NCL and oil company falsifying the results of public consultations

Cristina Coc

NCL, according to Coc, perpetuated a similar falsehood when it began publishing information that alcaldes from several villages across Toledo were in support of the Harvest Caye development project.  A subsequent meeting with TAA membership confirmed that those in attendance of a recent public consultation hosted by Norwegian were present on their own behalf.

Via phone: Cristina Coc, Spokesperson, Maya Leaders Alliance

“They are putting out public statements that falsify Maya support for their activities.  In two releases in particular, the Norwegian Cruise Lines made mention that Maya leaders say yes to their development on Harvest Caye.  We were very disturbed to hear that we in fact called a meeting with the seventy-eight Maya alcaldes of the Toledo Alcaldes Association on October twenty-fifth after the association became aware that few members of some Maya villages attended a Norwegian Cruise Line meeting.  At the assembly it was pointed out that although some of the alcaldes attended and a very small number attended the meeting, they were attending in their individual capacities.  They were attending in order to observe the proceedings and they were in no way representing the collective resolve of the Maya people on the activities of Norwegian Cruise Line or their development project on Harvest Caye.”

The Toledo Alcaldes Association and the Maya Leaders Alliance is advising all Maya communities, as well as the general public to be wary of the disrespectful and misleading information being peddled under the guise of public relations campaigns undertaken by both companies.