§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of military helicopters in Belize in relation to the incident in early April involving Guatemalan intruders stealing mahogany trees from Belize territory.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonIt appears that this relatively minor incident involved trees illegally felled in Guatemala. The commander British forces Belize authorised the use of military helicopters to transport service personnel and to visit the area in question accompanied by representatives of Belizean agencies involved. Belize defence force deployments were by means of their own transport aircraft. I understand that the Belizean and Guatemalan Governments have resolved the incident to their mutual satisfaction.