7 News Belize

5 Former Foreign Ministers Publicly Declare ICJ Support
posted (January 9, 2019)
Last night, we told you about the big event that Prime Minister Dean Barrow and the Government of Belize had planned for today. He and 4 other former foreign ministers of Belize, who all served under past PUP Administrations, have decided to publicly declare their support for going to the ICJ.

Recently, you've been seeing a lot of activity from the Belizeans who say that going to the ICJ to resolve Guatemala's territorial claim is a mistake. They've all presented their arguments as to why you should say no. So today, the Prime Minister and these 4 former diplomats were the ones making the case on why you should vote yes. 7News was there for the unveiling of this public declaration, and Daniel Ortiz reports:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
UDP Ministers, high-ranking police officers, personalities from the NGO organizations, and other members of the civil society all waited at the Biltmore Plaza Hotel for Prime Minister Dean Barrow and 4 former PUP Foreign Ministers to make an entrance so that the event could start.

The Prime Minister was the first into the room, and behind him was former Prime Minister Said Musa, closely followed by Assad Shoman, Godfrey Smith, and Lisa Shoman.

They all took their seats, and shortly after that, Lisa Shoman was asked to present a joint declaration that all 5 had all agreed to sign. They all think that it is in Belize's best interest to vote "yes" in the ICJ referendum on April 10th.

Lisa Shoman - Former Foreign Minister
"We, former foreign ministers of foreign affairs of Belize, from 1984 - 2008. After careful consideration of whether Belize should submit the Guatemalan territorial claim to the International Court of Justice this 9th day of January, 2019 declare the following: 1) after more than 50 years of argues negotiations it has become clear that no Guatemalan government will ever agree to voluntarily accept Belize's territorial integrity based on the 1859 treaty. This is the first time in the long history of attempts to resolve the claim that Belize is not being asked to make any compromise, give up anything, or give in to any pressure. Going to the ICJ will permit us to obtain a legally enforceable vindication of our rights. It is for these reasons that we strongly urge a Yes Vote. It secures for Belize and irreversible and binding decision enshrining forever our right to live in peace within borders that could never again be challenged by anyone."

The biggest message that these former Foreign Ministers wanted to send was that the Guatemalan claim to Belize is an existential crisis, which means that it will take a collaborative, and non-partisan effort resolve the claim.

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister
"We are here trying to do what we know to be right by our country, this country that all of us loves so very much."

Godfrey Smith - Former Foreign Minister
"The idea was generated from among the foreign ministers themselves. It's a question of duty, honor and principle and it's as simple as that."

Rt. Hon. Said Musa - Former Foreign Minister
"I am here as a former foreign minister first of all. Not as representing any political party. I am a PUP and I will remain a PUP. I want to make that absolutely clear. Among our discussion, the issue came up. Actually has approached me and says wouldn't you be following Dean Barrow or the prime minister by sitting down in the same table with him on this issue. My answer is Prime Minister Dean Barrow is following me, because we were the government before and we were the ones that took the decisions to pursue this path of going to the ICJ."

It was certainly an interesting twist today to listen to UDP supporters at this event cheering for former Prime Minister Said Musa, given all the public hate he's received since the end of his Government administration back in 2008.

One former PUP Foreign Minister who was not a part of today's joint declaration is Senator Eamon Courtenay.

Reporter
"I see notably absent here is Senator Eamon Courtenay. The question is was an invitation given to him to be a apart of this declaration?"

H.E. Dylan Vernon - Belize Ambassador to EU
"As the moderator of this session I did ask the 5 former foreign ministers the exact question you asked about the absence of former foreign minister Eamon Courtenay and the very short answer is that he was approached and declined."

The rest of the Opposition Party also seems to be leaning towards voting "no" to the ICJ, which makes these prominent PUP's stand out even more.

Rt. Hon. Said Musa - Former Foreign Minister
"Some people are advocating that we should wait. Actually, that is a position that I believe my party is about to take, that really we should postponed the decision referendum date from April 10th to a later date. But I am not here today to speak for the PUP. I am here today as former foreign minister."

Lisa Shoman - Former Foreign Minister
"I do not speak for any political party on any issue and in particular on this issue I have been adamant since the beginning that my position is a position held first and foremost because of how I feel and what I believe to be right for my country. That's number one. I have absolutely no fear about political repercussions, because happily I can tell you at this point that even were I to have political aspirations, which I don't at the moment, what is and always has been most important to me is not to be convenient, but to be right when it comes to my country."

And the point that these statesmen and stateswoman want you to take away from today's event is that to the best of their collective knowledge and experience, Belizeans is being offered the best opportunity to be free of Guatemala's territorial claim to our country.

Godfrey Smith
"My presence here today signifies and denotes that I believe I have an obligation to step forward as a former foreign minister to say that voting yes to go to the ICJ is the thing to do. I fully appreciate how sensitive and divisive the issue has been. I fully appreciate that visiore fear on the part of a wide swade of the population that there is a chance that we go we lose some maritime or terrestrial territory. Having considered the matter, having look at the opinions, not only now, but for all the years that I've been intimately involved, I am here and I say so to put the matter on the record, because I am convinced and I believe that there is no realistic chance of Belize losing any territory; land or sea if we go to the ICJ and that we should do so now."

As noted in the story, Senator Eamon Courtenay was not among those former foreign Ministers who signed onto this declaration. Our colleagues from the Reporter Press sought him out for comment today, and he is quoted as saying, "This was a publicity stunt. When I go to the circus I go to watch, not to be one of the circus acts. Belizeans are entitled to a properly resourced and balanced education campaign on this critically important issue. Today's event should be seen for what it is: a cheap circus."

The entire press conference will air tonight after the news.

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