96 percent of voters in Guatemala on Sunday said yes to a referendum on how to resolve the territorial dispute with neighboring Belize.

7.5 million Guatemalan voters were called to decide whether or not to bring the dispute before the International Court of Justice with a view towards defining the frontier between the two nations. </s> Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales has called on the Latin American country's 7.5 million eligible voters to take part in a referendum on Sunday on whether the International Court of Justice (ICJ) should rule on a 200-year-old border dispute with neighboring country Belize.

A final resolution could see Guatemala, a former Spanish colony, gain legal control over territory and waters currently administered by Belize, once a British colony. The disputed area covers some 12,270 square kilometers (4,737 square miles) — about half of Belize.

The referendum is the result of a 2008 accord that would see the dispute over mainland, island and maritime territory sent to the court in The Hague, if the populations of Guatemala and Belize approve.

The English-speaking Belize will hold its own referendum using the same question at an unspecified date in the future.

A previous joint referendum initiative, also based on the 2008 accord, failed to take place in 2013.

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Guatemala's Morales has pushed for a broad turnout, telling Guatemalans that they have a "historic responsibility" to put the centuries-old dispute to rest.

The country's Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) has been providing information to Guatemalans on what they need to do to vote.

However, analysts believe that Sunday's popular vote in Guatemala could be marked by turnout as low as 10 percent. Past referendums in the country have seen abstention rates as high as 85 percent.

No minimum threshold of voter turnout is required in Sunday's referendum, meaning that whichever option receives the most votes will win, Europapress reported.

Guatemalans will receive a ballot with the question:

"Do you agree that any legal reclaim taken by Guatemala against Belize over continental and island territories and any maritime areas corresponding to said territories be submitted to the International Court of Justice for definitive resolution and that it also determine the borders of the respective territories and the area of each part?"

Final vote results are expected in five days, the Guatemalan news agency AGN said, with partial results available Sunday night.

A yes vote far from certain

Over 400 national and international election observers are in place around 2,782 Guatemalan polling stations for Sunday's popular vote, with some 39,000 national police on duty.

Guatemala's Attorney General, Thelma Aldana, described Sunday's referendum as an "improvised" process that gives Belize an advantage due to its later voting date. She said she would not be taking part in the vote, and a spokesperson from the Justice Ministry urged other Guatemalans to stay home.

Read more: Guatemala: 'You need to be really persistent to get information'

Belize's Ambassador to Spanish-speaking Guatemala, James Murphy, remarked on Belizean TV that a yes win in Guatemala, as well as a future yes win in his own country, remained uncertain.

It all started in 1783

The territorial dispute between Guatemala and Belize can be traced back to 1783 and 1768, when the Spanish Empire gave the British Crown right of access in areas of current-day Belize, though Guatemala maintains that Spain retained sovereignty over these areas.

While Guatemala gained its independence from Spain in 1821, Belize became the British Crown colony of British Honduras in 1862, renaming itself Belize in 1973 and earning its independence in 1973.

Guatemala has voiced its sovereignty claim over the disputed area since the 1930s, also periodically threatening to invade the area throughout the 20th century.

Guatemala recognized Belize's independence in 1991 without dropping its territorial claim.

The dispute has escalated tensions between the two neighbors in the past, such as two years ago when Guatemala mobilized 3,000 troops along the unmarked border zone after a Guatemalan teen was shot following a Belize border patrol coming under fire. </s> Guatemala voted Sunday on whether to send a long-running border dispute with neighboring Belize to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for final resolution.

Polls closed at 6:00 pm (0000 GMT) after 11 hours of voting, which took place “without reports of security incidents,” according to Supreme Electoral Tribunal president Maria Eugenia Mijangos.

But despite 7.5 million Guatemalans being summoned to the ballot box, the vote was marked by low turnout.

The disagreement, whose roots go back two centuries, has seen tensions spike from time to time. Two years ago Guatemala mobilized 3,000 troops along the densely forested unmarked border zone after an incident in which a Guatemalan teen was fatally shot.

A Belize border patrol had opened fire under being shot at, but an investigation by the Organization of American States ended up finding it not responsible for the teen’s death.

The referendum was agreed under a 2008 accord to send the dispute to The Hague-based ICJ, if the populations of Guatemala and Belize approved.

Observers from 25 countries were on hand to monitor the polling.

Belize has not yet fixed a date for its referendum on the issue, although officials say it could take place next year.

The Guatemalan plebiscite question asks voters to respond “yes” or “no” as to whether any legal claims by Guatemala against Belize relating to its territories “should be submitted to the International Court of Justice for final settlement” and boundary determination.

The country has an electorate of 7.5 million people, but analysts believe turnout could be lackluster, perhaps as low as 10 percent.

The head of Guatemala’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal, Maria Eugenia Mijangos, told reporters that voter apathy was a big risk. Efforts by Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales to boost turnout have foundered on the rocks of his low popularity.

On Sunday, Mijangos said: “We are calling on all Guatemalans, especially the youth making up the majority of the electorate, to participate, to go to polling stations to put in their vote on this very important issue which has taken so many years to find a solution to.”

Morales said as he voted that the two countries had “very good bilateral relations” and he hoped the dispute could be resolved.

Guatemala has made claims over more than half of Belize’s territory, dating to when its English-speaking neighbor was a British colony known as British Honduras.

The border issue goes back to 1783 when Spain — the former colonial power over what is now Guatemala — gave Britain the right to occupy the territory that became Belize and exploit its timber in exchange for combating piracy. A century later, it became a British colony.

In 1964, British Honduras won the right to self-government, then in 1973 renamed itself Belize.

Independence came in 1981, though a British military presence remained until the mid-1990s because Guatemala refused for a decade to recognize it as a new country. </s> BELIZE CITY, May 8 (Reuters) - Belizeans have voted in a referendum that a top United Nations court should make a ruling on Guatemala's claim that it is the rightful owner of half of neighboring Belize's territory, Belize's electoral authorities said on Thursday.

Guatemalans in April 2018 overwhelmingly voted to ask the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague to make a decision on the dispute with Belize. The origins of the dispute date far back into the colonial era. (Reporting by Jose Sanchez) </s> BELIZE CITY (Reuters) - Belizeans on Wednesday began voting in a referendum on whether a top U.N. court should rule on neighboring Guatemala’s claim that it is the rightful owner of half of Belize’s territory, a dispute dating back to Spanish and British colonial rule.

Guatemalans in April 2018 overwhelmingly voted to ask the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague to make a decision on the dispute with Belize.

The referendum in the small Central American country is highly politicized, but could help end a border conflict that originated during the colonial era.

Belize’s ruling United Democratic Party (UDP) has argued in favor of seeking the court’s intervention in hopes of settling the matter once and for all, betting the court will uphold the current border.

Critics of the plan, which include the opposition People’s United Party (PUP), are pushing voters to reject arbitration by the court due to the risk that Belize could lose a large chunk of disputed territory from its center to the south.

Guatemala recognized the independence of Belize at the beginning of the 1990s. But it never accepted the borders and continues to claim about 11,000 square kilometers, about half the territory of the former British colony.

In December 2008, both countries signed a deal that its inhabitants could vote to decide whether the territorial claim, which includes various islands, should be decided by the ICJ.

Belize, an English-speaking country of around 375,000 people, became independent in 1981.

Inhabited by Maya before the arrival of Europeans, the territory was claimed by Spain and settled by British buccaneers during the 17th century. Belize later became a British possession surrounded by countries that Spain had colonized.

Some 147,000 Belize residents have registered to take part in Wednesday’s referendum.

Results of the vote are expected by early Thursday. </s> Belizeans have voted to ask a top United Nations court to decide on neighbouring Guatemala's claim that it is the rightful owner of half of Belize's territory, setting the scene for potential resolution of a dispute that has rumbled on for centuries.

In a referendum held in Belize on Wednesday, some 55.4 per cent of voters opted to send the matter to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, according to preliminary results published by the elections and boundaries department on Thursday.

The remaining 44.6 per cent of voters in the former British colony in Central America opposed the motion to ask the court.

The result was a victory for the ruling United Democratic Party (UDP) of Prime Minister Dean Barrow, who is betting the court will settle the issue once and for all.

Guatemalans in April 2018 voted by an overwhelming majority to have the ICJ rule on the dispute.

Guatemala recognized the independence of Belize at the beginning of the 1990s. But it never accepted the borders and continues to claim about 11,000 square kilometres of Belize, about half of its territory.

In December 2008, both countries signed a deal that its inhabitants could vote to decide whether the territorial claim, which includes various islands, should be decided by the ICJ.

Belize, an English-speaking country of around 375,000 people, became independent in 1981.

Inhabited by Maya before the arrival of Europeans, the territory was claimed by Spain and settled by British buccaneers during the 17th century. Belize later became a British possession surrounded by countries that Spain had colonized.

Guatemala's government on Thursday applauded the vote in Belize.

The Guatemalan foreign ministry said in a statement that it would immediately contact the foreign ministry of Belize to agree on the next steps in efforts to resolve the dispute. </s> Islanders of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker in Belize Rural South (BRS) came out in a steady flow on Wednesday, May 8th to participate in the Territorial Dispute Referendum on whether to take the Guatemalan claim to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). After polls closed at 6PM, a total of 4,253 had cast their vote in BRS. Three hours later, the results were in and with a total of 2,373 against 1,857, the ‘YES’ vote won, with the majority of support recorded in San Pedro Town.

At the polling stations countrywide, Belizeans were asked to either vote ‘YES’ or ‘NO’ on the question: "Do you agree that any legal claim of Guatemala against Belize relating to land and insular territories and to any maritime areas pertaining to these territories should be submitted to the International Court of Justice for final settlement and that it determine finally the boundaries of the respective territories and areas of the Parties?"

Throughout the day, members of both the ruling United Democratic Party and the Opposition People’s United Party encouraged citizens to come out and exercise their democratic right to vote. in Caye Caulker, which carried the polling stations #34 and #38, 385 votes favored the ‘NO’ option, while 341 electorates voted ‘YES’. One ballot was rejected. Hicaqueños said ‘NO’ to the ICJ by a margin of 44 votes.

Meanwhile, in San Pedro Town, Polling Area #37, a total of 2,032 voted ‘YES’, and 1,472 voted ‘NO’ to settling the dispute at the ICJ. 22 ballots were rejected in San Pedro. After tallying the total number of votes, ‘YES’ prevailed in BRS by 516. Returning Officer Martin Alegria shared with the media that the process went smoothly and there were no disputes nor was there any mischief during the process. Nevertheless, he would have liked to see more Belizeans come out and vote.

BRS Area Representative Honorable Manuel Heredia Jr., was more than satisfied with the results and indicated that it was the will of the people. “Everyone wants to end with this dispute, and today the people spoke and decided to deal with and move on as a country,” said Heredia. He added that thanks to the ICJ campaign, many people made an informed decision.

Across the country, unofficial reports give the same story as BRS, with the ‘YES’ vote leading. In many areas, the vote in favor of the ICJ was unexpected. Overall, 65% of the 148,500 of electorates that re-registered came to vote. The Belize District registered the highest turn out with 69%, while in the Toledo District, only 59% came out to cast their vote.

Now that Belizeans have opted to take the territorial dispute to the ICJ, the government must start preparing to face Guatemala at this international court. In the next six months, both countries will have the time to start planning their presentations, which will take place inside the Peace Palace, at The Hague, Netherlands, where the ICJ is headquartered. Guatemala will first present its evidence on her rights over Belize. Belize will then have six months to dispute the Guatemalan claim and convince the judges that its neighbor to the west has absolutely no title or rights over the Jewel.

For a complete report on the referendum process, look for our detailed story in the print issue of The San Pedro Sun out this Friday, May 10th.

Follow The San Pedro Sun News on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook. Stay updated via RSS </s> BELIZE CITY, Tues. May 7, 2019– In less than 24 hours, Belizeans from all walks of life from all corners of the country will converge on the 344 polling stations that are scattered across the country to vote in a historic referendum on whether or not the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will decide on a judicial end to the Guatemalan claim that has been bedeviling the country and was largely responsible for delaying its political independence, which was finally achieved on September 21, 1981.

In December 2008, a strange creature crept into Belize’s political vocabulary, when Belize Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington signed an agreement with the Republic of Guatemala known as the Special Agreement (compromis).

Under the protocol of the Special Agreement both Belize and Guatemala pledge to hold referenda simultaneously, but the agreement was later amended so that Guatemala could proceed ahead of Belize with its referendum, which it held on April 15, 2018, when Guatemalans went to the polls in their ICJ referendum.

The question that was asked of Guatemalan voters is the same question that will be asked of Belizean voters “Do you agree that any legal claim of Guatemala against Belize relating to land and insular territories and to any maritime areas pertaining to these territories should be submitted to the International Court of Justice for final settlement and that it determines finally the boundaries of the respective territories and areas of the Parties?”

The government of Prime Minister Dean Barrow continues to insist, based on a string of legal opinions from international law experts that Belize has an iron-clad case and cannot lose if the claim is taken to the ICJ. For its part, the government embarked on a massive “yes to the ICJ” education campaign. The proponents of the “no to the ICJ” point to the one-sided nature of the government’s campaign.

As the government continued its push for going to the ICJ, the Opposition, People’s United Party (PUP) embarked on what it called a country wide consultation in all 31 constituencies. Following those consultations, the PUP issued “The People’s Declaration” which emphasized that the PUP adopted a no to the ICJ.

The PUP would go further, as the referendum date of April 10 got closer and following the publication of a joint legal opinion by three attorneys, Anthony Sylvestre, Dickie Bradley and Kareem Musa, 5 PUP parliamentarians and one standard bearer signed to become claimants in a constitutional challenge to the Special Agreement.

On April 3, one week before the scheduled April 10 referendum day, the PUP claimants applied for and received an interim injunction from Belize Chief Justice, Hon. Kenneth Benjamin, which stopped the referendum in its tracks.

The court found that unbeknownst to anyone, the prime minister had submitted for the Governor General, a writ of referendum. The writ of referendum, however, was faulty, and the Chief Justice pounced on it and granted the interim injunction.

This derailed the government’s plan to hold the referendum, but not for long. The Prime Minister almost immediately called a meeting of the House of Representatives, at which meeting his government introduced and passed the Belize Territorial Dispute Referendum Bill 2019. A few days later went to the Senate, where it was passed by majority vote. The ink wasn’t dry before the government announced the new date for the referendum, tomorrow, May 8th. </s> GUATEMALA CITY (AP) - Guatemalans voted Sunday in a referendum that could take the country a step closer to resolving a longstanding territorial dispute with neighboring Belize.

The ballot asked whether voters agree to send the issue to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, for a binding ruling.

However Belize has yet to hold its own referendum as stipulated under a 2008 agreement with Guatemala, under which both countries would ask the court to take up the matter.

Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales poses for photographers before voting in a plebiscite concerning a border dispute with Belize, in Guatemala City, Sunday, April 15, 2018. Guatemalans are deciding whether their government should request the International Court of Justice to resolve the dispute that dates back to 1821 when Guatemala won independence from Spain and its border with the United Kingdom's territory was being decided. Guatemala recognized Belize's independence in 1992 but did not recognize its border. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Guatemala claims some 4,200 square miles (11,000 square kilometers) of terrain administered by Belize - essentially the country's entire southern half.

The area is home to a number of nature reserves and is sparsely populated for the most part, with scattered farming villages, fishing towns and some Caribbean beach tourism destinations.

The origin of the dispute dates back over 200 years to when Guatemala and Belize were Spanish and British colonies, respectively.

Guatemala became independent in 1821 and argues that it inherited Spain's original claim on the territory.

Belize considers Guatemala's claim unfounded and says the borders were defined by an 1859 boundary convention between the United Kingdom and Guatemala, according to the website of the governmental Belize Referendum Commission.

Amid violence and crime by Guatemalan country dwellers in the disputed region, at least 10 of them have been killed by Belizean civilians or soldiers on patrol.

Diplomatic relations and even air travel between the two countries have also suffered at times as a result of the dispute.

Casting his vote Sunday, Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales said his country and Belize currently have cordial relations and the aim of the referendum is to ultimately resolve the conflict.

Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales looks to photographers as he casts his vote during a plebiscite on a border dispute with Belize, in Guatemala City, Sunday, April 15, 2018. Guatemalans are deciding whether their government should request the International Court of Justice to resolve the dispute that dates back to 1821 when Guatemala won independence from Spain and its border with the United Kingdom's territory was being decided. Guatemala recognized Belize's independence in 1992 but did not recognize its border. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

A woman holds her ballot during a plebiscite concerning a border dispute with Belize, in Guatemala City, Sunday, April 15, 2018. Guatemalans are deciding whether their government should request the International Court of Justice to resolve the dispute that dates back to 1821 when Guatemala won independence from Spain and its border with the United Kingdom's territory was being decided. Guatemala recognized Belize's independence in 1992 but did not recognize its border. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Millions of Guatemalans are summoned to participate in a referendum in which they will determine if they submit to the International Court of Justice the territorial, insular and maritime dispute with Belize.