Minister reassures Maya Customary Land Policy will be consulted on as alcaldes hit out; Greg Choc out as CIPA

By Aaron Humes: The Toledo Alcaldes Association (TAA) has alleged that parts of the draft Maya Customary Land Policy are placing the livelihood of Maya people in the Toledo District “under threat.”

In a statement issued earlier this week, the TAA says the new sections “now propose to only recognize 0.75 to 1.8 miles from the center of the Village depending on size. This approach leaves many of our residential homes unprotected and, more importantly, fails to recognize and protect our farms, areas on which we depend for our house material, hunting and spiritual survival.”

But Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, emphasized to Channel 5 News that the policy has been and is being consulted on: “…every single iteration or every single version of the Maya Customary Land Tenure Policy has been consulted and we continue the consultations, but it is for the Government of Belize to make proposals on which we will consult. I am saying to the Maya Leaders [Alliance], I am saying to the [Toledo Alcaldes] Association, I am saying to the Julian Cho Society, and all interested parties, whether Maya or non-Maya, we will consult… When we do decide on it after consultations, we are required to consult but we are not required to give everybody everything that they may wish.”

The Minister went on to say that government has an obligation to recognize the rights of private land owners: “…although we have every respect for indigenous rights and land tenure, the Maya people of the Toledo District may not own the entire Toledo District.”

The proposed formula of a two-kilometer radius from the village center per the Minister would be adjusted according to village size.

The TAA said in their release that “upon receiving this latest draft [we are] going to our communities to obtain feedback and discuss a united way forward.”

The Government is also losing the services of Commissioner of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Greg Ch’oc, who was appointed three years ago. Seen as a figure of respect on both sides at the time of his appointment, he has run into issues during his tenure and is now headed to the private Bar according to Minister Balderamos-Garcia: “I can confirm that it was mutually agreed that he would depart and return to his private practice as an attorney-at-law. And I want to take this opportunity to thank him for his services, his stellar services, really, a yeoman’s service, if I could put it that way, putting the shoulder to the wheel and really reaching out. We thank him very, very much for his service.”

The replacement will be based in Punta Gorda Town and manage an office with some technical staff as director.

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