7 News Belize

The ICJ Message in Belmopan
posted (February 13, 2019)
April 10th now only 8 weeks away, and on that date, Belizean voters will go to the polls and decide whether we should submit Guatemala's territorial claim to the International Court of Justice.

But, if you listen to the Opposition Party, they'll tell you that the Government's ICJ education campaign hasn't been robust enough to properly education Belizeans about the benefits and risks of seeking to resolve the territorial dispute at the ICJ.

So, when the media caught up with National Security Minister John Saldivar today, we asked him how he has been engaging his Belmopan constituents on the topic:

Hon. John Saldivar - Ministry of National Security
"It has been happening quite casually with my constituents, but I can say that I can say that starting next week, we're going to be having our regular, quarterly neighborhood meetings at which the ICJ committee will be invited to make presentations, and so, the people of Belmopan will also get opportunity. Again, I believe there was a meeting a couple weeks ago, also held in Belmopan, in which we got an opportunity to hear from our citizenry, but I have been in close contact close contact with my people."

Reporter
"There has been a constant criticism of the campaign that it is not grassroots enough. It is not reaching the masses, and the lay men and women of Belize, to ensure that they are properly Educated. What has been the experience for you and your constituents? How well informed have the conversations been you and them?"

Hon. John Saldivar
"I believe that the information is out there, and it's a matter of having an interest to get the information, to attend the various forums that have been taking place. I don't know that any scarcity of information on the ICJ. It is left to the individual to get it."

As you heard, Saldivar insists that the information has been made available for all Belizeans to have access.

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