There were also dynamic presentations relating to each side of this dispute. We start off with a portion of the presentation against taking the dispute to the ICJ. A history club member emphasized that Belize would be taking too much of a risk if the matter were to go to the ICJ.
Cyleen Morgan- History Club Member
"By endorsing this special agreement Belize will become the only country on earth to place her entire territory and sovereignty at the discretion of an unpredictable court. If we vote yes to the special agreement, Belizeans will give the ICJ unlimited power to determine boundaries of Belize. On the other hand, if we vote no, Belizeans retain that power over Belizean boundaries. The point number two, if we vote yes to the special agreement, Belizeans will agree to give the ICJ unlimited power to determined rights for Guatemala within Belize. But if we vote no, we retain all rights within the boundaries of Belize. My third reason, if we vote yes to the special agreement, Belizeans will unintentionally consent to abandon the protection of the 1859 Anglo-Guatemalan boundary treaty, which provides that Belize's boundaries can only be changed with the consent of Belize. See, but if we vote no, my friends, Belizeans retain the protection of the 1859 Anglo-Guatemalan boundary treaty."
Then, Shane Williams from the UDP's Youth Popular Front, rebutted Morgan's position by saying the ICJ is the only option to resolving this dispute. Williams also outlined what the line of probing would be at the ICJ and that it would all be in Belize's favor.
Shane Williams- Youth Popular Vote
"I will simply say that I believe the ICJ is the only way to ensure that we maintain all 8,867 sq. miles of this beautiful jewel. I don't have to guess, I know that we are upset at seeing Guatemalan's in our Chiquibul plundering our resources. If we want to end this, we go to the ICJ and we kick them out. We don't want them to touch our chateau, go to the ICJ and kick them out. We don't want them to touch our wood, go to the ICJ and kick them out. We don't want them to continue to deforesting our area, go to the ICJ and kick them out. We want them to leave our territorial volunteers alone, go to the ICJ and kick them out. Let us go through the court proceedings. So, Guatemala will submit their claim, their arguments. They will say, well, you know, we inherited our territory from Spain and during the line of demarcation the pope drew a line and now all of this side belongs to Spain and all of that side belongs to Portugal. So, we inherited this area, Belize is a part of this area. So, by default Belize is for us. So, the court will say, 'where is your treaty? Do you have a treaty saying that this territory called Belize belongs to you?' What will Guatemala say? 'No.' Then the court will ask, 'have you occupied the territory, have you exercised control of the territory, do your laws govern the territory?' What will Guatemala say? 'No.' Then the court will ask, 'Based on any general principle, how can we prove that Belize belongs to Guatemala?' What will Guatemala be able to provide? Nothing. Now, Belize will come with its presentation. Belize will provide his arguments. The court will say, 'Where is your treaty?' Belize will say, 'Here is our treaty.'"
It was a one day event. Also at the event, the students participated in a mock referendum, 210 students cast their votes and 125 voted yes to the ICJ and 82 voted no.
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