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terrific wrote:

Any thoughts on the affects of this result and expats and investment in Belize?

Statistics Of ICJ Referendum Voting
Thursday, May 9th. 2019 –Of the 148,500 registered voters in Belize 96,417 voters cast ballots, or 2/3 of voters, 65% (64.93%) voted in the May 8th. ICJ Referendum and 55.38% of those who voted are in favor of going to the ICJ.

Results in detail at this link:


Thoughts on the effects: Few affects.
Few because knowledgeable Belizean friends are confident the ICJ will rule to allow existing borders to stand.

From what I have read, it will take four years for the case to be formally presented to the ICJ, the case to be heard,  and the court to issue their ruling on it.

At the end of four years I doubt the ruling to formally maintain the current boarders will have any effect.

Now, if the ICJ rules in favor of Guatemala, and half of Belize  territory and islands are granted to Guatemala...... 17,000,000 Guatemalans would be eligible to move in, and that would not be good for the current 100,000 or so current residents. But I guess property values of what remains of Belize would shoot up. 

The government and news reports are saying 5 to 7 years it takes up to 4 to get  the arguments and rebuttals from both countries to the court of the ICJ proper and they then have up to 3 years to make the decision.
Biggest worry is Belize has a really bad track record in international litigation so if they can't step up their game in that department not so confident.

Mexico stated several years ago if Guatemala ever gets the south of Belize they will claim the north. Not that I've heard of any ancient contracts they hold to base a claim on.

If your last predictions on property values is correct I'm alright jack. my 42 acres of land is in the 'Belize' area. 
As far as expats are concerned, if they decide, for any reason, to leave in the interim,
selling property  without losing most of their invested monies, particularly in the southern areas is likely to be even more difficult in the next few years due to the lack of long term security. Renting may become a much more popular choice.

Worries that Guatemala will take even more liberties along the border during the deliberations seem a prevalent thought among local Belize community members. I was speaking with some folks just after they delayed the referendum last month in Belmopan. 

Interesting chat with comments like....

The Guats will be stripping out all our lumbar and wildlife from day one.

We need  the British soldiers back to secure our borders, they promised they would return if we needed them, we are going to need them.

Belize is going to be given as a gift to Guatemala by the Americans for all the bad things that they were responsible for years ago and for  bribe to Guatemala. They will give our land to Guatemala so they will stop their people going to America for asylum.

These of course were knee jerk reactions from local people, about what might happen, but among the 4 or 5 guys, talking with us,  one  I know was a local   (succesful) businessman and another was  a Police officer the others seemed educated and likely in business also.

Time will tell. The Belize PM is giving a press briefing tonight.

Although I would not personally be affected, like terrific, I pray that Belize will prevail. The influx of Guats would be tragic for the country I believe. It will be several years before it will be settled, and I just hope it will be to our benefit.

This is scary.  I purchased land in San Ignacio not far from the border and the last thing any of us want is our lands being taken over by Guatemala.  Since I am not a citizen, I don’t know if there will be any protections in place for expats.  Worse, I am still state side.  My caretaker has had to run off several people poaching our hardwoods off our land.      Please keep this thread active with knowledgeable comments.  I appreciate you Terrific for raising the awareness!

I must say that the poacher problem in the area by the Guat border is not new to this situation.
I Have a Belize friend living in Soccotz with a 700 acre beautiful farm, 3 generations of  owning and farming his land. He  loses stock and occaisionaly lumber all the time as his land is bordered for half a mile along the river. The Cayo Climate dictates he has to use pasture close to the river.
He reckons on average 4 or 5 Heifers a year are safely stolen.  What upsets him even more is the fact they sometimes don't succeed with the theft and he ends up with as many again of his livestock drowning, as the poachers do not try to help any animals that they have spooked that then  fall into the river out of the water. 
He believes the poachers are not taking to stock as would be  farmers,( the reason always put forward by Guatemala when any poachers caught, they are just poor farmers trying to feed their families, so they  deported back Guatemala for slapped wrist and returning the next day to Belize)These guys are  just stealing to sell on,  Possibly within Belize, so have no concern for injury or death of any  animals.  Lumber has become harder for the poachers to fell as his staff are alert to the sounds of chain saws and chopping so are usually able to run off the perpetrators.   
My friends farm will be on the Belize side of the Area Guatemala are claiming, Just possibly the new border, and he is preparing more security of his land as he expects the problems to increase as The Guatemalan Government is allowing their people to believe it is all cut and dried in their favour and will be over and done within months.
It is far more problematic than many expats want to believe it to be.