SATIIM Demands That TAA/JCS Gives Account of $1.8 Million Consent Order Funds
On the phone: Maya Choc
The Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management is tonight calling out the Toledo Alcalde Association and the Julian Cho Society. According to a press release from SATIIM, back in 2018, the Julian Cho Society received one point eight million dollars to further their work in implementing the Free, Prior, and Consent Order. SATIIM says the funds were to be used for several purposes, including the delineation, demarcation and titling of the forty-one Mayan communities in the Toledo District. But, to date only one of those villages has been fully demarcated and mapped, says the institute. The release further notes that SATIIM has not been informed nor have they received any support from the funds. They are now demanding that full account be given of money. We spoke over the phone with Maya Choc, the Executive Director of SATIIM who explained further.
On the phone: Maya Choc, Executive Director, SATIIM
“In 2018 there was a one point eight million dollar project through the Julian Cho Society. They received to assist in the implementation of the consent order. Under the project there was a different component, one which includes the delimitation, demarcation, and the titling of the forty-one Mayan communities in the south, which are all under the Maya Land Rights case. So, to date from that project we only have one community that has been fully demarcated. So, that is one of the areas, well we congratulate them on that huge milestone. However there is a lot of questions surrounding, what about the other communities that have not fully been demarcated? What will happen to them? Who will take on that process and issue their titling which is an important aspect of the consent order. Like I said the project encompassed this organization to undertake the demarcation but also looking at the legislative drafting, in cooperating Maya Land Rights in different parts of our legislation and also to build capacity. Because some of our communities are listed as beneficiaries of this project, we know for a fact that we have not had a consultation regarding eh legislation. We did receive a copy of a land policy that was created, but communities are not aware who created that land policy or who was consulted during that time. So, these are things that you have to ask for accountability and I understand that the project now has ended.”
