In a press conference held on Tuesday, July 17, 2008, the Prime Minister of Belize, Hon. Dean Barrow, noted that during the recent oil price negotiations between B.N.E. and the Belize Government, a high point came when big officials in the US came after the Government of Belize.
Prime Minister Barrow recounted that, “I had a visit from the U.S. Ambassador in this country of Belize and a call from the Deputy Chief of Missions and apart from the Ways and Means Committee, at least one other Congressman made representations to the Belize Embassy in Washington, arguing against the surcharge.”
The question I asked why at this time, does the U.S.A. want to be seen and heard in Belize affairs, and in particular, our oil discovery (so-called)? I say “so-called” because seventy-one years ago, it was reported that Belize had “huge lakes of oil.” (See my article on oil in Belize, Amandala October 13, 1996.)
It is important to note a few points in that article. (1) “A bill had to be placed on the books for the first time. This ordinance #17 of 1937 was cited as the Petroleum Production Ordinance 1937. Section 2(1) of this ordinance reads, ‘The property in petroleum existing in its natural condition in strata in British Honduras is hereby vested in His Majesty, and His Majesty shall have the exclusive right of searching and boring for and getting such petroleum.’”
It is interesting to note the present Constitutional Amendment section 17, which is a step in the right direction in protecting the resources of Belize for the Government and people of Belize. I understand this statement to be saying that the Government and people of Belize have the last word in dealing with the natural resources of Belize. The Government of Belize has the mandate of Belizeans to get the best financial deals for the people of Belize.
We now come to America’s interest in Belize, and the Guatemalan claim to Belize. We know from the available historical records that the U.S.A. has shown great interest in the Belize/Guatemala dispute. We know that the USA supports Guatemala’s claim to Belize as evidenced in the Bay of Pigs 1961 under President Kennedy. (Cuban exiles trained in Guatemala for the invasion of Cuba.) We have seen the U.S. support for Guatemala in the 1966 Thirteen Proposals and the 1968 17 Proposals, the 1981 Heads of Agreements and the Belize Maritime Areas Act in 1991.
Following this logic on the Belize-Guatemala-U.S.A.interaction, it would be accurate for me to conclude that the USA is pushing the I.C.J. button on the Belize-Guatemala talks. There are two points of reference to note: (1) Article 16 of Webster’s 17 Proposals states that if Belize had accepted and signed on to the 17 Proposals, Guatemala would consider their dispute over. (2) At the conclusion of the Belize-Guatemala territorial differendum proposals of August 30th, 2002, the proposals from the facilitators were received by Belize/Guatemala to be presented by the respective governments to their people in referendum. (See pages 1 thru 30.) I believe it is a good working document with proper amendments and adjustments, which the Governments of Belize/Guatemala were not allowed to alter in any way.
I believe that if both governments to the dispute were allowed to make the necessary adjustments that are relevant for economic development of their peoples, then there would be no need for the I.C.J. to rescue Belize’s future. Belizeans already know that Belize belongs to Belizeans. They also know that Guatemala has no legal claim to Belize in law or in fact. Belizeans want to live in peace with all our neighbors and the world.
Amandala! Poder al pueblo! Ubafu houn geregeia! Al-quwa-li-nas! Power to the people. (Leave Belize alone.)