Maya Associations Appealing to Government to Intervene

So, as you heard just now, Cristina Coc says that tensions are brewing between the villager and the representatives for the private property owner. And now the Toledo Alcalde Association and Maya Leaders Alliance are calling on the government to intervene. They believe the implementation of the CCJ’s Consent Order 2015 would alleviate these issues of the use of customary lands.

Via Phone: Cristina Coc, Spokesperson, T.A.A./M.L.A.

Via Phone: Cristina Coc

“Our goal here at the Toledo Alcalde Association and the Maya Leaders Alliance is really to try to help the leaders to manage these escalating situations. It is very difficult for the villagers, particularly those who are directly impacted. Mr. George Coy, for instance, reported to us that he in fact paid workers to help him collect the bush sticks and so he has a significant investment that he made and now that is completely destroyed. The bush sticks are damaged and can’t be used. This is really problematic. It really creates a situation where it frustrates the villagers because this is their livelihood and as you will appreciate it is really a test and pressure on the economic cultural survival of these communities especially during a pandemic. And so what we are trying to do is to work with the leaders is to try to find an opportunity to sit and dialogue with the government and try to come to some meaningful and concrete action to stop these incidents from happening. We have asked the government of Belize to advise the third party and to stop the rangers; that could be one concrete step – to stop the rangers from obstructing the use and enjoyment of those resources by the villages. And the court is in agreement with that and so the government has to act. But in the absence of any concrete measures these tensions, unfortunately, will escalate. And what we are trying to do is to help the community so that it doesn’t reach a stage of violence because in the end, it is only the villagers that will be harmed. And so we want to make sure that we impress upon the government, call upon the government to act; to intervene; because this is what is needed. There is only a certain level of mediation and intervention that we can do to prevent the escalation of this situation. There will come a time when the villagers themselves, when the frustration really rises; there will be a time when there is very little we can do and we really don’t want to reach that stage. So we are calling again on the government.”