As we told you last night, senators Osmany Salas and Mark Lizarraga accompanied the Belize Territorial Volunteers to the border marker known as Gracias A Dios via the Sarstoon River. Although the weekend expedition went without incident, today, Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred Elrington said he didn't think it was the best decision simply because there is always the possibly for a hostile and life threatening confrontation with Guatemalan Armed forces. Elrington re-emphasized his caution on these Sarstoon trips.
Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"My own view is that the Belize Defense Force who absolutely have to use the Sartsoon should never stop going to the Sarstoon, those Belizeans who are intrepid, who are fearless, who are adventurous, who want to go can also go too, it is simply my thought though that given the attitude of the Guatemalans it may not be the safest thing to do, we can't say what the Guatemalan military or Guatemalan government will perceive as being provocation."
"My fear is that something will happen these people will be taken into custody and then they will look to the government to spring them from custody."
"When you have contention whether it over a piece of land, whether it is the neighbor's land or whether it is a country's land when you have that kind of controversy and contention it gives rise to problems, nobody knows how that problem is going to unfold when it does occur and I believe that discretion is the better part of valor, let me not tempt faith, not everybody is of that view some people see that as a weakness, I don't see it as a weakness, I think it is better to be safe than to be sorry."
Later on, you'll hear Elrington tell us why he didn't support his nephew OJ in the Freetown convention.
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