Belize’s Prime Minister, Dean Barrow, and the Guatemalan President, Jimmy Morales, found common ground when they met in Belize for the 52nd Summit of the Central American Integration System (SICA).
This was Morales’ second official visit to Belize, but his first as the President of Guatemala. In total, he spent roughly 24 hours on Belizean soil. He arrived in country, and he was joined by Prime Minister Barrow and the other SICA Heads of States: Panama’s President, Juan Carlos Varela; the President of El Salvador, Salvador Sánchez Cerén; and the President of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernandez. The Foreign Ministers of the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua; and the Director in the office of the President of Costa Rica also attended the summit on behalf of their respective heads of state.
These high level talks happened at the Biltmore Plaza Hotel, and it was chaired by Prime Minister Barrow. This summit marked the end of Belize’s six-month-term as President Pro Tempore, and one of the highlights of the event was when Prime Minister Barrow formally handed over the presidency of SICA to President Morales. Guatemala will now head the regional organization for the next six months.
During Belize’s leadership, SICA renewed focus on agriculture, health and energy to ensure the inclusion of women, youth, and indigenous people in SICA Member States’ economic development. There was also a in-depth focus on migration the serious problems it causes for the region, due to Central Americans heading north seeking a better life, while they flee from poverty, violence and crime.
During the President Morales’ visit, he and Prime Minister engaged in bilateral talks. In those conversations, both continued to agree that taking the Guatemala-Belize differendum to the International Court of Justice is the only way to peacefully address the age old problem.
Speaking with the press after the summit, Prime Minister Barrow said that he also brought up the pending discussions for agreement for the Sarstoon River. Readers are aware that this river acts as the southernmost boundary between Belize and Guatemala, and in recent years, it has become an area of major dispute between both countries. The Guatemalans continue to try and exert control over the river, demanding that Belizeans must seek formal permission to traverse it.
Prime Minister Barrow said, “Of course, the question with the Sarstoon came up. I raised the question of the Sarstoon, and his response was well, once we go to court – that together with everything else will be disposed of. So, I have no doubt that he truly believes that the referendum, if in fact Belize votes to go to the ICJ, will put an end to the issue. I truly believe that Guatemala absolutely knows that it would have to respect the ICJ ruling and basically that’s where that stood. Until April 10th, Belize is still pressing for us to try and come up with a modus vivendi for the Sarstoon that would guarantee that our rights are respected. But I can’t tell you that I was able to achieve that today.”
While he was leaving the summit, President Morales gave a very short comment to the local press wishing Belize peace.
Morales said, “I think that Guatemala and Belize, we want peace. We want to strengthen ourselves. We have very good treaties that we have signed, for example, children from Guatemala who come to Belize to Study; Belizean university students who go to study in Guatemala. That shows that we all want to improve. So, we always wish Belize the best; what’s good for Belize is good for Guatemala.”
