Years Later, Maya Land Fight Far from Over

More than a decade after the Caribbean Court of Justice ruling on Maya land rights, questions remain about land ownership, compensation, and how the government plans to address overlapping titles in southern Belize. Most recently, the Alcalde of Indian Creek made headlines after issuing land certificates that the government moved to discredit, and he later alleged he was kidnapped. Dr Osmond Martinez, Minister of Economic Transformation insists that the Briceño administration has been working closely with Maya community leaders to build trust and avoid further conflict.

 

Dr. Osmond Martinez, Minister of Economic Transformation

“And we are in touch with the community leaders. Therefore, I see a huge opportunity for us to put an end to what I will consider a historical moment for Belize MLA, but also for the third parties that are within the area. The Caribbean Court of Justice ruling came in 2015. And I believe that that is an argument and a case that can be proved that after 2015 any title was issued to a third party and they didn’t have the right to say, ‘you know what, the government do have the responsibility to compensate where there is duplications of title.’ But then we have another scenario. What about the scenario where someone got a title from 1980 something? And then the ruling came in 2015? This government, the Briceno administration, have been very respectful in terms of preventing any further conflict. To the point, and you can confirm this with the deputy prime minister, to the point that some who are to pay their taxes in areas that are designated or have been mapped within the Mayan land rights, the government does not collect the taxes; instead, they put a hold on it because we are respectful.”

 

Martinez says the work goes beyond policy. He says the government has been deliberately building trust and respect with Maya community leaders and that without that foundation, no legal resolution will hold.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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