7 News Belize

OAS Has Pronounced But Failed To Act
posted (November 12, 2019)
Tonight, Jorge Espat remains convinced that he is being wronged by this Guatemalan national. He says that several months ago, the OAS did an independent verification to ensure that his property is on Belizean territory and that this was a case of Guatemalan encroachment.

Here's how he explained that in our interview from today:

Reporter
"The OAS was involved, talk to us about that confirmation where the location of the land."

Jorge Espat
"The confirmation came about through the OAS and Guatemala as I understand had requested verification though the Mexican source and yes indeed the verification from the OAS came out intact."

Reporter
"That these people are squatting and encroaching on your property and on Belizean territory."

Jorge Espat
"That is correct."

Reporter
"Sir, the Prime Minister has spoken on it and says it's a continuous problem that every time they have the meeting of the national security they speak about it. The problem has been there for months/years, he says. Its private land owned by a private individual, why not erect a fence around it?"

Jorge Espat
"There is a lot of contraband. It use to have a fence but at the end of the day why make an investment when the investment is not worth the while because the people come and take away whatever fence you put. It is a crime but I cannot go and charge them across the border. It's a very delicate issue. There were markers, there were posts and fence. They thief the materials for the fence and use it for their purpose. They come in to my territory to take out material to build their house and foundation. It is very sad."

The Ministry of National Security did issue a press release this afternoon.

Their statement says, quote, "The Ministry of National Security in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the OAS-AZ Office has been actively taking steps to address the issue regarding the illegal settlement and encroachments by Guatemalan nationals on private property in the Barrio El Juda area… Since the Ministry of National Security became aware of this situation, the following actions have been taken to ensure the immediate discontinuation of illegal settlement and encroachments in that area.

1. Multiple visits to the area by high-level officials within the Ministry of National Security, the Belize Defense Force and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
2. BDF-GAF joint operation conducted to officially inform the settlers that they are illegally inhabiting Belizean territory and to provide a timeline for the voluntary removal of their belongings. All illegal construction has been ceased since that joint operation conducted in October 2019.
3. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the support of the OAS AZ office, has taken several diplomatic steps with a view to the peaceful and expeditious removal of the settlers."
End quote.

Of course, Espat says that diplomacy has been moving way too slow to protect his property.

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