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So then what does the Prime Minister think of the territorial volunteers and their trip to the border? He bigged them up for their patriotic spirit – but discouraged them from doing it again. He told the press that while he understands their patriotic sentiment, the BDF is weekly doing what they set out to do:

Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister

"Now I want to make clear that I perfectly understand and indeed applaud the sentiment that motivated the Territorial Volunteers. Their decision arose from feelings of patriotism that are not just commendable but inspirational. Nevertheless, theirs was an incomplete grasp of the facts; a situation for which Government is perhaps at least partly to blame. As a result their actions, though well-intended, were wrong. For it cannot be right to insert any Belizean, but especially children, into a situation so fraught with danger."

"Territorial Volunteers' purpose-driven visit, their course of action, was entirely unnecessary to make a point that our security forces make every week. In all the circumstances, therefore, we remain convinced that Government was right in withholding military accompaniment from the Volunteers. I have already described the tension and volatility inherent in the situation of our active dispute with Guatemala over the Sarstoon River."

"If there is nevertheless a repeat visit against all advice and reason, Government will once more put into play all its diplomatic and non-military resources. We believe doing that, together with the fact that the expedition would again be seen and known to be of a purely civilian, unarmed character, would be enough to safeguard the Belizean citizens from harmful or disproportionate Guatemalan Navy behavior."

The Prime Minister says that he is going to meet with the leaders of the Northern Territorial Volunteers tomorrow.