by Kristen Ku
SARSTOON, Toledo District, Thurs. May 4, 2023
The last recorded visit to Sarstoon Island was an excursion by the Belize Territorial Volunteers (BTV) in September of last year. The group, which included some children, planned to visit the island as part of an Independence Day celebration, and they almost didn’t make it to their destination as their passage was blocked by Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF) in boats who confronted the group and attempted to force them to turn back.
The determined group of Belizeans eventually made it to the island, where they planted our National Flag and lustily sang our National Anthem. As soon as the excursion left, the GAF swooped in and disrespectfully removed our flag.
This weekend the BTV and its leader, Wil Maheia, accompanied by a number of notables which included Attorney/Activist Audrey Matura, made their annual trip up the Sarstoon River, to Gracias a Dios Falls, in commemoration of the signing of the border treaty between Belize and Guatemala, on April 30, 1859. And the GAF once again tried to force them to abort their journey. In one instance the GAF drove their fully armed boats aggressively towards the lead BTV boat, an assault which destabilized the crew and almost flipped them overboard. Guatemalan soldiers hollered at the BTV group that they were traversing in Guatemalan territory, and demanded they show their documents. Matura, who consistently updates her social media followers, posted narrated videos on Facebook of the entire ordeal and treatment by the GAF.
The Forward Operating Base (F.O.B.) at the Sarstoon has been unmanned since it was deemed unfit for our soldiers last year because of erosion and years of deterioration. Without Belize Defence Force personnel nearby, the BTV and its group was entirely on their own. In an interview with a local media house, Maheia stated that he was aware that the base had been moved to Barranco Village, and that since that change the BDF has slowly stopped patrolling the area.
Upon their return from the visit to Gracias a Dios Falls the BTV issued a press release about the harassment they had received and the lack of response by our government.
“We are sending an official complaint to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to document once again the aggressive conduct of the GAF and press our government out of its passive and nonchalant approach in that area, thus allowing the GAF to feel entitled and emboldened to enter Belizean waters and seek to exercise authority over Belizean vessels and persons,” Maheia said.
Amandala reached out to top brass at the BDF for comment regarding the charges that they were falling down on their duty at the Sarstoon but to press time they have not responded.