Prime Minister salutes ten years at El Pilar

Prime Minister Musa today took time out to recognise ten years of steady development at the El Pilar Archaeological Reserve. In a ceremony in the village of Bullet Tree Falls, the P.M. pointed to the relationship between the ancient Maya and their environment as well as the role projects like El Pilar can play in fostering development and understanding between the modern day inhabitants of the area.

Prime Minister Said Musa

“There is so much to be proud of in our past, in our history; the great civilisation of the Maya, we must all recall, is still much alive and well in Belize. It is not dead stones and just ruins, but rather temples that should inspire us, and a civilisation from which we can learn–even today–so many things. The work of the Maya in terms of their relationship with the land and with the forest I believe set the stage for conservation, for harmony between man and nature.”

“I see this project as also setting another pioneering step, in showing how neighbours at the state level can work together to bring about peace and harmony. That we can use and see the El Pilar Project as a very good example of when nations come together to work for the common good and indeed put people first. Then all ancient rivalries can be put aside, and we can move ahead for the benefit of our peoples on both sides of the border as well as to bring about greater development for all our people.”

The El Pilar reserve borders on Guatemala and the ancient Maya site straddles both sides of the frontier. International funding for joint development projects in the border region are expected to be a centrepiece of proposals for any eventual solution to the Guatemalan claim to Belize.