Belmopan. February 10, 2021. 4:30 p.m.
It has come to the attention of the Ministry of Human Development, Families and Indigenous People’s Affairs, that former chairperson of the Toledo Maya Land Rights Commission, Ms. Lisel Alamilla, as agent for a private land owner, placed a full page ad in the Amandala Newspaper this past weekend asserting ownership by the company of a large tract of land in or near Indian Creek Village, Toledo District.
The Ministry is concerned and disappointed that Ms. Alamilla, who recently demitted the office of Commissioner at the end of December 2020, and is well aware of the complex issues at hand, has made such a statement knowing the difficulties and potential conflicts it has caused. The police department had to be requested to visit Indian Creek in order to diffuse a potentially explosive situation.
The Consent Ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in 2015 called on all parties to respectfully balance competing interests of Maya customary land rights and private ownership by third parties and interests. Ms. Alamilla’s actions were unhelpful and clearly not in good faith since all interventions require respectful and open consultation and dialogue.
The Ministry will work closely with the Commissioner Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Mr. Gregory Ch’oc, to carry out the consent order of the CCJ in a manner beneficial to all stakeholders, and we call on everyone concerned to respect these processes.
Ends
