The Toledo Private and Lease Landowners Limited says relief over the safe return of Indian Creek Alcalde Marcos Canti must now give way to accountability, particularly from the government and activist organizations working in the south. In a statement issued today, the group is calling for a full public explanation of what happened during Canti’s disappearance, arguing that fear, misinformation, and intimidation spiraled out of control. The organization strongly condemned what it describes as threats and intimidation directed at the village chairman, his family, the second alcalde, and other community leaders. It also criticized the initial police response, saying officers in Punta Gorda lacked manpower and vehicles, forcing regional commanders to scramble support from outside districts.
TPLL also took aim at individuals linked to the Toledo Alcalde Association, Maya Leaders Alliance, and Julian Cho Society, accusing them of using media interviews and social platforms to stoke panic and inflame tensions. The group says those actions worsened an already volatile situation and damaged Belize’s international image. At the center of the statement is a blunt message to the Government of Belize. TPLL says disputes over Maya land rights and private property persist because the state has failed to fully implement the CCJ Consent Order. The group insists that responsibility lies with the government, not NGOs, and is urging leaders to restore calm, uphold the rule of law, and act decisively before tensions erupt again.
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