The People’s United Party has finally, though not yet officially, established some sort of concrete position on going to the International Court of Justice to settle the unfounded territorial dispute by Guatemala. It’s been months in coming, but P.U.P. Leader Francis Fonseca told News Five that after consultation in all constituencies, there is consensus – YES to a referendum…but NO to the ICJ.
Francis Fonseca, P.U.P. Leader
“That’s the consensus in the party. We haven’t obviously had a formal statement issued on the matter but I can tell you that having travelled the length and breadth of the country, having consulted with our representatives and standard bearers in all thirty-one constituencies across the country…that the clear consensus, not unanimous, but the clear consensus within the Party is that it doesn’t make sense at this time for Belize to be going to the ICJ. It is not in the interest of the Belizean people and the Belizean nation for us to go to the ICJ at this time. There is nothing to be gained from doing that at this time. That is the consensus in our Party. We are certainly committed to a referendum. I certainly believe that the Belizean people must, as we have said from the very beginning…the Belizean people must have the final say in this matter, as to whether or not we go to the ICJ, and we will respect the will and voice of the people, but it is certainly our view at this time in the People’s United Party that it is not in Belize’s interest to go to the International Court of Justice. There has been too much uncertainty as it relates to Guatemala’s position. Even now we don’t quite know when a referendum will be held, if a referendum will be held. It’s still not clear.”