Local News

The simultaneous referendum in Belize and Guatemala to determine whether or not Guatemala’s claim to Belizean territory should go to the International Court of Justice for final resolution is still more than a year away.  But it is still an issue that evokes strong emotions for many Belizeans.  The people of both Belize and Guatemala will, on Sunday, October sixth, 2013, cast their ballots in a vote that will give their respective governments a clear mandate to either advance the process to the ICJ or not. While Guatemala has already set the process in motion leading up to the referendum, Prime Minister Dean Barrow says that for Belize, he does not see us starting the education campaign before the start of the New Year.

DEAN BARROW, Prime Minister of Belize

“For us, remember, we don’t need to go back to the House to begin the education campaign.  I’ve said that it’s a matter of timing.  I don’t believe we ought to move prematurely.  I don’t believe we ought to move too early for two reasons.  Number one, the longer the campaign is the more costly it’s going to be.  If you started now, for example, you would have to run that right through to October of next year and so I think we ought to hold our powder for a little while longer.  Number two, while the public education campaign is to be just that, public education, it is going to produce a reaction.  There are going to be those who are against a yes vote in the referendum that will swing into action immediately the public education campaign start and go on the offensive in terms of trying to campaign for, to lobby for a no vote.  I don’t think we want to see that happen too early because inevitably that is going to be divisive, it is what has to happen in a democracy.  It is what has to happen giving your dealing with a visceral fundamental issue for Belizeans.  Since that kind of a consequence is unavoidable, I think the longer we can wait before triggering the process that will produce that sort of a consequence the better it will be for us.”

PATRICK JONES, Reporter

“Is the view Dean Barrow, the Prime Minister the same as Dean Barrow the Belizean in this Guatemalan issue?”

DEAN BARROW, Prime Minister of Belize

“I think so.  I as a citizen have thought about this thing long and hard and I am convinced that I should vote yes in the referendum.  As in the official capacity I also believe that there are objective factors.  There are factor having to do with our international relations, there having factors having to do with how we manage the relations with Guatemala that also convinced me that a yes vote is the preferred option.  The second coming to that point of view in an official capacity was far easier than coming to my personal decision to vote yes.  The personal decision required far more refection, caused far more anxiety but ultimately I am confortable as well with the personal decision to vote yes.

While Barrow says he would votes yes, the Leader of the Opposition Francis Fonseca has reserved his personal position to give Belizeans a chance, he says, to make up their own minds on the issue.

FRANCIS FONSECA, Lead of the Opposition (PUP)

“Well the PUP is committed to participating in the education process.  This issue as you know as for a long time been bipartisan issue we have taken that approaches, we will continue to take that approach.  We believe that the Belizean people deserve to hear all sides of the issue; it is a very very serious matter.  People need to know what are the pros and cons of going to the ICJ, what are the risks involved, we can’t hide anything from the Belizean people, we have to share everything with the Belizean people and at the end of the day allow them to make the decision that they believe is in the best interest of Belize.  So we will participate in that discussion, we will also in house internally within the party, carry out our own education process.  We have people who have served as foreign ministers who understand this issue very well and we will have them talk to our people across the country and educate them and at the end of the day we will determine whether or not we will take a position, yes or no or whether we will simply say to people vote your conscience, vote as you believe is in the best interest of the country.”

PATRICK JONES, Reporter

“What is your position Francis Fonseca, the Leader of the Opposition? Francis Fonseca, the citizen of Belize?”

FRANCIS FONSECA, Lead of the Opposition (PUP)

“I think - I really want to withhold that position, I don’t want to prejudice anything that the party will do as the leader of the party.  I can say that I know a lot about the issue. I think I am better informed than a lot of other people having served in government and having served as the Attorney General. I have had the opportunity to read the legal opinions prepared by some of the best legal minds in the world on behalf of Belize.  So I want people to be informed, I think that’s important.  I want people to reach a level of understanding of the issue that I think I have so that they will be able for themselves to make a good decision on the matter.  I really – but the honest truth today I really don’t know how I would vote in the referendum.  There are many risks that are involved with litigation, with going to the ICJ.  There are many good reasons that we should go to the ICJ to get this long standing matter behind us but I think there’s great merit and great validity in the position that a lot of Belizeans hold.  What do have to gain from going to the ICJ?  Why should we be putting our sovereignty on trial if you like?  But in fact we know who we are, we know that this is our country but then there are real challenges that come with that position as well.  So I understand, I think both sides of the issue and I think we need to have a proper education – educated discussion and debate on the matter and at the end of the day the Belizean people will make the final decision.” 

The simultaneous referendum on taking the Guatemalan claim to Belize will be held on Sunday, October sixth, 2013.