G.O.B. and Maya Villages Signs Consent Agreement for Electrification

Electricity is finally being introduced to two far-flung communities in the Toledo District. Over the weekend, residents of Jalacte and San Vicente entered into an agreement with the Government of Belize to have their communities electrified. The Belize Electricity Limited, LaitUp Belize, and European Union all signed on to the consent agreement. Those documents are necessary to implement any project within the Maya communities in Toledo. News Five’s Paul Lopez tells us more about the electrification project.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

On Saturday, the Government of Belize signed agreements with residents of Jalacte and San Vicente, under the Free Prior and Informed Consent Protocol. The signing signals the communities’ approval for an electrification project in their villages.

 

Oscar Requena, Minister of Rural Transformation

“Today is an important day because you have met, you have given the permission that you want electricity for you community. You want development for your community and that is why we are here. To celebrate this success.”

 

 

 

 

During his speech at the event, Minister Oscar Requena addressed reports that the Government of Belize and Maya communities in the Toledo District are at odds.

 

 

 

 

 

Oscar Requena

“Now I want to say to you and I have a responsibility to say this to you, recently you have been hearing some pronouncements. You have been hearing people expressing their concerns that oh the government is not supporting the Maya people, the government is not respecting the Maya people, but my friends that is totally contrary to what they are saying. Our presence here today, our presence to work with you and you working with us signifies and solidifies the fact that the people and the Government of Belize are working together. The government respects the Maya people, we are here to support you, you are here to support us so that we can bring development to your community.”

 

Deshawn Garbutt, the distribution engineer at Belize Electricity Limited, celebrated the signing of the agreement. Garbutt explained that the installation of a mini grid will supply electricity to homes, schools, health posts, and small businesses in both communities.

 

Deshawn Garbutt, Distribution Engineer, B.E.L.

“Today we celebrate a significant milestone that marks a very important step towards ensuring that every household is Jalacte is electrified by the implementation of a mini grid.  The journey has its up and down but today we gather here to share a moment of triumph where the village of Jalacte wholeheartedly accepts the project. I must also mention that this is a step forward for our national framework which tend to provide electricity to all underserved communities.”

 

 

 

The first alcaldes of both villages addressed the gathering in Maya. Valentino Shal, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Rural Transformation, also highlighted some of the challenges faced by rural communities that are without access to electricity.

 

Valentino Shal, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Rural Transformation

“I grew up in the Toledo district and I have visited Jalacte so many times and one thing that you can always count on is the people of Jalacte works hard. They work hard from early in the morning to late at night to take care of their families, to build their community. But they have always been neglected. They have always been left behind. They don’t have water, they don’t have lights, and they don’t have streets. Those things that every other part of the country enjoys, these villages way close to the border do not enjoy. I know the struggles of people without electricity, because I grew up without electricity. I know the struggles of these children who are unable to use a computer because they don’t have electricity. But children in other towns and districts, they have access to electricity, internet, computers, so you know what happens, they go further ahead and our children have to struggle to catch up.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.