7 News Belize

Barrow Confident of Win at ICJ
posted (October 15, 2008)

Belize and Guatemala are moving closer to a referendum on whether the Belize Guatemala matter should be taken to the International Court of Justice. We say that because the Prime Minister today announced that the so called compromise will be presented to Cabinet next week. The final wording is being hammered out by both sides. The Belizean experts are led by Ambassador Fred Martinez with support from Assad Shoman, Eamon Courtenay, David Gibson, and a cast of other diplomatic all-stars. This compromis is basically the declaration to be put to the International Court of Justice. The Prime Minister discussed the development today.

Hon. Dean Barrow,
“The Minister of Foreign Affairs will be bringing the draft to Cabinet hopefully next Tuesday and thereafter it will be circulated publicly. The timeline is of course that after the circulation and public discussion of that document, we would go to the National Assembly for approval of the document and that would then clear the way for the holding of the referendum which you will recall must be done simultaneously with Guatemala. We operate always on the basis of the fundamental safeguard that whatever is signed can only be ultimately put to the ICJ if the people of this country agree.

Personally I am convinced that the Guatemalans have no case. I personally am convinced that the ICJ will be obliged to rule in Belize’s favour. I concede as a lawyer there is always a thing called litigation risk and that is why it is not ultimately what I feel, it is what the Belizean people feel.”

And while the Prime Minister and Party Leader will endorse it for his party, the body of the party will be under no compulsion to stick with his position; it will be as he describes it, a conscience vote. The Prime Minister also expects to meet with the leader of the opposition next week. Once the compromis is received, the attendant issues will be ventilated in a series of public education consultations.

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