PNP Demands Action After Guatemalan Naval Vessel Spotted in Belizean Waters

The People’s National Party, PNP is calling on the Government of Belize to take concrete action after a Guatemalan naval vessel was spotted in Belizean waters. According to the PNP the vessel was spotted inside the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve, less than two miles from the Belize Coast Guard base at Hunting Caye. Party Leader Wil Maheia told Love News that the vessel was spotted in the same area where another Guatemalan vessel was seen on July 23.

Wil Maheia, Party Leader, PNP: “We definitely, especially at the People’s National Party, we’re very disappointed in the fact that the Guatemalan Armed Forces continue to disrespect Belize’s sovereignty and continue to show up in a brazen way within like a mile or two of the Forward Operating Base for the Belize Coast Guard. It just shows that they don’t care, they don’t give us any respect and you know I mean we’re calling on the government to do something. This is happening over and over and we don’t see that nothing, we don’t think that nothing is being done. Our government is just taking it, having Guatemala coming over here and disrespecting us. It was in the exact same area except that this time they came closer to the Forward Operating Base for the Belize Coast Guard so it’s just showing how disrespectful the Guatemalan Armed Forces area. And they continue to disrespect us because we are not demanding respect. Respect is earned and we’ve got to earn Guatemala’s respect if not they will continue to disrespect us. I can’t say for sure because we did not see any Coast Guard boat approaching the Guatemalan Armed Services boat but we know that it was a Guatemalan Armed Services boat and we know it was very very close, there was no maybe it was in our waters maybe it was in their waters, no it was very very close to the Coast Guard base at Hunting Caye.”

Maheia is also calling on the Government to disclose the contents of the diplomatic notes sent to Guatemala, to prove to the public that a strong stance is being taken against these incursions.