Toledo West Area Rep Weighs In On Santa Cruz Debacle

Rupert Myles

Earlier in our newscast you heard PM Dean Barrow speaking about what he called excessive force being used by Mayans to unlawfully detain a black Creole Belizean. Much has been said about that issue which exploded on Saturday, and today P.U.P. Toledo West Area Representative Oscar Requeña told the media that the incident could have been averted and avoided if the authorities had responded in a timely fashion to the multiple requests for assistance from the leaders of the community.

Oscar Requeña

Oscar Requeña, Area Representative. Toledo West

“Mr. Rupert Myles began his communication and entered into the community sometime in October of 2014. Mister Myles did not follow the proper procedures; of course, I am saying this because I met yesterday for long hours with the entire community of Santa Cruz. And during my discussions and my investigation with the community, it was made absolutely clear that he went into the community, illegal settled on a Mayan site – never got permission from the Alcalde, never got permission from the community—and to make matters worse, the Alcalde repeatedly invited him to come to community meetings to be able to explain his request and put his case forward to the community. He repeatedly refused to come to the community centre. In fact, said to say, the community made it absolutely clear that he threatened them. He said I have a gun; I have bullets for anyone who wants to come. I am ready to deal with them because I am a Belizean, I can live anywhere; I don’t need any Alcalde or anybody to do this. Let me say Jules that our Mayan communities, the Alcalde, which of course is enshrined in our constitution as a form of local government, the Alcalde has full authority and command of the community when it comes to law and order in the community. So the Alcalde had every right to be able to summon Mister Myles, but he refused to comply. During this process, from October up to January and then to June of this year, several letters were written by the community of Santa Cruz addressed to NICH, because it involves a Mayan site; addressed to the police, because it was a matter of law and order in the community; addressed to the B.D.F. and to other authorities.  And I want to make it absolutely clear that during my meeting yesterday, it was confirmed by the villagers that there was absolutely no response from the police, from any authority.”