Ethnic Disharmony in Land Dispute

On October fourth, the National Kriol Council issued a release expressing alarm over the tensions between the Creole community of Yemeri Grove and the neighbouring Maya community of Laguna. The release speaks to the diversity of the country and ethnic groups living in peace and harmony and that “the wanton disregard for the Belizean collective threatens to unravel our beautiful Belizean tapestry and should be rebuffed by all right-thinking Belizeans.” Today, Minister of Culture Francis Fonseca spoke of the entire cabinet being engaged in the issue.

Francis Fonseca

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Culture

“We are all involved; the entire cabinet is engaged in this issue. It is a very important issue. And one of the great things about Belize, one of the greatest assets is the harmonious relationship that exists among our different cultures and ethnic groups. We always want to preserve that.  So we are concerned about that, but I am very happy to note that the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Human Development and Indigenous Affairs were able to go down there, into the community, sit down in a very responsible respectful manner with all of the stakeholders from every community and come up with a workable plan moving forward, even if it is an interim plan. So I think that’s a very positive sign. I think both communities want to see a peaceful resolution to this matter and our government is absolutely committed to working with them to find that resolution.”