Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Meets With Toledo Communities
The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs held meetings over the weekend in the Toledo District to review the Free Prior and Informed Consultation Process, previously referred to as the Free Prior and Informed Consent Protocol, filed with the Caribbean Court of Justice. The protocol outlines the process for consulting with Mayan communities, in the event administrative measures are being proposed which approval might affect the Maya peoples’ rights. On Sunday afternoon, a team from the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs was in San Pedro Colombia. A News Five team was there. Paul Lopez reports.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Minister Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, the Minister for Indigenous People’s Affairs was in the Mayan community of San Pedro Columbia, in the Toledo District. There she addressed villagers and heard their concerns on the Free Informed and Prior Consultation Process, F.P.I.C. for short. This was her second visit to the community.
Dolores Balderamos- Garcia
Dolores Balderamos- Garcia, Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs
“We have done our very best to reach out to our communities, to come to you. I don’t believe it is for you to come to Belmopan to see my office. It is for me to come to you to see what you are thinking, what you are saying. What are your concerns? How can we help?”
The F.P.I.C. protocol was submitted to the Caribbean Court of Justice in January, making the protocol final. The twenty page document was distributed to those in attendance at the meeting. Greg Ch’oc the Commissioner of Indigenous People’s Affairs was present.
Greg Ch’oc
Greg Ch’oc, Commissioner of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs
“If we look at the F.P.I.C., part one sub section two, this is now the policy of the Government of Belize. It was approved by Cabinet, filed with the Caribbean Court of Justice and the Government of Belize is bound by this F.P.I.C. protocol.”
The document outlines the process the Government must undertake to ensure that they protect the rights of the indigenous people that arises from the Maya customary land rights tenure.
Greg Ch’oc, Commissioner of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs
“It says here, except for the circumstances identified under section 3 (2), it says the government shall notify, in writing, the Alcaldes and Village Council of any affected Maya village of its intention to approve an administrative measure that may affect the Maya villager’s rights. So, if you are the decision makers, it is the leaders you have elected, the alcaldes and the villager council that the Government must come to.”
Most of the meeting was spent addressing the issue of representation. The F.P.I.C. protocol stipulates that Alcaldes and the Villages Council shall be notified first, by writing, of any administrative measures proposed for implementation. Supporting organizations like the Maya Leaders Alliance and the Toledo Alcalde Association would be engaged at a later time, in the preliminary meeting and consultation plan phase.
Oscar Requana
Oscar Requana, Area Representative, Toledo West
“A community has the right make any decision regarding any decision regarding their lands. Nobody can come and force you and say you have to make that decision now. That decision rest in the community to decide the community has a right to decide how you are going to deal with your natural resources, your land, your forest, your rivers, and your quarry, whatever. Those are things that rest in the hands of the community, bearing in mind that we are a country of laws, and whatever decision the community makes is align with what the C.C.J. has ruled and the laws of our country.”
One villager rose to speak about the type of representation she wishes to have from these supporting Maya organization.
Resident
San Pedro Columbia Resident
“Reading this document I can see that there are supporting organizations which consist of the Kechi Council of Belize, the Toledo Maya Cultural Council. Now my question is who makes up these groups? Who have assigned these people to represent us? Are they doing exactly what the MLA has done? Will our voice be heard up at national level when it comes to decision making? Will the Alcaldes form over a new group to form the Alcalde association here in Toledo? Will the village council have D.A.V.C.O. support our members are there to say this is what the people of San Pedro Colombia want? This is my concern, who are these people?”
At the end, Basilica Choco, the Chairman of the community told us that he believes the community benefited from the information shared at this meeting.
Basilica Choco
Basilica Choco, Chairman, San Pedro Columbia Village Council
“I must say thank you to the ministers and officials that came out to share. I believe San Pedro Colombia has been long waiting for this. I believe there is more questions that could have been answered. Time was too short, and they informed us last minute to come to this meeting. I believe the information they shared was vital and a lot of people got information that they did not know.”
Reporting for News Five I am Paul Lopez.
