Guatemala says hold on Honduras we own the Sapodilla Cayes

Guatemala is asserting its claim over the Sapodilla Cayes and is expressing its disappointment in Belize’s decision to accede to the Pact of Bogota. The Guatemala Foreign Ministry said in part (quote) “the Government of Guatemala reaffirms that the aforementioned keys belong to Guatemala and that the action of the Government of Belize in no way affects Guatemalan sovereignty over them” (Unquote). Guatemala says (quote) “Belize’s action is particularly deplorable because it was carried out a few days after December 8, 2022, the date set by the Court for Guatemala to present its reply to Belize’s counter-memorial, which in principle constitutes its last procedural act in the written phase of the process.” (End quote). Senator Michael Peyrefitte, who is the UDP’s representative in this border dispute process, was asked today for his views on this development. He reiterated the country’s call that the claim is meritless and Guatemala should wheel and come again.

Michael Peyrefitte, UDP Chairman: “You really think that I am so UDP that I would take the side of a Guatemalan government official to criticize the government ? Absolutely not. On this issue we’re all Belizean. Withdraw the claim and whatever it is that vexes you about the situation will go away. You would think that everybody would act in their best interest and I believe that whatever Belize does is in an attempt to act in Belize’s best interest but I go back to that point withdraw the unfounded claim and then the won’t have any of these issues. We believe that the Guatemalan claim is unfounded and we believe that their case is weak against us that’s what we believe and we believe that there would be no need for this process if they would just withdraw that claim that’s our position. So this is a part of the legal process. Nobody has said even though we fought in the National Assembly to say let the Pact of Bogota be brought to the Belizean people, have it explained to us, have us vote on it that does not mean that the government deciding to proceed with the Pact of Bogota and to proceed to bring Honduras into the case it doesn’t mean that the government is acting illegally in any way because the government is not. That is an option that we have when you go to court all legal options are on the table and this is one legal option. So I mean I don’t agree with that press release at all.”