Former Alcalde removed based on Maya customary law

Executive Director Greg Ch’oc has offered comment on Makin’s abrupt removal.  The former Alcalde reportedly signed a document stating that the village of Conejo, one of five buffer communities surrounding the Sarstoon Temash National Park, consents to have U.S. Capital proceed with exploratory work within the protected area.  Ch’oc says that the procedure to oust is based on Maya customary law. 

Via Phone: Greg Ch’oc, Executive Director, SATIIM

Greg Ch’oc

“Under Maya customary law and processes and procedures, the Alcaldes cannot go and speak for the community. That authority and power rests with the community and therefore, any decision to remove him has to come from the community and that is what happened. Aside from that, I want to say and clarify here that SATIIM represents the community, five buffer community. Obviously a lot has occurred over the last eight to twelve years, thirteen years that SATIIM has established itself. We have reached a point where the community must decide whether SATIIM should represent them or it should not represent them. Right now, we represent the communities that have mandated us, via their village resolution, authorizing us to be their legal representative. There are those in the community who feel that the community ought to not have done that, but that is an issue that they have to take up with their community. It is not an issue for SATIIM to take up with the community. The community has mandated us. The communities that we represent are Graham Creek, Crique Sarco, Conejo and Midway. We do not, and I want to say this categorically, that Sunday Wood has said we are going to fend on our own. I have repeatedly asked Baranco to declare who they want to represent them and they have refused to do so. So when SATIIM address the issue of indigenous rights in the past, it is those communities that it represents and that it has mandated to represent.”

We will continue to follow the development in the south in our subsequent newscasts.