Belize Protests Guatemalan Naval Incursions in Sapodilla Cayes

Minister of Foreign Affairs Francis Fonseca says that the government continues to protest the incursions of Guatemalan vessels into Belizean waters. Last week, a Guatemalan naval vessel was spotted in was spotted inside the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve, less than two miles from the Belize Coast Guard base at Hunting Caye. This comes after a naval vessel was spotted in that same area just weeks prior, on July 23. Fonseca stresses that the government takes every opportunity at bilateral and regional meetings to raise the issue with Guatemala.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs: “We bring that up on every occasion, every opportunity. You know Mexico will be present so I don’t know about the appropriateness about raising that in front of but I can assure you that this matter is raised at every opportunity. As I reported to you all a few weeks ago I was in Washington, I met face to face with the Foreign Minister of Guatemala. We raised the issue, we discussed it at length. On Monday of next week we have the Minister of Defense and the Minister of Home Affairs meeting with their counterparts again this will be discussed this will be on the agenda. We take that issue very seriously and we do everything we can to ensure that Belize’s territorial integrity, our sovereignty is protected. Concerned about it and we do recognize that we’re on a path to a peaceful resolution of this unfounded claim through the International Court of Justice and we do recognize that these things may continue until we have a definitive judgment from the court but we as I said we keep working with the Guatemalans in every opportunity that we raise it with them they have said to us listen we are going to address this matter, the Foreign Minister, the President has said we do not support any of those activities they have said that directly to us so we certainly continue to work with them to address that issue.”

The People’s National Party (PNP) has challenged the government to disclose the contents of diplomatic protest notes sent to Guatemala after such incursions, to prove that a strong stance is being taken on the issue.