March 29, 2019
Dear Editor,
The Belize PEACE Movement issues the following statement in response to the PM’s press conference earlier today.
It is not lost on the Movement that the PM is big on “optics” and today’s press conference was, among other things, apparently concocted in an attempt to influence precisely that.
Today’s show was essentially an affront to Belizeans everywhere. In keeping with his government’s patent arrogance, it was revealed to be nothing more than a last ditch effort to attempt to regain the considerable support they have lost as a result of Belizeans becoming better informed due to gaining a greater expanse of information, albeit not due to any effort put forth by the Referendum Unit.
Beyond the unpalatable and inexcusable self-aggrandizement by several of the assembled speakers concerning their ineffective efforts which have ultimately landed Belize in this untenable position, the PM sought to pull the proverbial “rabbit out of the hat” by presenting the opinion of a long-since-retired former Jurist on the ICJ, Justice Schwebel.
With all due respect, the PEACE Movement does not question Judge Schwebel’s pedigree, yet we must highlight that he is the very same individual who contributed to the 2002 Lauterpatch et al publication.
Hence, it begs the question whether the GOB expected anything different from the already established opinion of the esteemed former jurist. The government of Belize was effectively shocked by Professor Stephen Vasciannie’s legal opinion (Feb. 2019), in which he stated:
“. . . If this dispute is resolved substantially in favor of Belize, the Guatemalan claims – some of which could even have an existential impact on the Belizean State – would be dismissed with some degree of finality.
“On the other hand recognition by the court of some aspects of Guatemala’s claims could result in loss of parts of territory now held by Belize to be within the borders of Belize. The stakes then are extraordinarily high, and the case for careful review of the situation prior to the referendum is readily made.”
To counter this setback, PM Barrow lauded a legal opinion on the matter produced by former ICJ judge Stephen M. Schwebel. Our research indicates that Judge Schwebel has shown a pattern of preference for the positions of his home country in cases at the ICJ. He has in at least three landmark cases issued dissenting opinions in favor of his home country even when the overwhelming majority of ICJ judges ruled otherwise.
Due to the biased manner in which the GOB has conducted its so-called “Education Campaign”, the Belize PEACE Movement is by no means surprised by the overt bias and disregard for the common sense of the electorate, demonstrated via this event. We highlight as proof of the contemptuous nature of the proceeding, the PM’s mention of the prospect of “interim relief” from the ICJ concerning Guatemala’s aggression along the Sarstoon River that could be sought by Belize, if a “yes” vote is returned.
Albeit the notion presumably derived from the GOB-solicited opinion of the former judge, for it to have been presented in that context was entirely inappropriate.
The Belize PEACE Movement therefore cries shame on such a notion because it is tantamount to offering an incentive for Belizeans to vote in favour of the GOB’s position. It is also disingenuous because such an offer “after the fact”, given that we have stated for quite some time, with regard to the same concern along the Sarstoon, that under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, Article 39, Belize retains all rights to petition the UN for “Action With Respect to Threats to the Peace, Breaches of the Peace and Acts of Aggression”.
Another matter with which we take issue involves the PM’s reference to the economic costs associated with a resulting “NO” vote. His reference to the need for “confidence, certainty and predictability (and that) the lack of predictability hurts the business climate,” is shallow and should not resonate positively with anyone who has been made to feel the brunt of his government’s failed economic policies.
Today’s press conference shall be remembered among the last of the GOB’s final attempts to convolute the truth which informs whether or not Belizeans should vote to facilitate Guatemala in pursuing its claim to sovereign Belizean territory at the ICJ.
With all due respect to the opinions proffered by former Jurist Schwebel, irrespective of his seemingly illustrious legal career, the fact remains that the risks associated with voting “yes”, given the parameters set by the Special Agreement/Compromis, are far too high for Belize. This remains an indisputable fact, and we encourage Belizeans to not be swayed by the ongoing GOB propaganda.
In sum, this is a matter that requires sound deliberation based on common sense, for legal opinions are in abundance and there is no question that Guatemala is acting on legal advice that speaks to the strength of their case, for they certainly would not opt to take the juridical route if their case had no merit. The lynchpin is that Belize, inevitably, has more to lose under the current parameters.
The Belize PEACE Movement also takes this occasion to publicly express that we still await a response from the UNDP concerning our correspondence of 20th March 2019, in which we posed pointed questions with regard to the manner in which the GOB has been afforded free reign to conduct its overtly biased “Education Campaign”, to the tune of $1.425 million, without admonition.
-press release, Belize Peace Movement-