The first Government body to address the GAF's confrontation of the Volunteers at the mouth of the Sarstoon was the Ministry of National Security.
They say that the BTV's leadership, including Wil Maheia and others, ought to have checked in with the BDF Forward Operating Base on the Belize side of the Sarstoon River mouth. The Ministry says that the BDF would have had no problem escorting them, if they were properly notified, but the BTV did not do this.
Maheia insisted yesterday that not only did he inform the BDF and the Coast Guard Officers in Toledo of the Sarstoon Eco-Challenge, he did it on 3 separate occasions before the race.
The press challenged National Security Minister John Saldivar on that, and he also revealed that the Belize Government has sent a diplomatic note of protest on last Saturday's confrontation. Here's how that conversation went:
Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of National Security
"I think we've made it clear already that we understand there are elements from the Guatemalan Armed Forces that seem to be dead set on occasionally interrupting Belizean passage through the Sarstoon River. We have therefore come up with a protocol from our side that we believe that the Belizeans should observe so that we can secure their security in passing through the Sarstoon River. On those 2 particular occasions the volunteers did not check in as we have been requiring of them and it resulted in confrontation with the Guatemalans which we regret and which we have already sent a note protesting to the Guatemalan government."
Reporter
"Do you feel that these groups is perhaps doing this - they have political motivations, being they are aware of the protocol the BDF has in place?"
Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of National Security
"One can come to that conclusion. They would have to more explain why they are doing it contrary to what we've ask them to do and we feel that if they do follow the protocol that we've established we, the BDF and the Coast Guard in the area are able to secure their right to pass through the river. We've done it on many occasions including with the leader of the volunteers who has previously been escorted by the BDF up that river without incident."
Reporter
"The BTV has flatly denied what was issued in that press release, saying that they've ask the BDF for support not once, not twice, I believe 3 times."
Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of National Security
"I am not aware and I stand to be corrected if they can show any document or proof that they did. I am not aware that they did and certainly the report we got from the BDF stationed at the FOB is that they simply passed by and waved and did not stop in to talk with the soldiers there."
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