Belizeans Considering Similar Court Challenge…

Richard “Dickie” Bradley

But Minister Elrington could not have known that earlier, we were made aware of just such plans by a group of litigants. They took their plans to attorney Richard “Dickie” Bradley, who told us that they are still canvassing for legal opinions. But he noted that Belize has a similar provision to Guatemala in our Referendum Act regarding settlement of the claim. And, he added, Guatemala could be found guilty of bad faith in not making clear diplomatically that the I.C.J. is not the end of the road – at least not for them.

Richard “Dickie” Bradley, Attorney

“There was this discussion and the question of citizens of Belize wanting to challenge the Government, wanting to challenge the political system, wanting to find out how you could do this to the country in relation to this matter with Guatemala. So in fact we were discussing a couple days ago, and my own advice is to seek more legal opinion on the matter. But in Belize, the law is any proposed settlement must go to referendum. That is not the thing; what they are telling us is we have to go to the I.C.J., and it’s a question of whether the people of Belize will vote yes or no. Let’s make this point here: the Guatemalan Constitution, if what we think we know is in fact so, then why weren’t we asking Guatemala, “But then how will you take us all the way to the I.C.J., want us to go there, and when we come out with a decision, it is still not binding, because you can influence your people to reject it, or you may not be able to muster the majority that you need.”