MLA Urges to Keep Politics Out of Guatemala Dispute

Pablo Mis

Alcaldes, as well as traditional leaders, are being urged to rebuff any effort to politicize the territorial issue.  Despite acknowledging the importance of the campaign, Pablo Mis notes that it is imperative that the process is to be conducted in a fair, objective and independent manner.

Pablo Mis, Program Coordinator, MLA

“Given the magnitude of this concern, we have been in touch with the Referendum Unit from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; they are the ones who are tasked to lead the awareness campaign.  They have since informed us that while they are undertaking educational campaigns, the collection of any data of any names is not a part of such campaign.  That said, we are hopeful, the association is hopeful that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would issue some kind of a statement to denounce the actions and the act of those that are currently going house to house in the villages collecting names.  The second is that we want to reiterate to the Government of Belize that as a part of the Belizean family, the people of Toledo District, particularly the Mayan communities are perhaps those that will find themselves in the frontline and most impacted by whatever decision is taken.  In that regard, we want to again reiterate our call to the honorable prime minister to ensure that the representation, particularly of the Mayan communities, is visible and fully a part of every step of this process.”