It used to be about big ideas like differendum and referenda, but this week with all the talk of "Xate", Belize/Guatemala diplomacy seems to have devolved into a sort of home and gardening landscaping special.
But despite the Xate sideshow, the nuts and bolts of confidence building and conflict mediation continue on the ground. And it must because there are still numerous communities that have been set up by Guatemalans in Belizean territory like Santa Rosa which has 20 families and as many as 134 persons living in it.
With these glaring problems still very present, it was with some sense of relief that Belizean authorities attended the inauguration of 15 houses that represent the resettled Nuevo Judah area in Melchor de Mencos, Guatemala. In a 7NEWS Exclusive, Alfonso Noble traveled to the western border hotspot for the move.
Alfonso Noble Reporting, (From Guatemala)
In January of this year when we visited the site for the relocation of the Nuevo Judah area of Melchor de Mencos it was but a clearing of land with pegs in the ground. Today 3 months later there are 15 brand new wooden houses earmarked for those persons who live in the much disputed Nuevo Judah community that falls either on the border line or too close to it. Today with representation from Belize's foreign Ministry, Lawrence Sylvester, the BDF's Brigadier General Cedric Borland and a host of representatives from the group of friends - the international pact that supports the differendum process, the titles and keys to the homes were handed over to the new owners.
Mr. Kruger, Fund for Peace
"We have the 15 first houses for Guatemalan families that earlier resided in the Nuevo Judah area on the eastern side of the adjacency line. So today they will get a new house and they will actually start moving further into Guatemalan territory today."
These first 15 houses represent phase one of a larger $300,000 development that will see up to 35 more of these homes built in the area. Kruger says that they came as part of an OAS fund that sees to the settlement of border disputes in Central American countries.
Mr. Kruger,
"It's paid for from Fund for Peace where different donors put their funds for this kind of territorial differendum and disputes all over Central America."
"We've tried to do it in collaboration with the beneficiaries who have actually helped voluntarily with labor. They have built their own houses so to speak."
Hilda Soto, Nuevo Judah Villager
"I'm happy and thankful and would like to thank those countries who have helped us to build these houses."
Roberto Chen, Nuevo Judah Villager
"We are happy with the cooperation that the Government of Belize and Guatemala have given us. We are happy. For us it is a better house."
Hilda Soto,
"My house was a simple one of wood and zinc. This house is better."
Miguel Angel Barrera, Nuevo Judah Villager
"This house is so much better, my old one has 15 zincs and I estimate to have spent some 2,500 quetzals for it. This house is very pretty."
"We'll leave where we are, we'll tear down the old houses and we'll move to these new homes."
"We won't be bothered in this place. We won't be going in or they won't be coming in. We are free."
But while they see themselves as free there is still the question of some 42 other families that an OAS survey has proven live on or near various parts of the adjacency line. These however are not as clear-cut as the Judah case. Most exist because of the need for es who will be issued these houses and 15 more later. And we will hope and certainly be keeping the pressure to bear on the Osubsistence farming. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' CEO Lawrence Sylvester says that government's efforts will now focus on these communities.
Lawrence Sylvester, CEO Foreign Affairs
"There are about 5 familiAS and the government of Guatemala in inducing the more than 40 other Guatemalan national families who are residing in illegal settlements on the adjacency zone on Belizean territory."
Mr. Kruger,
"We have made verifications to seven different settlements. We made our reports to the government but up until this date they have not made any other decision as to if their more people that are to be removed."
Alfonso Noble,
"Can we be assured that everyone from Nuevo Judah to if not here somewhere else?"
Lawrence Sylvester,
"That is our intent and that is our resolve. We are insisting that the line must be cleared but we continue talking and working towards the pacific settlement of this controversy."
"We are resolved to have them removed. Once they don't meet the criteria established in the facilitator's proposals, having been a resident there before October of 2001."
So while there still remains those settlements that need to be relocated, today's exercise shows that even in the most difficult of circumstances solutions can be arrived at such as today's relocation of the Nuevo Judah area that should be taken as model of proceedings for both countries.
While the resettlement of the Nuevo Judah area seems progressive, more contentious matters such as Xate and a new confidence building agreement this take center stage at bilateral meetings in Washington next week.