Toledo East Representative Criticizes Belize Territorial Volunteers’ Sarstoon Trip

Toledo East Area Representative, Mike Espat is not known to appear on the media, but on this rare occasion, it is to lash out at the Belize Territorial Volunteers.  Espat has frowned upon the trips to the Sarstoon, particularly the most recent on September 10.  The BTV had traveled to the Sarstoon Island to place Belizean flags there, but the Guatemalan armed forces came into Belizean waters and removed the flags. Following intervention from the Belize Defense Force, the BTV got their flags back, but Espat says the entire exchange was unnecessary. He added that while the Toledo district, by and large, did not support taking the Guatemalan claim to the International Court of Justice, the Belize decided as a nation so the move must be supported.

Mike Espat, Toledo East Area Representative: “Now on the matter of security of this country and this problem we are having with Guatemala. Now I personally, I am totally against what took place just a few days ago with Wil Maheia and the attorney from Belize City. Now you do not go and antagonize an enemy that is bigger than you. That is total madness. There’s a national security board or council in this country that needs to be respected. You the people, you the people, let me remind you, you the people, when we had the referendum in regards going to the ICJ, Punta Gorda did not vote yes, you know. Toledo District did not vote yes. But the majority of Belizeans voted yes.”