“We stand as one,” Briceño tells Panton

By Breaking Belize News Staff (HP): Prime Minister John Briceño has publicly welcomed the support of Opposition Leader Tracy Panton, declaring that the defence of Belize rises above party politics.

In a post on Saturday evening, the Prime Minister said Belize’s freedom to determine its own future, its independence and its territorial sovereignty are not partisan causes.

“They are matters of nationhood, patriotism and our shared duty to Belize,” Briceño wrote.

He thanked Panton for backing the principles he reaffirmed before the United Nations General Assembly. Those principles, he said, are Belize’s sovereignty, its territorial integrity and the right of the Belizean people to determine their own future.

“On these fundamental matters, there should be no Government and Opposition, only Belizeans,” the Prime Minister said.

Briceño said he embraces the Opposition Leader in that shared national purpose.

“When it comes to the defence of our nation, we stand as one,” he wrote.

The message follows a strong statement from Panton on Saturday morning, just before the Prime Minister’s UN address. In it, she described recent threats by Guatemalan military forces as an affront to Belize’s sovereignty and national identity. She urged the Prime Minister to demand international monitoring, a reaffirmation of Belize’s territorial integrity and concrete assurances for the protection of Belizeans.

Panton also called on the Prime Minister to rally Belize’s allies to publicly support the country.

“Belize belongs to Belizeans. Our independence is NOT negotiable,” she wrote at the time.

The exchange comes amid heightened tensions with Guatemala. Earlier this month, the Guatemalan Navy entered the Sarstoon on September 10. More recently, a Guatemalan aircraft was reported near Lighthouse Reef and Caye Caulker, prompting the UDP to demand a direct explanation from Guatemala.

On the question of sovereignty, both sides of the House now appear to be speaking with one voice.

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