The countdown to the April 10th Referendum on the ICJ continues, and today, the Belize National Teachers Union hosted a forum on it. Teachers from all across the country headed to the UB gymnasium in Belmopan to listen to leading personalities advocating for and against going to the ICJ.

It was a lively 4 hour session where the teachers were given the opportunity to challenge these experts who have been out there spearheading opposing education campaigns.  They squared off today, with each other and the teachers.  

Here are a few highlights from that marathon event:

Lindsay Belisle - Panelist, “Noâ€￾ Campaign
"The 1859 Treaty does not give Belize title to the 8,867 square miles of mainland territory but rather to some 6,700 square miles or about 75% of our mainland territory. Over the years, this incorrect information has been taught in our schools as a fact and now Belizeans are being fed with misinformation that the 1859 Treaty is our birth certificate, our title, our ace card and will give us an I am not case to the ICJ, nothing like that. It is obvious that Belize needs to get it's facts together before going to the ICJ. (crowd member) Amen! (applause)."

Audrey Matura - Panelist, “Noâ€￾ Campaign
"If the government wanted to take this issue to the ICJ, they could have done it without a referendum, they could have said we are going to rely on legal principles and we're taking it to the ICJ because all our legal experts, none expert in international law in Belize by the way - are saying let's go to the ICJ. That's what Guyana is doing, they didn't have a referendum, they could do that but you know why they won't do that? Let me tell you why. You all know the story of Pontius Pilate right? I can't tell you if we will win or lose, I'll address that right now but what Pontius Pilate did, he washed his hands. When the government comes to you and say you vote but pushes a yes agenda and we go and if per chance we lose something, now remember I'm saying we will win or lose and the people are up in arms, what you think Dean Barrow will say? I tell unno, unno choose to make we go, it wasn't my choice and you know how he likes to move his hands (crowd laughs). It's you the people who decided you know and he will pontificate with his big words. So because I keep thinking why are you all if you are sure you want to go as a government, then why come to the people and tell us we have a choice and then when we say no, there are saying that we're fool, that we're this - like the whole world will turn against us."

Assad Shoman - Panelist, “Yesâ€￾ Campaign
"People don’t need MBAs or lawyer degree to understand that because international law states that once a border is established by treaty, it takes on a life of it's own and cannot be changed, then Belize cannot lose any territory. People are smarter, much smarter than you think. Of course yes, if you purposely muddy the waters, tell blatant lies about what international law and ICJ cases actually decide. If you use all sorts of tricks to confuse and frighten people, sometimes all you have to do is repeat a thousand times, no to the ICJ! Or you could lose your land and house and you will fool some people, some people I say.

Teacher
"My first question is directed to you Mr Belisle, so the question is this, what other recourse does Belize have a part from the ICJ to resolve this matter in a way that Guatemala will respect?"

Lindsay Belisle
"Okay, I don't think that anybody is saying that the ICJ is not the way to go, it's the way you are going to the ICJ right? Not that the ICJ is not a good court."

Teacher
"I understand sir, my question was if we don't go or a part from the ICJ, what other way can we resolve this? That's my question."

Lindsay Belisle
"My answer is that we go to the ICJ for an advisory opinion on the validity of the 1859 Treaty and when the ICJ rules that the treaty is valid, then Guatemala will be foolish to want to take the court, the same court.."

Teacher
"Just to get this straight, you still want to go to the ICJ?"

Lindsay Belisle
"Yes."

Teacher
"Okay but that was not my question though. A part from the ICJ..."

Lindsay Belisle
"I don't have any other place to go."

Assad Shoman
"Another country was in exactly the same position as us called Western Sahara. Unfortunately, they went for an advisory opinion to the ICJ and of course they won, just like Belize, they said you have a right to self-determination and an independence and their Guatemala was called Morocco. Heard that case, was influenced by that case and invaded that country and up to today, Western Sahara, 80% of it is controlled by Morocco, 10% by the people of Western Sahara and they had the advisory opinion in their favor but because it is not binding, there's nothing they can do about it. The same thing happened to Palestine, I don't have to tell you that story, you see it on the news every day. So an advisory opinion can actually hurt us because if we go for an advisory opinion, of course we will win because it is the same judges, we will win.

Teacher #2
"I am going to vote no but not because I don't want to go to the ICJ but because I think we're not really prepared. Every explanation given, they are making it seem like it's something simple or very easy. Simple is not an adjective to describe anything that has to do with this ICJ issue because it's not simple in any sense. So if we're going to be educating people, we want to give them the full truth, the full education. Transparency is important as well."

Assad Shoman
"I know that you know, you've heard people shouting no to ICJ so long that it has become engrained in your mind, it's hard to get out but you know what? If you don't get it out in time, you're going to lose a chance to stop this thing once and for all and you don't know when you will have that chance again. It's up to you, I can see that most of you have already made up your mind, I can see a sign on your forehead saying, sorry mind made up until, mind closed until further notice. No to ICJ! That's your right, do it but history will judge what you have done."

From what we saw and heard today, we’d definitely say that the “noâ€￾ vote had more support in this group.

The BNTU President told us that this is just one of several forums that they’ve organized to educate their membership.