G.O.B. Lawyers Up to Appeal Supreme Court Decision on Jalacte Road

The Government of Belize has acquired the services of two law firms in Belize – namely: Courtney Coye LLP and Marine Parade Chambers – as it makes an appeal to the Supreme Court decision in which the Maya community of Jalacte, including two villagers, was awarded six point three million dollars. The village’s claim was that the government failed to get the free, prior and informed consent from the Maya people to construct the Jalacte Road through the village. Today, the media caught up with Minister for Indigenous People’s Dolores Balderamos-Garcia who says that the government had gotten an extension to the twenty-one-day period in which the appeal should have been filed and that the matter is being dealt with.

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister for Indigenous People’s Affairs

“The attorneys are working on an extension of time for the appeal because we didn’t make the twenty-one days because of some logistical problems. But the case will be appealed. We have noticed, in relation to the court, that in different cases, there have been different approaches and so the issues at hand are far from resolved. And that is why we feel as a responsible government, the appeal must go through and the attorneys are working on it. I believe that Marine Parade Chambers and Courtney Coye LLP are the law firms that will be involved in the appeal. But definitely because of the important issues of demarcation and other matters in relation to the customary land rights, it is necessary for the appeal to go forward. So it will happen.”