Home   >   Activities   >   GOB restricts temporary movement on Belize’s portion of the Sarstoon River

GOB restricts temporary movement on Belize’s portion of the Sarstoon River

By on April 29, 2016
Flag of Belize

Flag of Belize

Belmopan, CAYO. Friday, April 29, 2016. The Government of Belize has imposed a “temporary restriction on movement in Belize’s portion of the Sarstoon River.”

The temporary restriction is for one month effective immediately and was done “to prevent any ‘commotion’ or ‘threat’ to public safety that might arise in consequence of the continuing tense and dangerous standoff between Belize and Guatemala of the Sarstoon.”

The temporary restriction on movement in Belize was made by the Governor General Sir Colville Young, after consultation with the Prime Minister and falls under Section 2 of the Public Safety Act, Chapter 142 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011.

According to a Government press release “the regulations prohibit persons and vessels, without lawful authority, from entering into Belize’s portion of the Sarstoon River.”

Temporary restriction (Government Press Release)

Temporary restriction
(Government Press Release)

The official release goes on to explain that with the current high tension on the border and particularly at the Sarstoon could spark an incident “caused by the unregulated insertion of members of thee Belizean public into this very volatile mix.”

The official release ends by saying that “during the one month period for which the restrictions are to last, it is expected that a diplomatic solution will be found to the problem, and that the resolution will provide for safe passage of Belizean civilians along the Sarstoon River.”

The imposition of the temporary restriction on movement on the Belize side of the Sarstoon River comes on the eve of a planned trip to the area by a group known as the Belize Territorial Volunteers, which, despite an appeal from Prime Minister Dean Barrow to stay away from the area, was planning to go to the Sarstoon on Saturday, April 30, to mark the anniversary of the signing of the 1859 Treaty between the United Kingdom and Guatemala, which established Belize’s border.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CAPTCHA Image

*