Shyne Demands Action After Guatemalan Incursion

Belize’s border tensions remain in the spotlight tonight. Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow is calling out the government after Guatemalan forces planted their flag on Sarstoon Island last Wednesday, right as Belizeans were commemorating the Battle of St. George’s Caye. Barrow says a diplomatic note won’t cut it. He’s urging the Briceño administration to recall our ambassador, consider economic sanctions, and push for a Sarstoon protocol that guarantees respect for Belize’s territorial integrity.

 

Shyne Barrow, Party Leader, United Democratic Party

“Last year, on September 7th, 2024, just three days before we celebrated the Two Hundred and Twenty-sixth Anniversary of the battle of St George’s Caye, a group of Guatemalan Navy gunships breached Belizean maritime borders this seven days after the Guatemalan Armed Forces rammed their vessels into Wil Maheia and his BTV vessel intimidating and putting Belizean lives at risk. Briceno was in Guatemala taking pictures with the President obviously the protocol Sarstoon and respect for our territorial integrity was not on the agenda because the once mighty pup who promised to put the Guatemalans in check are now neutered with the Guatemalans repeating their incursions again this on September 13 stopping Will Maheia and other Belizean’s from visiting our Sarstoon Island. Days before this incident Guatemalan armed forces put a Guatemalan flag there.”