Government and Maya Leaders Meet to Rebuild Confidence

Representatives of the government and Maya leaders of the south met today to try to rebuild a level of confidence between them in the ongoing case of the Maya land rights. The indigenous community had, some months ago, accused the government of trying to muscle its way with the implementation of a Free Prior Informed Consent Protocol, the document by which both sides must operate. They have been at odds since 2015, and it went as far as the Caribbean Court of Justice, which has held compliance hearings to discuss the protocol. The meeting today was between the government on one side and representatives from the Toledo Alcaldes’ Association and the Julian Cho Society. While we could not get an update on how it ended, we did speak with Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Dolores Balderamos-Garcia going into the session on what the discussion would be about.

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia

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

“If you would have tuned in to the last compliance hearing on the fifth of May, there was talk of having to build back a relationship of confidence because we have to admit that some of it broke down. Now, it doesn’t mean that the government and the representatives of appellants will become in all agreement and after tomorrow we’ll be singing Kumbaya, but it does mean that a serious attempt will be made for us to try to come together. Again, we won’t always agree, but I want to say on the part of the government that we are serious about trying to work with all partners.”