Belmopan, Belize 11 February (Belizean.com) The Prime Minister of Belize Hon. Dean Barrow has urged caution on the part of Belize Defense Force army activities on the southern border with Guatemala. Guatemala maintains a territorial claim over Belize and the border between the two countries is in dispute.

The Prime  Minister made the comments on national television news monitored in Belize today following reports in Guatemalan newspapers that Belize soldiers were harassing Guatemalan villagers in the border area at the Sarstoon River in southern Belize.  Guatemalan newspapers, including Prensa Libre are reporting complaints that Belize Defense Force soldiers have been taking fishing boats and nets and intimidating Guatemalan villagers in the area and described these alleged actions as provocative.

In addressing the issue, Prime Minister Barrow stated that:

"You might talk to the Foreign Minister of Guatemala and get one position and then our ambassador is called in by the Comision de Belice and he has another position. But overall we believe that there are, whether wittingly or unwittingly, things happening that unless we are extremely sensitive or careful, could provoke a shooting incident.

"The National Security Council is very much aware of the situation. The Belize Defense Force have orders to be extremely prudent, extremely careful while not backing off when it comes to the maintenance of Belizean sovereignty.

"I don't know if I can put it any higher than that or get into any further details because it's so much a judgment call on the ground when these things happen. So we can give from the N.S.A and from the point of view of the Minister of National Security and the B.D.F. high command a sort of general direction but the risk that some incident could take place on the ground remains very real."