Opposition Leader Questions Outcome of Prime Minister’s Guatemala Meeting

Leader of the Opposition Moses Shyne Barrow is questioning whether the Prime Minister’s recent meeting with Guatemalan officials was beneficial. Last month, Briceno and the Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Guatemala to meet with high-ranking officials. However, while Briceno stated the men discussed maintaining peace, there have been two recent instances of Guatemalan Armed Forces illegally entering Belize’s waters. On Wednesday, Barrow explained that given the continuous flare of tensions at the Sarstoon River, he believes the PM could have demanded more.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition: “Both are the Briceños right? They own SMART. We don’t talk about that enough. And the fact that BTL, which is the nation’s telecom, has been abandoned by government entities, government ministries in favor of the prime minister’s family’s telecom, is repugnant. That is what we continue to see. So yes, the Jaime Briceños, the Hisam Diabs, the Teichroebs, those car companies that sell new cars to GOB every year. These are the people that are benefiting, but day-to-day Belizeans are not.”

Reporter: You noted the incidents in the Sarstoon. You know, Briceño and the foreign minister they will say the same thing, they send a protest note that’s the beginning and the end. That protest note, we don’t even know if that goes anywhere. He says that it ends up in a report. We have not seen the report. What do you suggest is done to stop these incursions? 

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition: “Being candid and taking principled positions to me and being consistent is what we would hope government. I can assure you that when the Prime Minister met with the President of Guatemala Sarstoon was not on the agenda. The continued aggression in our waters was not on the agenda. They are more concerned with being friends and being polite and exchanging niceties when you don’t have to be rude, you don’t have to go to Guatemala and declare war. But you have to say, listen, this is what we need. I promised Belizeans that I would have a Sarstoon protocol. Let’s work this out. Let’s come to a solution. I need to deliver this for my people. I need to protect my BDF. I need to protect my Coast Guard. I need to protect civilians that want to traverse our waters. Let’s figure this out. But we have not seen any deliverables. Again, the Prime Minister went to Mexico begging the outgoing Mexican president and said that he agreed to give us 25 megawatts, that has not happened yet. So what the prime minister knows how to do is to try to shape narratives and deceive the people so he will have the drums playing, the marching band, the BDF marching band, all of this pomp and circumstance but what is the reality? I actually wanted to do my speech from Pound Yard, right at the bridge. “

Reporter: In rubber boots. 
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition: “Right, and because that is the reality, that is where the reality is. Putting forward this theatre when the reality for Belizeans is far from what he’s saying, and it’s not me just making it up.”

Barrow also weighed in on the Belize Territorial Volunteer’s call for Belize to cut diplomatic ties with Guatemala. The group has continuously suggested the government consider ending its relationship with Guatemala, but Barrow says he doesn’t think that’s a good idea.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition: “Well suspending diplomatic relations I don’t agree with but maybe looking at some type of cessation of new trade talks until we can get a ….. so we won’t do anything else as far as trade is concerned until we get a Sarstoon protocol I would agree with. But I don’t believe the Prime Minister or his Foreign Minister is serious about solving this matter. They are just being career politicians and playing it safe and not standing by their principles and their convictions. Again that does not mean that we would declare war on Guatemala and as the Prime Minister tried to distort the position of the UDP it is not that. It is just you know what I will come to visit you but this is what we need to talk about and if the Prime Minister would have come out of that meeting and said listen I made certain demands and we’re gonna hold off on any further trade engagements or any new anything maybe recall you know if we have a trade mission maybe there are ways to send the message but I don’t want to go extreme as far as suspending diplomatic ties with any nation. I believe dialogue is the purpose of diplomacy.”

Barrow spoke to the media following his State of the Nation Address Response.