Conejo Alcalde removed after he secretly supported US Capital
Greg Ch’oc
There is another development in respect of oil drilling in Maya communities which is causing tensions between SATIIM, Government and US Capital Energy. It has to do with the signing of an agreement by Valentin Makin and the oil company. Today, the Conejo village issued a stinging indictment of Makin and threw him under the bus. Makin was until very recently the alcalde of Conejo which is one of the buffer communities affected by oil exploration in the Sarstoon Temash National Park. Makin, says the release, has admitted that he unilaterally and without the consent and knowledge of the members of the community signed a document on April sixth, 2014 which purportedly stated that Conejo had granted its unequivocal free, prior and informed consent for US Capital Energy Belize Ltd to continue its work and drilling in Maya customary lands. But Makin is not sitting by quietly; in fact, there are reports that he intends to challenge his removal in court. But one credible source tells us that the Belize courts have no jurisdiction over Maya customary laws as it relates to the Alcaldes. Greg Ch’oc of SATIIM spoke to News Five today about what’s going on in the south.
Greg Ch’oc, Executive Director, SATIIM
“Maya customary law practices and procedures and processes dictates that the Alcalde is the voice of the community. He does not have the authority or the right or the power to bind its community to any obligation without the consent or without the consent and without the community first having the thorough discussion and debate on the matter. So what he did was in violation of Maya customary law and the community felt that it wanted his removal. That’s what I understand happened.”
Mike Rudon
“Greg, could you break down for us what exactly he did?”
Greg Ch’oc
“I understand he signed a document that supposedly said that Conejo granted the consent for US Capital to continue to operate in the area.”
Mike Rudon
“Can you confirm or deny…we understand that there are other Alcaldes within those communities who are also supporting him. Is that correct?”
Greg Ch’oc
“Absolutely not. I don’t understand that to be. At least the best person to respond to that is the chairman of the Alcalde Association. I work with the community that are in part, who have mandated SATIIM to represent them.”
Makin claims that Simon Alejandro Vernon, Justice of the Peace of Punta Gorda, tricked him into signing the document. He has been replaced by Eufemio Makin as new First Alcalde.
Tell me again if it has nothing to do with money?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Maya want their own country, at least so they have acted.
It’s not only Maya’s who live in Toledo, why are the rest on people from Toledo not saying anything ??? Do you know that because of the dispute with these maya people you can’t pay any land tax until this mayan homeland issue is resolved, they might just end up talking your land even if you have title to it, plus if they’ve halted the payment, who’s going to pay my interest on late payments ??? Who gave the authorization to stop receiving annual Land Tax payment for the villages under the maya claim ???
This is so ironic
Greg is saying the Mayas customs is to consult but he and Christina are the only ones holding back the development
I saw clearly on the news that a number of Mayan in those village are totally in support of development and betterment for them and their community.
Talk about slave mentality – he drives a nice vehicle, lives and a huge house, has multiple credit cards but is totally against any development.
Seems to me only he fi live big – everybody else suppose to have dirt floors and thatch roof
It seems that the Maya oneness is a just a front, delusional thing in 2 peoples minds, as the above comment said, Greg and Christina. They are living in a fairy tale world, controlling the average level of Mayans. Deceptive leadership at best is what it is. If they are what is slowly coming to light, they will never win against US capital and GOB. They are divided amongst themselves.
the only reason Greg continue to convince people is because he want to continue get rick. I am a maya person. Stop allowing Greg to fool you guys. He is the only benefiting from the conservation. He is getting richer and you guys continue to live poor. Allow the oil drilling so that if oil is found, then you guys can get job, your road can get fix. You can at least have the opportunity to own some of the things that greg has. I feel shame of him. He fools his own people. He dont care about the mayas. He only uses the people to get more and more for himself. If i was living there i would form my own group to fight against him. Shame on your Greg.
What does my rolex have to do with the debate – Dean Oliver Barrow. Check youself before you reck youself.
It’s is more than obvious that what Greg is doing is a self centered and manipulative act,I’m a Maya resident from beautiful big falls and I strongly disagree with you Greg Choc so stop talking on our behalf when in reality you mean to speak for yourself…the south does not only belong to the Maya people,it belongs to the many other cultures that reside there,for so long the south has been ignored and now all of sudden it’s on a spot light.It didn’t take Greg Choc or anyone to help boost the economic and social living standards of the south so why now go after a company that if successful in it’s drilling will help the south rise
economically and help the south move away from that Stone Age era that Greg is holding back…it is time we Belizeans think in the betterment of our country.