G.O.B. to Appeal Ruling in Jalacte Case

Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Dolores Balderamos-Garcia has commented on the recent ruling made by Chief Justice Michelle Arana which awarded six point three million dollars to two farmers and the village of Jalacte. According to the ruling, the government, under the Barrow Administration, did not seek the free, prior informed consent of the Maya people before the Jalacte Road was constructed through the village.  Minister Dolores confirmed that G.O.B., through Crown Counsel Samantha Matute-Tucker is going to appeal the decision.

Dolores Balderamos Garcia

Dolores Balderamos, Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs

“The case started way back in 2016; there has been a ruling with a large money award. Government is going to be looking at it very seriously; we have our Crown Counsel Samantha Matute-Tucker looking into it. And clearly, even if it were an appeal in terms of the quantum, government has to look carefully at that. But also we are looking at the various issues that arose to see if the Chief Justice may have been on the right track. So definitely an appeal would be in the making. But that is not to say that it is not an important ruling.”