However, U.S. Capital says meeting was successful

Although the Toledo Alcaldes Association, the Maya Leaders Alliance, SATIIM and the Coalition to Save our Natural Heritage find that the Sundaywood meeting put a black eye on the government, U.S. Capital Energy maintains that the consultation was successful. And in respect to the Mayan Communal Land Rights, Public Relations Consultant for U.S. Capital Energy, Niall Gillett says that the company respects the rights and wishes of the communities.

Duane Moody

“Some of the concerns that the Mayan people were bringing up was about how many jobs will U.S. Capital Energy provide for those Mayan residents and what kind of jobs will be provided for them? Whether they can fit the requirements to actually get one of those jobs?”

Niall Gillett

Niall Gillett, Public Relations Consultant, U.S. Capital Energy

“As was discussed in prior consultations, it’s an ongoing process and for the most part, many Belizeans do not have some of the technical expertise to do some of those jobs. However that is changing and as our oil industry develops, there will be continued opportunities for more and more Belizeans to take on more and more of those positions. In the old days, the companies—not just U.S. Capital, but other oil companies—couldn’t find people who knew about seismic testing. But now they can get ordinary Belizeans to do these, what used to be total out of reach, positions. We keep on hearing that these people are indigenous; that these people are not capable of doing a lot of these jobs.  And this is exactly what we are saying; is that as the process continues through the excavation stage, into the drilling stage—and the drilling is still part of the excavation phase—more and more of these very people who we keep on calling indigenous are learning how to do these jobs and are doing them very well. Remember no oil has been found yet; this is just another part of the excavation stage. And until oil is found, the oil company cannot go out and make a lot of promises to a lot of people.”

Duane Moody

“The Mayas were granted communal rights. What is U.S. Capital Energy’s take on it? Should they have a say in what is done in their community?”

Niall Gillett

“U.S. Capital has absolutely no say in what goes on with the Mayan Communal Rights. The company does respect the rights and wishes of all the communities, but this is again another legal issue; a G.O.B. issue and this is between the people, the Mayan communities and the Government of Belize.”