[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 146 (Saturday, October 8, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                          BELIZE INDEPENDENCE

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                          HON. SPENCER BACHUS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 7, 1994

  Mr. BACHUS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to 
a potential problem in Central America. It is important because the 
nation involved is peaceful, committee to democracy, and has close ties 
to the United States. The nation is Belize; perhaps the most stable and 
democratic nation in Central America.
  English is it's official language. It has a literacy rate that 
exceeds 90 percent.
  It's current United Democratic Government, under the leadership of 
Prime Minister Manuel Esquivel, is pro-American. It is a government 
working to encourage American investment and working to foster local 
free enterprise as the best path to prosperity for its 200,000 
citizens. It is making progress.
  Belize, once known as British Honduras, gained its independence in 
1981. It is a member of the United Nations, and remains a member of the 
British Commonwealth.
  However, its neighbor to the west, Guatemala, has a longstanding 
interest in the Belize access to the Caribbean Sea. In the early 
1980's, Guatemala massed troops on its border with Belize in an 
intimidating fashion. Fortunately, the resolute action of the British 
Government of Margaret Thatcher in the Falkland Islands war, and the 
immediate stationing of RAF and British army personnel in Belize, 
convinced the Guatemalans to immediately avoid confrontation.
  Now, however, the British are withdrawing their troops for financial 
reasons. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip spent a 2-day visit to 
Belize this past March to formally signal British determination to 
maintain Belizean independence and integrity.
  I am speaking today as an effort to ward off any miscalculation 
toward the independence of Belize. This body should do a very simple 
thing in this matter: Formally note that the United States stands with 
Great Britain and in full support of U.N. resolutions in full support 
of Belize independence.
  I have asked the Belize ambassador to the United States, the 
Honorable Dean Lindo, to keep me personally aware of any developments 
threatening Belize independence.
  There is no need now for formal action by this Congress. This should 
make certain that aggressor nations fully understand that militant 
actions against the independent status of Belize are unacceptable and 
will meet immediate response from this body.

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