Maya to be a Part of Referendum Campaign

Pat Andrews

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has apologized to the Maya communities of the south for an alleged breach of privacy committed by self-avowed agents of the Government. The Maya Leaders Alliance and Toledo Alcaldes Association complained that house-to-house visitors in recent weeks were taking personal information along with views of the Guatemalan dispute and potential settlement at the International Court of Justice. Ministry C.E.O. Pat Andrews says the Government is heeding the call of the Maya to be a part of the discussion ahead of a Belize referendum.

Pat Andrews, C.E.O., Ministry of Foreign Affairs

“Our public awareness campaign has been ongoing for some time now. We are looking forward to accelerating it. We met with them the other day, we met with the Toledo Alcaldes Association and we have been talking to them about what we intend to do. We will be continuing to dialogue with them and of course we are hoping that they will be part of the process in the public awareness campaign, yes.”

Reporter

“Soon?”

Pat Andrews

“Very soon; very, very soon.”

Reporter

“I assume that at this point the situation that they had voiced concern over has been addressed?”

Pat Andrews

“It has been addressed and definitely the ministry has spoken about it recently and we have spoken about it to the association so it has been addressed.”

The Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington had commented that the surveyors were not authorized to seek personal information from the Maya community.