Power Point Week 11 Belizean Studies (2021).pptx

Belize Informatio

1. Belizean Studies Treaties for Belize’s Northern, Southern, and Western Borders Week 11 Mr. Vernon

2. Northern Border of Belize (1893 Treaty)

3. Northern Border of Belize (1893 Treaty) The Belize–Mexico boundary is approximately 250 kilometers (155 miles) long. Inland from the Boca Bacalar Chico on the Caribbean coast, it extends through the Chetumal Bay for about 81 kilometers (50 miles) to the mouth of the Hondo (Rio Hondo). The boundary follows the thalweg of the Hondo and Blue Creed (Rio Azul) upstream to the meridian of Garbutt's Fall.

4. Northern Border of Belize (1893 Treaty) On July 8, 1893, the United Kingdom and Mexico signed a treaty which affords the present delimitation of the Belize–Mexico boundary. The two governments signed a convention on April 7, 1897, which added a new stipulation to the 1893 treaty as follows: Art. 3, bis. Her Britannic Majesty guarantees to Mexican merchant vessels in perpetuity the absolute liberty, as at present enjoyed, of navigating the Strait opening to the south of Ambergris Caye, otherwise known as the island of San Pedro, between this Caye and the mainland, as well as of navigating the territorial waters of British Honduras.

5. Layout of the Northern Border of Belize

6. Southern and western border of Belize (1859 treaty) The Ongoing Dispute

7. Southern and western border of Belize (1859 treaty) In 1859 Britain and Guatemala signed a treaty which defined our borders from the Rio Hondo to Sarstoon. The Treaty included an article that said both parties would make their best efforts to build a cart road from Guatemala City to the Atlantic Coast. After a few years, the road hadn't been built and Guatemala blamed Britain for it. They said that the Treaty was a treaty of cession and because Britain violated it, they were supposed to get their land back.

8. Southern and western border of Belize (1859 treaty) In 1946 Guatemala officially tried to declare the Treaty null and void. Britain suggested going to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to resolve their differences, but Guatemala rejected it. After years of failed negotiations, we finally got Guatemala to accept the possibility of going to Court. Guatemala held its referendum in April of 2018 and voted yes to go the ICJ. On April 10th, 2019, we Belizeans will be asked if we want to finally settle the dispute once and for all the ICJ.

9. Southern and western border of Belize (1859 treaty) Article 7 of the 1859 Treaty: The wording of the 1859 Treaty clearly establishes that it is a boundary treaty. Article 7 says that both the British and Guatemalans would use their “best efforts” to jointly establish the “easiest means of communication,” using roads or rivers, between Guatemala City and the Atlantic Coast. The Treaty did not say Britain alone would build the road, but that both of them would try.

10. Southern and western border of Belize (1859 treaty) The 1931 Treaty: In 1931, Britain and Guatemala exchanged letters by which Guatemala officially accepted the border monuments as marking the boundaries established in the 1859 Treaty. These permanent border monuments were placed there in 1929 by British and Guatemalan boundary commissioners when they reinforced the original border markers placed there right after the 1859 Treaty was signed.

11. The ICJ (International Court of Justice) The ICJ was founded in 1946 and has been dealing with cases ever since. It is one of the most respected international tribunals and sees high rates of compliance with its judgements. Since its inception, it has dealt with many territorial disputes. Over the years it has established a clear pattern. The Court gives the most weight to boundary treaties. Over the years, the Court has repeatedly reaffirmed the importance of the stability of borders in territorial and boundary disputes (Cambodia v. Thailand, Libya/Chad, Nicaragua v. Colombia).