Priority Areas for the Human Development Ministry

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia

Minister Dolores Balderamos-Garcia says she has hit the ground running since assuming office a few days ago.  Balderamos-Garcia is the Minister for Human Development, Families and Indigenous Peoples Affairs; the latter being an addition to the ministry.  Balderamos-Garcia says that there are several key areas that she would like to focus on in her new ministry that have to do with social transformation of families.  But also key on that list is the work in Indigenous Peoples Affairs.  It’s a new addition, one that is seen as progressive and inclusive.

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Human Development, Families & Indigenous Peoples Affairs

“In terms of re-branding of the Ministry, social transformation aspect  will be gone in terms of the name it won’t be gone in terms of the substance but in terms of the rebranding having to do with families I want to give a special emphasis there as well. Of course, the work is never done. I want to put in a plug for our social workers and workers in the Ministry who I consider to be front line and many times the Human Development people do not get the recognition that we deserve. But disabilities, families and of course we have to sort of fashion how the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs is going to operate. The Maya Land Rights case has given us a mandate to work together. There must be no balkanization of the country of Belize but at the same time the consent order of the court, having recognized that there are customary land rights in terms of communal land and individual land – we have to find a way to work together. And the indigenous people of Belize, the Garifuna people and the Maya people have my commitment to work hard as we try to fashion the ministry going forward.”