And while the town council is waiting to speak with the mayor in PG, the BTV are moving full steam ahead into the BDF's Sarstoon Forward Operating Base. As you heard the leader, Will Maheia, said earlier this week, they feel the FOB has been abandoned and that the soldiers have been slacking in their patrols.
But the Brigadier General told us that the soldiers have merely been relocated temporarily because of the erosion, and that they are conducting operations in that area as we speak. He also added that the BTV has no authority to move into the FOB, and if they tried, soldiers would be stationed there to stop them.
But the BTV isn't backing off. Today, Maheia told us that they were patrolling the area, and pulled two illegal gill nets out of Port Honduras' marine reserve. In a message to us, he said, quote, "This is why we feel like we are still needed and relevant. Tomorrow we are set to go to the Sarstoon and we will occupy the BDF FOB if it is abandoned. We Belizeans need to establish a presence on the Sarstoon and in the area as you can see from today illegal fishing is still taking place." End quote.
So we'll there be a showdown at the Sarstoon tomorrow? We'll let you know on Monday's newscast.
