Maya Leaders outraged against U.S. Capital Energy and Norwegian Cruise Lines

Cristina Coc

Charges of false advertisement have been brought against U.S. Capital Energy and Norwegian Cruise Lines by the Maya Leaders Alliance and the Toledo Alcaldes Association. The MLA is outraged that the oil company and NCL have been giving the impression in ads that the indigenous community is in favor of oil exploration on communal land and tourism development in the south, respectively.  In a stern release issued by the MLA today, U.S. Capital stands accused of broadcasting radio ads in Q’eqchi during which a Maya traditional leader is mimicked.  That commercial is currently being aired on Toledo Christian Radio much to the chagrin of the MLA.  News Five spoke with Cristina Coc, who told us that despite the July twenty-fifth Court of Appeal ruling which affirms that the Maya people do have communal land rights, U.S. Capital is attempting to deceive and manipulate the public.

Via phone: Cristina Coc, Spokesperson, Maya Leaders Alliance

“We’re very disheartened that the company would attempt to deceive and manipulate the public in this way.  We are even more disheartened that they would seek to have appropriated the voice of Maya traditional leaders and make very vague promises on the benefits and the usefulness of their activities on Maya land.  This is completely disrespectful, especially given that they are not giving any specific information on what kinds of benefits or even more importantly what kinds of risks the drilling on our land will have.  So rather than engaging in any kind of misleading PR campaign U.S. Capital should be seeking an audience with our communities, an audience, including consultation, to begin talking with our communities and to allow our customary decision-making process to run its course.”