Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sounds Off on Lisel Alamilla’s New Venture!

Cordel Hyde

On Tuesday, we reported on the joint statement from the Maya Leaders Alliance, the Julian Cho Society, and the Toledo Alcaldes Association on the former Commissioner of the Toledo Maya Land Rights Commission, Lisel Alamilla’s new venture.  Through a newspaper advert, Alamilla announced that she is the agent for a private landowner around Indian Creek Village.  Well, the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs is sounding off on Alamilla’s new role.  The ministry says it is concerned and disappointed that Alamilla, as the agent for the private landowner, has asserted ownership of the large tract of land because she is aware of the complex issues at hand, and has “made such a statement knowing the difficulties and potential conflicts it has caused…the police department had to be requested to visit Indian Creek in order to diffuse a potentially explosive situation.”  The ministry’s release says that the Consent Ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice in 2015 called on all parties to respectfully balance competing interests of Maya customary land rights and private ownership by third parties and interests, but that Alamilla’s actions were unhelpful and not in good faith. The ministry commits to work with Commissioner of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Gregory Ch’oc to carry out the consent order of the C.C.J. in a manner beneficial to all stakeholders. News Five asked Minister of Natural Resources Cordel Hyde about it.

Cordel Hyde, Deputy Prime Minister

“I don’t have enough information on that Polo, but we have to stop, in this country we have to stop talking at each other and talking to each other. It is kind tragic you end up in a situation where the former liaison for the government on the communal land issues suddenly change sides and is very critical of the whole process. Hopefully they can get together and work that out.”