Minister of Border Security Addresses Belize/Guatemala Border Concerns  

Minister of National Defense, Florencio Marin Junior says he has been keeping a close eye on the activities of the Guatemalan Armed Forces on Sarstoon River. Today, he told reporters that while the ministry is not concerned with the operational plans of the Guatemalan Armed Forces, a protocol needs to be established to inform the way the shared border will be managed. He also spoke to a concern raised by his B.D.F. commander over the long waiting time in receiving verifications from the Organization of American States as it pertains to incursions in Belize’s territory along border.

 

Florencio Marin Jr., Minister of National Security and Border Defense

“It is extremely important because we do share a border so that will not change. It is essential that we both are able to do our duties together and to will be even better if we coordinate how we try to maintain security in the Sarstoon.”

 

Reporter

“Are you concerned after they said they would increase patrols to stop incursions from BDF?”

 

Florencio Marin Jr.

“Their increasing patrols, how they do their operations that is not our issue, but we will never accede sovereignty. The Belize Defense Force, the ministry, this government has never compromised on the sovereignty of Belize. We will do our work. We are always in communication of OAS to be able to do these verifications remember it is part of the confidence building measure so we must, certain areas, particularly within the adjacency zones we have to get verification before we act on them. So, we will always continue on these operations. We also work with the OAS, informing them in order to get quick verification. Sometimes yes, they are slow, but we need the verification.”