Nothing but harmony in Harmonyville

At last, there is some good news coming out of Harmonyville. When we last heard from the Belize Grass Roots Empowerment Association (BGYEA), there were disputes with the adjacent community at Valle Nuevo and government had withdrawn its commitment to cover survey costs. Well, today BGYEA told the media that there’s plenty harmony at Harmonyville since their old beefs had been settled with Valle Nuevo. But while there is reason to celebrate, the organization says that a Memorandum of Understanding between GOB and BGYEA is still on the table, because they couldn’t sign off on a number of sticking points.

Elut Hall, Executive Member, BGYEA

Elut Hall

“The draft MOU refers to the Ministry of Natural Resources to the distributing fifty percent of land through a process of random selection. Now that’s one of the things we are not in agreement with. Why? Because the system that BYGEA has in place right now is one that is working for our members. We’re trying to place family members together, we’re trying to work with single mothers in areas that don’t need much cleaning, we’re trying to work with the elders. It is a system that is work’s well for our members and everybody’s fine with it so we are in disagreement with that part of the MOU and part of the reason why we couldn’t sign. The Government of Belize expresses their desire to help with fifty percent of the survey cost and to help us with some technical assistance. We are saying that we need a little more explanation on that—it is very vague and we’re wondering why. Also, there is no reference made in the MOU to pending land access for BGYEA’s list of waiting members who have patiently abided by the assurance that all needs will be met in due course. So we also need to touch on that nuh.”

While that MOU is still on hold, so far seven hundred and eighty three members have paid their survey expenses in full.