Cayo villagers rebel against Water Board changes

It’s a part of the transition process following General Elections, but this week control of a water board in the Cayo District ended in the detention of two people and allegations of political victimization. According to El Progresso Village Councillor Geraldo Garcia, on Wednesday, Rural Development Officers arrived in the Mountain Pine Ridge community accompanied by police.

Geraldo Garcia, Village Councillor, El Progress
“The reason of the meeting was that they wanted to change the Water Board’s Committee. Now, members of the Water Board Committee from the United Democratic Party that were appointed, people from the village, they don’t agree with that, with those members. The members that are official right now, that was duly elected and was due to be re-elected in 2010, once they had been working, police are forcing them to sign to do the hand over to do the other members that were appointed. We are seeking help to fight for our rights because this system of seven miles, the water system was the community who worked for this system and they have the right to choose who they want to work for them.”

According to Officer in Charge Gilroy Henderson, two members of the old water board were detained at the San Ignacio Police Station for disorderly conduct but no charges were filed against anyone. Henderson says Rural Development officers asked for a police escort because villagers had allegedly made threats against anyone who attempted to change the configuration of the Water Board. Our attempts to reach the Cayo district’s Rural Development Office were unsuccessful but Henderson assured us that the handing over of the water board was peacefully settled the same day.