September 10th is the day on which Belizeans celebrate the fact that the Spanish were repelled from Belize's shores never to try and reclaim it.And that is why we are Belize and not "Belice," the 23rd Department of the State of Guatemala.
And maybe that is why the Guatemalan Navy chose yesterday for an unprecedented act of sovereign defiance. They went over to Sarstoon island, which forms Belize's southern boundary and planted a flag - telling BDF soldiers who were there that they had orders to follow.
7 News has obtained video of the moment they boldly stomped onto the mangrove island - and here is it captioned with English subtitles:
BDF speaking in Spanish:BDF speaking in Spanish: You take it down or we'll take it down ourselves, respectfully. Man to man, we leave it at that.
You take it down or we'll take it down ourselves, respectfully. Man to man, we leave it at that.
GAF:
You can't take it down. Why?
BDF:
You never place a flag there.
GAF:
You had already brought down. inaudible
(GAF to one of their men):
Inaudible. Pass through. Don't let those loudmouths advance here.
GAF: What's up with these guys?
BDF:
Flags are never placed there, friend. What's happening?
GAF:
Your entire life you've always been the ones to stir things up, bro. Your entire life.
BDF:
I'm just doing my job, just like you. I have orders to follow.
GAF: So do we.
