G.O.B. Says Recent Compliance Meeting with Maya Representatives was Successful

While speaking with Minister Dolores Balderamos-Garcia earlier today, she provided an update on a recent compliance hearing that was held between the Government of Belize and representatives of the Maya communities in southern Belize.  The compliance hearing is part of a series of activities that were prescribed by the Caribbean Court of Justice in respect of Maya land rights, as well as the settlement of that issue.

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia

On the phone: Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs

“Yesterday, there was a compliance hearing.  This is done virtually, of course, with the parties and so the report is that the hearing went fairly well and that the court is aware of the complexity of the implementation of the court order and is giving both the government and the parties an opportunity to consult and to talk one another.  That was what we were doing two weeks ago and the court felt that things are going fairly well, however, we must continue to talk and consult and so we have met with the JCS people, we have met with the MLA people and of course the Toledo Alcaldes Association and we have had very respectful and cordial, constructive meetings and of course the next thing coming up will be sharing and consulting on what is called the Maya Land Policy.  Then I think we would go back to court in June, if I am not mistaken, from the reports I received.  I wasn’t personally witnessing the hearing because we had cabinet yesterday, but cabinet is aware of the letter that our ministry sent out, our Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs and there is approval of communicating to all villagers and villages in the south that whatever we do, we must do it in a respectful and consultative way.”