Issue of Land Demarcation Raised at Toledo Meeting

The delineation of Maya communities in Toledo District was also raised in Sunday’s meeting. One villager asked the panel for an update in the demarcation process. The resident recommended that this be completed before legislation is created to enshrine the stipulations outlined in the F.P.I.C. protocol into law. Here is how Commissioner Ch’oc responded. 

Greg Ch’oc

Greg Ch’oc, Commissioner of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs

“A community cannot get title if the land is not demarcated. So, it has to be demarcated. It can happen now or it can happen later, even after the law is enacted. Some communities might say, you know, we are not ready yet. That is the reason that under the process the community must give their consent. The community, not the leaders, again that was another issue that came up. What was done is this: COVID came and the Alcalde Association that is leading this effort along with Julian Cho Society said ok, we will go house to house and get signatures to get consent of the community. When I came on board, one of the first things I said, well, did the community agree to go house to house? Remember, the customary decision making process in the village is at a village meeting. If we agree on that, then a decision to consent to doing delimitation must be at a village meeting like this.”