Juanita Ical Becomes First Woman Alcalde to Sit on TAA Executive

On Saturday the traditional handing over of the leadership of the thirty-nine Maya villages took place in Punta Gorda, Toledo. In total, seventy-eight First Alcaldes and Deputy Alcaldes were elected to serve their respective communities. Among is the elected Alcaldes is Juanita Ical of Medina Bank Village. While Ical is not the first woman Alcalde to be elected, she is, however, the first woman Alcalde to sit on the Executive of the Toledo Alcalde Association. Spokesperson for the T.A.A., Cristina Coc, says it is a significant development for women in Maya communities.

On the Phone: Cristina Coc, Spokespersons, Toledo Alcalde Association

“We have had Maya women in the past who have been Alcalde in their respective communities. However, it is the first time that we have a Maya woman Alcalde elected as a part of the executive leadership of the Toledo Alcalde Association. While we have had Alcalde women in the past, it’s still very history in the sense that it is a milestone for Maya leadership because we have not seen a lot of Maya women, we have seen a very small portion of Maya women, as Alcalde in the past. I would say that in the past fifteen years that I have been working with the Toledo Alcalde Association I have enjoyed the privilege to see at least six women serve as Alcalde. However, this is the first time that I have seen a Maya woman actually sit at the helm of leadership of the assembly of the seventy-eight Alcaldes and that is historic in of itself. But for us, it is important to continue to promote the effective participating of Maya women in decision making, to promote their participation in leadership, in the effective governance in our communities.”

The new president of the T.A.A. is Juan Cucul of Silver Creek Village. The new executive will serve for the next two years.