Business Senator explains why he supported Senate motion on Pact of Bogotá

On Monday, the Senate introduced a motion, which Foreign Minister Eamon Courtenay called extremely important to Belize’s legal position in the border dispute with Guatemala. Honduras, as you’ve heard, has in its Constitution a claim to the Sapodilla Cayes since 1982. GOB has tried to negotiate with the country to end the claim but those interventions have been unsuccessful. Despite the Opposition calling for the issue to be taken back to the people of Belize, Business Community Senator, Kevin Herrera told Love News why he supported the motion and why Belize needs to act quickly in this regard. 

Kevin Herrera, Senator for the Business Sector: “First of all we’re looking at an issue that has been plaguing us for a while. We’re also looking at an issue I think that certainly needs to be above the political fray and I think that that has always been the approach of the country. When we learned of the issue it was unfortunate I think that Honduras wasn’t included form the initial stage of the case being lodged at the International Court of Justice and perhaps then even have included it in the referendum but the fact is that the people spoke very loud and clear in the referendum. In terms of government taking this issue to the International Court of Justice and having it resolved there peacefully I think that was the position of the people of Belize and I think it’s still the position of the people of Belize. Honduras entering into the scenario now I think certainly complicates it somewhat but I think the intent is still there to resolve this issue. It’s not something we can ignore and it’s not something that I think that we have a whole lot of time to deal with and so when the issue came out I felt that government really has an obligation, a responsibility to overcome whatever hurdles are in the place to make sure that the will of the people is served and that is to have the ICJ settle the matter. Now if that means that we have to include Honduras in there then so be it and that’s why it was brought to the Senate, the ratification was brought to the Senate for us to ratify us joining the Pact of Bogota so that we can join Honduras to the case and I think that the Leader of Government Business stated that quite clearly in his presentation.”