undertaking in light of the developments in the Sarstoon. Essentially, the party wants the Sarstoon Law to be rescinded and will file a […]
You have heard the Prime Minister say there was no time to invite the representative of People’s United Party to the discussions to be held by Minister Elrington in Washington. The P.U.P. says there have been other recent instances where the opposition has been left out which signals that the long established bipartisan approach to […]
The passage of an unprecedented law on Friday restricting Belizeans from traveling to the Sarstoon has been met with opposition. But the Belize Territorial Volunteers were undeterred to trek to the river on Saturday. But the expedition was stopped on its tracks even before it got underway since elements of the Police Department and the […]
There was a double murder today in the west and we will come to that shortly, but events of national importance in the Sarstoon continue to dominate the news. Tonight, we bring you exclusive and explosive footage of an aggression against local law enforcement by the Guatemalan military. The incident happened back on March twelfth, […]
