But while our Daniel Ortiz and Codie Noralez were "hugging up" with the Guatemalans, the trip also gave us a chance to challenge former Foreign Minister Carlos Raul Morales on those very strong and offensive comments he made against the Belize Defense Force in April of 2016.
At the time, he was still Foreign Minister, and he publicly disparaged the BDF for the death of the 13-year-old Guatemalan, Julio Alvarado Ruano, at the hands of Belizean lawmen.
He said, quote, "We won't go and hunt down a Belizean, like they have hunted down Guatemalan farmers before. Sorry for the strong expression but that is literally what they have done."
Viewers will remember that the BDF reported that they came under hostile fire in the middle of the jungles of the Chiquibul, and they had to defend themselves. An OAS independent report has since confirmed the BDF's version, and it has exonerated the BDF and the Belizean lawmen in that shooting.
So, does Morales still stand behind those comments? We challenged him on Sunday night in Guatemala City, while the ICJ referendum results were being tallied. Here's how that back and forth went:
Daniel Ortiz- Reporter
"You were on Guatemalan television making certain remarks to the effect that the BDF hunts people down. The suggestion that that comment made was that the BDF are violators of human rights. Do you still stand by that position or did we misinterpret you? What did you mean when you said that."
Carlos Raul Morales- Former Guatemalan Foreign Minister
"What I can assure you is that an incident of this type makes a lot of damage to both countries. My message today is that we need to stop any kind of incidents because if there are more people that die, the relationship will be damaged. What happens if the Guatemalan army kills a Belizean? What will be your reaction?"
Marisol Amaya- Reporter
"It depends where it happens. If it happens in Guatemalan territory it is understood…"
Carlos Raul Morales
"This is the problem. How can you know where the Belize territory is when there is no border. This is my position. This is why we need to give a solution to this issue."
Marisol Amaya
"It was known when the British were in Belize."
Carlos Raul Morales
"Let me tell you something. In the area there are mountains and there are rivers but there is no line between both countries."
Marisol Amaya
"We've seen clearings up until Garbutt's Falls."
Carlos Raul Morales
"The farmers don't have a GPS with them. Do you think the farmers have a GPS to know exactly where Belize is? No."
Daniel Ortiz
"Actually, that particular incident was submitted to independent investigators of the OAS and that report exonerated Belizean law-men. Do you acknowledge that as a Guatemalan?"
Carlos Raul Morales
"Let me tell you something. If we are still talking about the same thing…"
Daniel Ortiz
"Sir, but you said something very offensive to the BDF."
Carlos Raul Morales
"And you think that killing a guy 13 years old is not an offense against Guatemala?"
Marisol Amaya
"The report said that our military was fired upon by Guatemalans."
Carlos Raul Morales
"Guatemala didn't accept that report because according to our information the situation happened differently. Again, we need to focus on the future. If we still insist, if you still insist to relive that moment again; we know what happens between both countries when an incident happens between both countries."
Daniel Ortiz
"So, you are saying that we should agree to disagree and move on. Is that what you are saying?"
Carlos Raul Morales
"We need to focus on the future and we need to build peace."
As you saw, Morales refused to retract or apologize for those comments.
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