The greatest political decision taken by the People of Belize was on September 21st, 1981—they took a collective decision to form an independent State that was neither British, Spanish, nor Guatemalan but distinctly Belizean. This collective national act of self-determination was conceived in democracy and birthed in freedom by a people that were united in historical characteristics which defined them as a distinct group in the world community of cultures and nations—the Belizean People.

The Belizean people had unequivocally exercised their right to transform their political existence as a colonized people into the freed people of a Nation-State. They had irrevocably proclaimed to the world their own existence and their desire to live under a distinct set of principles, rules and regulations enshrined in their own Constitution. They had defined which peoples make up the nation of Belize, and affirmed that the territory known as Belize was that territory whose boundaries were described by the 1859 Treaty between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Guatemala and the 1893 Boundary Treaty between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Mexico. The Belizean people designated those institutions that would be the sustenance of their democracy; and embraced a foreign policy distinctly their own.

Four days after this historic act of self determination by the Belizean People, the United Nations General Assembly, by Resolution 36/3 voted to admit Belize as a full member of the International community. The vote was an acclamatory 144 to 1 with no abstentions, Guatemala in sombre isolation - being the only one to vote against. All the nations of the world recognized that history and their own efforts had coincided to create a new nation—the Belizean Nation—whose people were possessed of inalienable rights to self-determination and independence over all their territory in accordance with the most sacred principles of the United Nations.

At first, the context of this consideration was the annual transmission of information by the United Kingdom on self-governing territories for which it was responsible. In the course of this, Guatemala expounded its claims to the whole of Belize, using fallacious arguments about the incursions of the British colonists, uti possidetis, and the non-performance by the United Kingdom of its obligations to construct a cart road under the 1859 Anglo-Guatemalan Treaty and the consequent nullity of that Treaty. The United Kingdom, along with Belizean spokesmen, responded forcefully and fully to Guatemala’s contentions on every occasion.

Guatemala initially attracted a small measure of support among some Central American and a few South American States, whereas the majority of States, led by those of the Caribbean and the Non-Aligned Movement, gave full support to the position of the United Kingdom and Belize.

But in the end, Guatemala was left alone. Alone in its refusal to recognize Belize as an Independent State, and it was only until 1991, ten years later, that it did so.

If we are to examine the United Nations Resolutions on Belize from 1975 onward, and the debates and exchanges that led to their adoption, it is clear that the international community recognized from the outset that the State of Belize comprised all of the territory encompassed within the area from the Rio Hondo to the Sarstoon River and from its western Boundary with Guatemala to its offshore islands.

"The General Assembly…..
Noting the firm desire of the Government and people of Belize, which has been frequently expressed for many years past, to exercise their right to self-determination and to proceed to independence as soon as possible in peace and security and with their territory intact,……

Regretting that certain differences of opinion between the administering power and the Government of Guatemala concerning the future of Belize have hitherto prevented the people of Belize from exercising their right to self-determination and independence in peace and security, in accordance with their freely expressed wishes,

Considering that these differences of opinion can and should now be speedily resolved by negotiations carried out in close consultation with the Government of Belize and in full acceptance of the principles referred to above,

1. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the people of Belize to self-determination and independence.
2. Declares that the inviolability and territorial integrity of Belize must be preserved;
3. Calls upon all States to respect the right of the people of Belize to self-determination, independence and territorial integrity and to facilitate the attainment by them of their goal of a secure independence;

And it continues in Paragraph 5:

5. Declares that any proposals for the resolution of these differences of opinion that may emerge from the negotiations between the administering Power and the Government of Guatemala must be in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 above…..”

This Resolution - 3432 of 1975 - was adopted by a vote of 110 to 9, with 16 abstentions. At the following sessions of the General Assembly, from 1976 until 1979, Resolutions 31/50, 32/32, 33/36 and 34/38, containing ever stronger language, were passed with increasing majorities. All firmly called for respect of the inviolability and territorial integrity of Belize.

Finally, General Assembly Resolution 35/20 of 1980 called in no uncertain terms for Belize to become an independent state before the conclusion of its 36th Session. This historic Resolution reaffirmed the territorial integrity of Belize and the inalienable right of the people of Belize to “the secure and full independence of all their territory”. The United Kingdom was called upon to convene a constitutional conference to prepare for the independence of Belize, and to ensure “the security and territorial integrity of Belize”.

This Resolution was adopted in Plenary Session by an unprecedented vote of 139 to 0, with 7 abstentions, Guatemala having absented itself from the voting.

Sixteen days later, here at the Organization of American States, on November 27, 1980 to be precise, Member States present at the Sixth Plenary Session of the General Assembly adopted the following Resolution AGRES 501(X-O/80) from which I will quote extensively:

"The General Assembly,

Bearing in mind that Article 1 of the Charter of the Organization of American States provides that the Organization is a regional agency of the United Nations,

RESOLVES:

1. To endorse United Nations General Assembly Resolution 35/20 of November 11, 1980 on the question of Belize.

2. To offer its cooperation, in keeping with the principle of self-determination, to facilitate the constitutional evolution of Belize as a sovereign, independent State of the Americas, in accordance with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 35/20 of November 11, 1980 and thereafter to assist the independent State of Belize to develop harmonious and friendly relations with its neighbours and other States in the hemisphere.”

[I need not remind those present here that OAS Resolutions are passed by consensus.]

Therefore, when Belize became independent by an act of self-determination of its people, fully endorsed by the international community as godfathers and guarantors, it did so within boundaries recognized by the General Assemblies of both the United Nations and of the Organization of American States, borders considered “inviolable” by Member States of both organizations. The territory referred to was unquestionably that continuously occupied by the people of Belize prior to Independence.

The resolutions of the United Nations on Belize, and that of the OAS, and the proceedings that led to their adoption, admit of no other conclusion. By adopting those Resolutions, the General Assemblies resoundingly endorsed those boundaries established by Treaties in 1859, 1893 and 1931. And the fact that the states members voted for those Resolutions having heard the positions of the United Kingdom and Guatemala was clear recognition that the territorial integrity of Belize embraced its pre-independence borders, “intact” and “inviolable”.

Today, back in the Headquarters of the Organization of American States, in the home that belongs to all of us of “La Gran Familia” of the Americas, Belize reaffirms its unquestionable right to respect for its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The peace-loving people of Belize have long endured the threats and menaces of Guatemala that have loomed large over the national psyche. Frustrated and weary, but proud and unbowed, our people call only for peaceful coexistence with our neighbours founded on mutual respect.

Our people will countenance no dismemberment of our State and completely reject these persistent and unfounded attempts to trample on our National Identity and Dignity. We are all Belizean: whether Mestizo, Creole, Garifuna, Maya, Mennonite, East Indian, Arab, Asian, European and African and we say with one voice, “LET US BE!”

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