The issue has been brewing for the past week, and today the Mayor of Belmopan met with over 20 families of Mayans who are squatting outside of Belmopan. And while Mayor Tony Chanona has taken a public battering for his use of the term ‘Indians’ to refer to the squatters, today he was apologetic, but unrepentant: they have got to move.
Tony Chanona, Belmopan Mayor
“Any person of Mayan ancestry that was offended by my remarks or reference which I used, I offer unconditionally and unequivocally my apology to all such persons. I also like to say that I will be asking the Q’ech’ Council that an apology be extended to me because I am not a racist. For an allegation of that nature I expect an apology from the Q’echi’ council for that reference.”
“Squatting will not tolerated. It is illegal and it will not be tolerated. Belizeans will be offered the opportunity to own land, by lease not free, in the Mount Pleasant area for homesteading or subsistent farming. Illegal aliens will not be accommodated in this policy but we are going to ask the oversight agencies to speak to that; that is bigger than municipal authority.”
That meeting happened this afternoon and our team is just back with the result. We'll have a full examination of it including reaction to the Mayor’s announcement in Monday's newscast.
And while the Mayor says they've got to move to Mount Pleasant, those of you who voted in our online poll don't seem to feel the same way. Of the 624 votes in the four day poll, 78% voted that they should not be moved, with only 22% voting in favor of the mayor's ultimate decision.