Sarstoon Island

Sarstoon Island is an island at the southernmost point of Belize located near the mouth of the Sarstoon River. The Sarstoon River is located at the south of Sarstoon Island and is the southern part of the Belize–Guatemala border. Sarstoon Island is part of the Toledo District of Belize, which is one of 6 districts of the country. The island is mostly mangrove swampland and is uninhabited.[1] It covers approximately 0.68 square kilometres (0.26 sq mi).[2]

Sarstoon Island
Satellite image of Sarstoon Island taken by Landsat 8
Geography
LocationSarstoon River
Coordinates15.8910°N 88.9247°W / 15.8910; -88.9247
Area0.68 km2 (0.26 sq mi)
Administration
Belize
DistrictToledo
Demographics
Populationuninhabited

Sarstoon Island is in Belize but Guatemala has recently made claims to the island as part of the Belizean–Guatemalan territorial dispute.[3][4] Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF) routinely patrol the waters of Sarstoon Island and illegally enter Belizean waters while at the same time prevent civilian Belizeans from freely traversing the area belonging to Belize. There have been various incidents like these in recent years from 2015 to present, especially documented by the Belize Territorial Volunteers and leader Wil Maheia.

According to the Wyke-Aycinena Treaty of 1859, "any islands which may be found [within the Sarstoon River] shall belong to that Party on whose side of the main navigable channel they are situated."[5] In 1860, commissioners for British Honduras (now Belize) and Guatemala surveyed the Sarstoon River and found that the river's current predominantly passed to the south of the island, making Sarstoon Island part of the territory of British Honduras.[2] A map was drawn up from the survey results showing the boundary running along the southern channel.[2] Both commissioners signed the map on May 13, 1861, certifying that the boundaries shown on it were correct.[5] Guatemala later terminated the agreement, arguing that the United Kingdom had failed to live up to the conditions of the treaty.[6]

In 2015, the government of Belize announced its intentions to build a forward operating base for the Belize Coast Guard on Sarstoon Island.[3][7] Due to logistical concerns, however, the government decided to build the base on the mainland instead.[8]

References
  1. "Sarstoon Island Not Suitable for Forward Operating Base". The Guardian. Belize City. August 20, 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
  2. "Surveyor explains Belize's boundaries". PlusTV. Belize. May 18, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  3. "PM Barrow confirms Guatemalan Military hostility in Sarstoon Area". The San Pedro Sun. August 26, 2015. Archived from the original on 30 August 2015. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  4. Ramos, Adele (March 15, 2016). "Guatemala claims Sarstoon!!". Amandala. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  5. "Aycinena-Wyke Treaty and Boundary Map" (PDF). Belize and Guatemala Dispute. Department for Democratic Sustainability and Special Missions, Organization of American States. 2013 [First published 1859/1861]. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  6. Bryan, Anthony T.; Greene, J. Edward; Shaw, Timothy M. (1990). Peace, Development, and Security in the Caribbean: Perspectives to the Year 2000. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 227–228. ISBN 0312023944.
  7. Trujillo, Renee (June 3, 2015). "Government Moves to Install Operating Base at the Sarstoon". LoveFM. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  8. "GOB breaks ground on Sarstoon Base". The Reporter. December 11, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
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