A Sapodilla Victory Isn’t Enough Without Enforcement

Last week, the Sapodilla Cayes dispute before the International Court of Justice grabbed the spotlight. And while those deliberations are still in the early stages, today we caught up with someone who knows those waters like the back of his hand. Placencia resident Eworth Garbutt grew up in the cayes, his father, Lester Garbutt, was the lighthouse keeper there. Eworth says he’s confident Belize will win at the ICJ, but he warns: a favorable ruling won’t mean much if we can’t enforce it.

 

Eworth Garbutt, President, Belize Flat Fishery Association

“Sovereignty dah wah strong thing. For years before I born Guatemala the enjoy that at their leisure. We have a law stating this, to solicit tour you have to be a tour operator. And then you have your tour guide. You could go to Livingston in Guatemala and you will see they are selling tours, today, they are out at Sapodilla Cayes soliciting tours. And they do not need a tour guide, none. So, they already win the ICJ on that context. So the other part is the illegal fishing. It is a fully protected area, so me and you nuh the finish there at the most. We have minimal impact of illegal fishing. They are happy when we do this and don’t enforce. What I am skeptical about is when you go to court dah any game play. But I am certain with the prayers Belizeans are sending to heaven, we have no choice to win. The way we will win though, even if they still give us a paper and we don’t understand our sovereignty by protecting it we will win a paper and still not utilize it, we will eat tilapia, while the Guatemalans and Honduran the eat the snapper from there.”