BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Sept. 27, 2018– Leaders from three different branches of Belize’s national security apparatus — the Belize Defence Force, Belize Police Department and Belize Coast Guard, along with their Chief Executive Officer from Hon. John Saldivar’s Ministry of National Security, took to the airwaves to explain their yes to the International Court of Justice ICJ referendum process, and to insist that the result of next year’s April 10 national referendum on whether to submit the Guatemalan claim to the International Court of Justice for settlement has major implications for the national security of Belize.

Representing the BDF was Brigadier General Stephen Ortega; Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams appeared for the Belize Police Department; Rear Admiral John Borland spoke for the Belize Coast Guard. The men were with their CEO in the Ministry of National Security, Felix Enriquez, yesterday morning on the KREM Wake Up Belize Morning Vibes (WUB).

The national security leaders squared off with the hosts of the WUB, Evan “Mose” Hyde and  Nuri Muhammad, in a very rare appearance of the two on a single show. Mose and Nuri attacked the controversial position taken by the men who lead Belize’s security forces.

At the outset, Mose Hyde set the stage for what was to follow by explaining that he respects the leaders of our national security team to the extent that he, as a journalist, would have never even thought about asking any one of them their position on the ICJ referendum, because where the role of our security forces is concerned, the projection of neutrality is critical, and they are above that.

Mose Hyde made no secret of the fact that he was against Belize’s security forces’ leaders broadcasting their yes to the ICJ position.

National Security CEO Enriquez, however, responded by saying that the issue is a national issue.

Nuri Muhammad then explained that there is a perception of what the CEO is doing, even though he is in denial of what he is doing. He pointed out that the use of opinion leaders is extremely important.

The discussion heats up as Hyde tells the CEO that he, Enriquez, is basically questioning the legitimacy of those who say no to the ICJ.

Assistant Commissioner Williams expressed the view that the ICJ vote will have serious national security issues for our country.

At this point, Muhammad points out that during the Heads of Agreement in 1981 we didn’t have any of our security people coming out like this.

The two WUB hosts opened the phone lines so that KREM’s listening and viewing audience could participate in the discussion.

The first caller was Giovanni Brackett, the Citizens Organized for Liberty through Action (COLA) President.

Brackett told the national security leaders that their coming out is not only political, but it is unethical. “It’s unethical what you all are doing,” Brackett stressed as he proceeded to tell the national security leaders that what they are doing is political, though not necessarily partisan, but political in the sense of the meaning of “political” as it involves a national policy.

“You call us fear mongers, but you are the real fear mongers. Guatemala has aggressed us and you have not seen it fit to send your special branch on the ground in Guatemala,” Brackett told the panel of national security leaders.

Enriquez’s response was that he did not find what they are doing to be unethical, and that he has to disagree wholeheartedly with Giovanni. “We have some information that we want to impart, and I don’t find that unethical,” Enriquez responded.

Dr. Louis Zabaneh, the Dangriga standard bearer for the Opposition People’s United Party (PUP) called and asked Williams to explain what factors led him to think that a no vote would lead to war. Zabaneh also asked Williams if the defense budget, which Dr. Zabaneh cited as approximately 20 million dollars were to rise to 80 million dollars if Williams’ position would change.

Deputy Commissioner Williams, however, insisted that if Belizeans vote no in the ICJ referendum, there is a possibility that war could result from that.

Another knowledgeable caller, “Don Hector” Silva, former PUP Cayo North area representative and Cabinet Minister, asked Williams about the situation involving Bobby Lopez’s “No ICJ” float in the Belmopan parade on Independence Day, for which Mr. Lopez was repeatedly harassed by the Belmopan police.

Don Hector told the men that their action of going out to support the ICJ yes vote is being sanctioned by the government; otherwise they would not be here.

Williams said that it was not the police which are responsible for the floats in the parade, but the September Celebrations Committee.

Nuri Muhammad pointed out that the Bobby Lopez incident shows that the government is propagandizing the process of the ICJ issue. This is political campaign on the part of the high command, Muhammad said.

Derek Aikman, a former Freetown area representative and Cabinet Minister for the now ruling United Democratic Party (UDP), one of the leading opponents of going to the ICJ called, saying that this is the most difficult call he has ever made to the station. Aikman said that the coming out of the leaders of the national security apparatus is undoubtedly a political campaign that sets a dangerous precedent. “You have disrespected your role; you should have left it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” Aikman offered.

Williams said he respectfully disagreed with Aikman’s position.

As a leader, if I can influence anybody I am called upon to influence people as a leader, Williams declared.

   General Ortega explained that it is his duty to influence the men that he leads. It is my duty to influence my soldiers; that is my duty as their leader, General Ortega said.

Admiral Borland then explained that the security leaders went through in-depth analysis and not only our soldiers and sailors look to us, but the very citizens of Belize look to us as military men. We have three obligations as military men. The first is to protect and defend the government of the day, then to carry out the policies of the government, and to advise that government.

I think we are involved in a process that requires us to be involved, Admiral Borland said.

Borland said that the reshaping and retraining of our forces is at the forefront of discussion in the government.

Sandra Coye, a renowned academic, called and said that, “I heard in your voices the venom and your classification of us as fear mongers. It’s no different from what I heard in the voice of the Leader of the Opposition…We are not the cause of that…first of all the government declared that it will support a yes vote.”

Coye said that it is the government that is making people think no, because they have been issuing contradicting statements. She cited the Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington on the occasion of the visit of the OAS Secretary-General, when Elrington said that Belize does not have internationally recognizable borders.” Ms. Coye went on, “And then he said that we have not completed the processes of our sovereignty and our territorial integrity and that we are squatters; to correct all of this we need to go to the ICJ, the Foreign Minister said. I called in and asked about the matter and I was the first person to cite the Montevideo Convention, but the Foreign Minister was dismissive of me.”

Williams said that he was not aware of Coye’s position.

Coye also pointed out that even if we go to the ICJ, there is still an outstanding treaty between Britain and Guatemala that has to be completed, and you may find that treaty in the book by Cedric Grant titled The Making of Modern Belize.