Earlier this week, tensions flared in Indian Creek Village over the extraction of bush sticks, and Maya Leaders Alliance spokesperson Cristina Coc found herself in the middle of it. Coc says she was passing through from Independence Village when she stopped at the scene. She explains the usual approval system has broken down, forcing villagers to rely on petty permits from the Forest Department. But those permits still require local sign-off, and Coc says that didn’t happen. On the ground, she confirmed a permit was issued without the required recommendations.
Cristina Coc
Cristina Coc, Spokesperson, Maya Leaders Alliance
“And this is why the villagers was upset because this person did not get the requisite recommendation from the alcalde, so they did not know about this. So, for them it was an illegal extraction. But it was allowed because it was coming from the village council who agrees with the third party that this is the third party’s land and so they feel they have to go ask permission. The other side feel we should not have to go ask permission on our own lands. We have our own permitting system, we should be following that. But because there is no cooperation between the leaders, there is breakdown in the governance in that village, it is ineffective and I will tell you that in my humble view, none of the leaders are willing to humble themselves and actually do what is right and good for the members of their village. Second, because of this division, they have eroded every respect for each other. They don’t respect the village police. They don’t respect the alcalde and I will tell you that there are a lot of lies that are told. And I have to say it that way, because there is no other way. In fact the alcalde was not there, he was not the one stopping the material from moving. Shortly after my arrival, a whole truckload of young men who were the influence brought by members of the village council came and instantly started to throw blows and that was my primary concern. I did not want anybody to get hurt and I wanted to deescalate the situation, because it is unnecessary to kill ourselves over a piece of bush stick.”
Village leaders plan to meet with the Forest Department next week to find a peaceful way forward.
Maya Leaders Alliance Rejects Government Land Plan
A new land rights law meant to ease tensions is instead stirring fresh debate. While disputes like the one in Indian Creek highlight the urgent need for clear rules, the Maya Leaders Alliance is pushing back against the government’s latest proposal. Today, spokesperson Cristina Coc broke down why the group believes the plan misses the mark and what’s really needed to fix the problem.
Cristina Coc
Cristina Coc, Spokesperson, Maya Leaders Alliance
“Legislation would resolve this, but legislation that is consistent with the judgement, legislation that is consistent with the judgement and the constitutional rights of the maya people, that is consistent with the international standards that prescribes the rights of indigenous people. The issue we take is not with legislation. We want legislation to move forward btu we want a legislation that actually protects our interest and rights. The legislation that is being proposed right now is not doing that. In fact, it is limiting our rights and our lands. So, because what is being proposed as a legislation is not a good legislation, it is a bad legislation. It is going to affect us. So, we have gone back to the Caribbean Court of Justice to ask the judges who made that judgement, please clarify for us what you meant, what are these rights, because the government is basically saying we entered into a consent agreement but the agreement never said anything, what is the rights, where is the land, what kind of law we suppose to put in place. It was not an empty agreement. It was premised on the lower court judgment and the lower court judgment, if one were to read it, it goes on to say that based on our longstanding use and occupation.”
The matter now returns to the Caribbean Court of Justice for further review.
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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