Distinguished Secretary General and Facilitators:

Allow me first to clarify a point made by the distinguished Foreign Minister of Guatemala this morning, when he charged me with defaming the army of Guatemala. He quoted me as saying that the Guatemalan army was threatening Belize. I must make it quite clear to the entire delegation of Guatemala, but in particular to its military representatives here, that I did not say that, that I have not defamed the military, and have no intention to do so. Indeed, in all our submissions throughout this process we have had occasion to state that the military co-operation on both sides is proceeding smoothly, and that the militaries are fulfilling their commitments under the Confidence Building Measures we agreed to. What I did say yesterday, and that is the truth, is that we have a militarily much more powerful neighbour. This is a reality, and it does not in any way carry the suggestion that that military is in fact behaving towards us in a reprehensible manner.

As we engage in this process under the auspices of the OAS, we want to state very emphatically that we hold it in the highest esteem, not least because this is our Organization, nor can we forget that even before we became an independent State, and a decade before we became a member, the OAS passed that resolution in 1980 we referred to yesterday by consensus, declaring our right to independence and territorial integrity on all our territory.

That resolution, like the one passed without a dissenting vote in the United Nations which it affirmed, was firmly grounded on the principle of the self-determination of peoples. It is concern for people, for their human rights, for their inalienable right to freedom and justice that is the fundamental pillar on which the right of self-determination is based.

Belize is a country of many peoples. As you all know, Belize is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-lingual society. Our cultural policy is not one based on domination or forced assimilation, but on the celebration of difference. In Belize, the indigenous people, the Maya, along with the people who came from other continents, enjoy the same democratic rights and privileges as all Belizeans.

I mention this because we have noted a very disturbing trend in several Guatemalan statements in the course of this process. They suggest that somehow the indigenous people of Belize need protection from the Guatemalan State, and that if given the opportunity they would opt to become part of the State of Guatemala.

Out of consideration for the distinguished representatives of Guatemala here present, I will not present historical and contemporary facts about the treatment of the indigenous peoples in Guatemala, or about the record of respect for their human rights. I am sure, in any case, that the members of the Panel are sufficiently familiar with this. But as we all know, Guatemala is a country that is in transition towards a more democratic and more just society, and we need to work together to ensure that the horrors of the past never again return, and that we cooperate in our efforts to provide a better life for all our peoples.

That is why it is important that Guatemala cease its policy of suggesting that the Maya people of Belize hold different loyalties from those of other Belizeans. This attempt to divide our peoples cannot but be considered an unfriendly act. We do not, and will not, seek to interfere in the internal affairs of Guatemala, much less to divide its peoples along ethnic or other lines. Such a policy, we all know from sad examples of ethnic divisions in too many parts of our world, only leads to tragedy and grief. The fact is that the Maya people of Belize, in common with indigenous peoples in all countries that have suffered colonialism, from whatever colonial power, have endured oppression and exploitation. But in today’s independent Belize, the Maya have the same rights as all other Belizeans, including the right to cultural expression, to respect for the way of life they choose, and to development.

I wish in this context to place on record the fact that the Maya Leaders of Southern Belize recently signed a ten-point agreement with the Government of Belize, copies of which I have made available, in which the Government recognises their right to communal land, to cultural expression, and, most importantly, to have a say in decisions affecting their lives. In January of this year, the Maya Leaders passed what they called the Millennium Declaration, firmly rejecting any overtures from the Guatemalan Government, declaring their loyalty to the State of Belize, and calling on Guatemala to desist from pressing its territorial claim to what, as Belizeans, is their territory.

Besides being a multi-cultural nation, Belize is also an integral part of the two sub-regions, of the Caribbean and Central America. We sometimes refer to ourselves as the Caribbean beat in the heart of Central America. Already Belize has served as a bridge between the two regions. We have facilitated the improved relations of Guatemala with CARICOM countries, in the same way that Guatemala has facilitated our increasingly closer relations with Central America. We both know that now, more than ever before, we small countries have to stick together in order to meet the challenges of globalisation and find ways to improve the lives of our people.

Let me now turn to the question of what it is the Facilitators might wish to consider by way of proposing ways to put an end to this differendum.

Let me begin by suggesting what should not be considered. Without in any way wishing to show any disrespect towards the submissions made by the distinguished delegation of Guatemala, I believe it should be clear after the submissions made both in writing and orally yesterday, that this is not a case suitable for judicial determination. If this were a case between individuals coming before a municipal court, the court would rule the matter to be frivolous and vexatious, and dismiss it as not representing a triable case. Let’s face it, Guatemala has no case, and it would be criminal for our poor peoples to have to pay millions of dollars to have this case tried in the International Court of Justice, and even more millions if tried by an arbitral tribunal, when the outcome can only be one.

Let us suggest instead that you start from the premise that although Guatemala does not have a legal case against Belize, it feels aggrieved by history, not against Belize, as the distinguished Professor Villagran Kramer said yesterday, but aggrieved nonetheless. And as my colleague Senator Courtenay has just intimated, Guatemala seems to be suggesting that restituto in integrum is not a realistic prospect. Take those two factors into account: Guatemala cannot get territory, but it feels aggrieved, and it is not in Belize’s interest to have an aggrieved neighbour, when we have to work together for the development of our peoples. The question then becomes: what can the Facilitators suggest by way of projects that will deal with Guatemala’s sense of loss, without punishing Belize, but in fact benefiting both peoples in concrete and palpable ways?

I am sure that both Guatemala and Belize don’t want to fight this out, neither in court nor on the ground, and that we would both welcome a solution that is just for both parties, one that gives us both better opportunities for development and a new dawn in our relations, enabling our peoples to work even more closely together for the greater good of all.

Thank you.

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