And from that ICJ matter at the Supreme Court to ground zero for this territorial dispute which is the Sarstoon River - Belize's southern boundary. National Security Minister John Saldivar went up that river on Friday to tour BDF outposts along the river. It's a part of a routine national tour of all security facilities and outposts. But the Sarstoon is the only part of Belize's sovereign territory where Guatemalan armed forces shadows Belizean military as they go about their duties. So did they also follow Sadivar, who was in a fleet of Coast Guard and BDF vessels? That's what we asked him today when we met him at another event:
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Did any GAF trailed your contingent as they went down the Sarstoon?"
Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of National Security
"First of all the travel up the river went very smoothly. The GAF has become their norm followed in their boat for a short distance, but that is their norm, that is their right. The river as per the 1859 treaty is to be traverse freely by both countries."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Its offensive that our minister of defence with his flanks of security should be trailed by them. Don't you offended by them?"
Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of National Security
"We hope that it would reach a time when that does not happen. But what is there for us to do about it? They are free to traverse and when they decide to traverse it is their choice as long as they do not interfere with our free passage through the river. What I did find though on my trip to Cadenas as I have said publicly, is that just a few days before when our soldiers were destroying some plantations in the areas, they were fired upon by civilians in that area, but they manage to complete their task."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"And those civilians were Belizeans or Guatemalans?"
Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of National Security
"Guatemalan civilians."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"I know in that area it's a hotbed for marijuana cultivation. Explain to me what sort of measures will be taken to ensure that: A) such encroachers don't literally take root with marijuana and; B) to ensure the safety of the soldiers while destroying marijuana."
Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of National Security
"That's the purpose of having that outpost there and the soldiers perform daily patrols in the area and whenever they come across these plantations or these persons they deal with them."
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