Today, April 30, 2013, marked the 154th anniversary of the Anglo-Guatemalan Boundary Treaty, which delineated Belize’s territorial boundaries with Guatemala, as written in the Belize Constitution.
The Belize People’s Front, a small group of concerned Belizean men and women who believe in the integrity and viability of the nation state of Belize, had a solemn ceremony, marking this historic event at the monument marker at Garbutt’s Falls.
Belize People’s Front raised a Belizean flag in honor of the occasion.
This was done in conjunction with the Belize Territorial Volunteers, who did a trek to the Gracias a Dios marker in the South, near the Sarstoon River.
Despite scare tactics by police, who threatened arrest should any misconduct have arisen, the group pressed onward with the planned ceremony, opening with a word of prayer by Pastor Lance Lewis, the National Anthem followed by the National Prayer, led by Don Hector Silva, via phone call.
Whilst the commemorative ceremony was being held, we saw Guatemalan citizens walking through the bushes, entirely avoiding the Belize Immigration post, which was only about a thousand meters away.
Belize security officers, meanwhile, filmed the group’s activities with a telephoto lens SLR camera.
Belize People’s Front affirms that the expedition to the border marker was well within the parameters of their rights to freedom of movement and free speech.
Meanwhile, Belize Territorial Volunteers in northern Belize last weekend visited Aguas Turbias, also to commemorate the anniversary of the border treaty.
“We sang the national anthem in the marching style of Governor General Colville Young. We prayed and we heard speeches from various participants,” the BTV said.
They also planted 3 mahogany trees as a symbol of friendship to represent the peoples of the 3 countries represented on the monument: Belize, Mexico and Guatemala.
The group which undertook the expedition installed a plaque with the name “Belize” engraved on it, since the only marking acknowledging Belize was done in pencil.
BTV said that a second plaque will arrive next week for installation at the border marker.
BTV said the group is “eternally grateful for the participation and support of everyone: from Punta Gorda, Dangriga, Belize City, Corozal, Orange Walk Town and surrounding villages.”