Francis Fonseca: Belize Takes “Backseat to No One” on Sarstoon River Ownership

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, the Belize Territorial Volunteers (BTV) voiced strong objections to remarks made by Assad Shoman regarding the International Court of Justice (ICJ) proceedings and recent incidents on the Sarstoon River. The BTV accused Shoman of trivialising these encounters and deemed his comments on the uncertainty of the ICJ’s conclusions unacceptable.

When asked about it Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Fonseca stated that no date has yet been set for the ICJ’s oral hearings. He said, “It’s clear that that is in the hands of the court. I think what Assad was saying he was being frank and honest. It’s up to the court.”

Fonseca explained that once a hearing date is received, it may take three to six months, followed by a potential two-year wait for a final resolution, but reiterated, “That’s entirely up to the court.” He emphasised the government’s commitment to defending Belize’s position on the Sarstoon, stating, “We take a backseat to no one, including the territorial volunteers.”

The minister cited the government’s ongoing diplomatic talks with Guatemalan officials, where Belize’s stance on the Sarstoon River has been reiterated at multiple levels of government. “We are very clear and comfortable in terms of our position in terms of the Sarstoon. And we’re very confident about Belize’s position as it relates to ownership of a part of the Sarstoon River,” Fonseca affirmed.