Will Belize return a down drug helicopter to the Guatemalans? That's been at issue for three weeks since the Bell 206 Longranger was forced down by the Guatemalan Air Force in Belizean territory.
The Guatemalans have requested the helicopter to complete their investigation into the 500 kilos that the Guatemalan drug squad recovered form the helicopter. But Belize maintains that our law enforcement personnel must first finish their investigation and without anyone saying it, it's clear that they are taking their time.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Godfrey Smith has the request sitting on his desk and today he appeared in no hurry to get it off. We asked him to comment on the Guatemalan Ambassador's comment to us last week that the hand over was imminent.
Hon. Godfrey Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs
“I have not seen the final report on that matter. And until I have seen that and until I have consulted with the Prime Minister I am not in a position to say that we will be handing over the aircraft. What we have said is that we will consider fully everything that is put before us and make a final decision. But I am not aware that we have reached that stage yet.”
Unofficial sources say that one sticking point continues to be that the Guatemalans forced the helicopter down at midday on Monday May 31st and did not call their Belizean counterparts until 8 hours later.