NEW JOINT INITIATIVE TO SOLVE DISPUTE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP08C01297R000400150009-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 13, 2012
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: June 1, 1986
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/09/13: CIA-RDPO8C012.97R000400150009-5
2
The New Belize June, 1986
Mclitcarial CI 0333.331. 431XL 't."
New joint initiative to solve dispute
The stage has been set f6r a unified approach
to tackle the unfounded Guatemalan claim
to Belize. The problem has bedeviled Belize
from its early history and has defied all efforts
aimed at a solution so far. When the United
Democratic Party formed the opposition, it had
repeatedly requested of the then governing Peoples
United Party a say, or at least a role to play in
the search for a solution to this vexing problem.
Limited consultation was offered and was taken
up for a time. However, never have both the
incumbent and opposition parties come together
in a formal unified body like the Special Select
Committee of the House of Representatives
announced on June 27th by Prime Minister Mr.
Manuel Esquivel.
In introducing a motion for the establishment
of the committee, the Prime Minister said that
it was being established in the national interest
to "provide for consultation and exchange of
information on negotiations and other processes
in the search for a solution of the issues arising
from the Guatemalan claim to Belize."
The committee which is now known as the House
Advisory Committee on the Guatemalan Issue
has as its members, the Prime Minister Rt. Hon.
Manuel Esquivel - Chairman, The Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister of Home Affairs Mr. Curl
Thompson - Deputy Chairman, the Attorney General
and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Dean Barrow,
the Minister of Labour and Social Services Mr.
Philip Goldson, the Leader of the Opposition Mr.
Florencio Marin and the Dangriga representative
Mr. Simeon Sampson. The establishment of the
committee and its makeup was discussed and
agreed on by the Leader of Government and the
Leader of the Opposition.
The committee has as its terms of reference:
1. The committee shall meet when convened
by its Chairman who shall be the Prime Minister,
or in his absence the Deputy Prime Minister. The
committee shall in any case meet not less than
once quarterly to review information and reports
which may be available on the subject of the
Guatemalan issue and to make such inquiries or
render such advice or proposals on the subject
as it may consider appropriate.
2. The committee may from time to time lay
on the table such information, proposal or report
as it may consider appropriate. The committee
may at any time request the Speaker to convene
a committee of the entire House to discuss in
confidence or otherwise, any information, report
or proposal.
3. The Speaker shall refer to the committee
for examination, any motion, proposal, question,
petition or other matter on the Guatemalan issue
which may come before the House.
We see the establishment of the House Advisory
Committee, on the Guatemalan Issue as a dramatic
and historic development in Belize's search for
a solution to a problem that in the view of most
Belizeans has dragged on for much too long. The
inflexibility of our neighbour to the west and
south has been the major stumbling block to the
Guatemala conundrum. That is the view of most
Belizeans. But we must add to that the fact that
Belizeans, through their political leaders, have
never been able to achieve unification in the form
of a concerted approach to the ways 'Of settling
the problem. The public outcry and indignation
at the Webster Proposals and more recently the
Heads of Agreement, in our opinion, was evidence
of that lack of cooperation and shared knowledge
between the government and opposition.
The House Advisory Committee will by no means,
except by accident, create unification between
the government and opposition as to how the issues
should be determined and what concessions Belize
would be willing to consider to assure such
settlement. However it should lead to an
opportunity for dialogue and a possible convergence
of views, through shared knowledge and information,
as to how the issues arising from the Guatemalan
claim can be approached. Couple this with the
existence in Guatemala of a democratically
elected government and we may just have the
beginning of a solution.
M. A. ROMERO
Ag. Chief Information Officer
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/09/13: CIA-RDP08001297R000400150009-5
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/09/13: CIA-RDP08001297R000400150009-5
Cover Story
T he Bel
Tourist Bureau
recently *ceived a grant
from theInited States
Agency for '34 International
Development to tinue its
work of promoting tourism
development in Belize.
Our Cover Story ta an
in-depth look at the to -'sm
industry. It is based in
on two recent studies carri
out by foreign consultants who
were contracted to analyse
tourism's potential for expansion
and recommend ways of
undertaking that expansion.
Both studies agree that Belize
has magnificent natural attractions
Vol. XVI No. 6
?
T he Review
Team
requested by government
to look at Belize's Public
Service has presented its anxiously
awaited report. The report will
be examined by Cabinet and
shared with public officers. In
the meantime, though the
Permanent Secretary to the
Cabinet Mr. Carlos Perdomo
reports in Viewpoint that planned
change in any organisation is
a delicate, challenging task and
must seek to improve that
organisation's "health."
membare? a
Have you been to Orange
Walk Town lately? Its
many present attractions
make it a place for action. I
has many historical monumen
Its natural scenery is supe
One can certainly have a wond ul
time in Belize's most economi Ily
vibrant town. Philip C illo
reports on Orange Walk own
in Travelogue.
???
lough not victorious
its bid for the title
Concacaf's Champion
in
of
of
ampions, the performance
Belize's national football
hamps Verdes was commendable.
Verdes won their first game
against Bermuda's Pembroke
Hamilton here in Belize but
lost by a wider margin in their
rematch in Bermuda.
Philip Castillo did a Sports
Review on Belize's first
opportunity to make a name
on the international football
scene.
Noliamis
Ju e,1986
and that) tourism can provide
a great/boost to this country's
developdnent. Government has
alreacly implemented some of
theis recommendations and is
looking more carefully at the
others to ensure the preservation
of one of the tenets of its tourism
J
policy: Belizeans as far as possible
must be facilitated to remain
and increase their presence in
the industry through ownership
of hotels, guest houses, tour
companies and other tourist
facilities.
Ag. Chief Information Officer
Manolo Romero reports
government's new thrust
tourism development.
Paw? 96
on
for
As a follow - up to . our
Viewpoint last month,
Manolo Romero interviewed
PRIDE - Belize DirectQr Dr.
Arturo Lizano. In his informative
interview, Dr. Lizano explains
how PRIDE is working through
the school system to increase
drug awareness and promote
drug education.
Pargroso EI
T, he Principal of the Belize
Technical College is our
Personality of the Month.
Mr. Owen Morrison has long
had an association with Technical
and he has no plans to move
elsewhere. . Information Officer
Philip Castillo found out that
Mr. Morrison . had to struggle
to overcome his dhrly depravations
and make someboy of himself.
He can always be an example
to the many students under his
tutelage.
M.E1?13?43 Et
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Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/09/13: CIA-RDP08001297R000400150009-5