It emerged first as an explosive racial issue, and now it seems that the question of the Mayas squatting on the outskirts of Belmopan will become a political issue. Today a group of 20 Mayas, picketed in front of the mayor's office and then took to the streets of the capital, while the prime minister was making his state of the nation address. Mayor Chanona says its political, but the Mayas say it's a matter of human rights:
John Cucul - Picketer
"They don't want to move to Mount Pleasant because: (1) The lack of infrastructure. Mount Pleasant does not have anything, absolutely nothing and these people have their children who go to school, who are going to school here in Belmopan and some in San Martin. And they are being told when the asked the question, when the mayor proposed that to them because it is a proposal. Let us not get ourselves confused here. The mayor I'm made to understand has sat down with them and made some proposals to them and we are saying that they are not accepting the proposal because when they asked the mayor what happened to the school children? Is he going to provide a bus for transportation, for coming to school? He said no. is he going to provide water? No. He is not promising anything. That is racial discrimination as we have on some of our placards. I mean stop the racial discrimination because these Mayas they don't have the money that the mayor wants. Mayor wants money, you need to pay so much. If rich people, if chinese men go there with suitcase and the necktie he welcomes them to his office. But when these poor Maya people go there to request for a piece of land many times they are being told the mayor is not in and yet the mayor is in his office."
Jules Vasquez
"Explain for me if you could. You don't live out there though?"
John Cucul
"I don't live out there but they are my people and I'm going to stand up for their right."
Jules Vasquez
"Is this protest the work of the UDP? Is the UDP orchestrating this?"
John Cucul
"No, No, No. What happened is this. These people came to the area rep. office of course the area representative is a UDP so after they have done what they have done with the mayor, listening to the mayor. To them there is no hope in the mayor in trying to consider them on a piece of land. Hence the reason why these people went to the area rep. to find out what they can do. The second of September, they have shown me the letter, the second of September they have wrote a letter to the mayor informing him that they are not going according to his proposal. And they wouldn't mind sitting down with him and come to the negotiating table to discuss and see how they can come to an amicable solution. But in their letter they specify that they are going to give the mayor one week, which is the 13th of this month, which is Monday, and up to now they have not heard anything from the mayor." "I would never ever, ever send a letter to any ethnic group saying let us sweep and clean them. What is he talking about? What happens if they are back there? Now suppose if some of these people might be armed and when the army go back there. There will be a big fight, a big riot. Is this the kind of leadership the mayor want in the so called Garden City?"
Anthony Chanona - Mayor Belmopan City
"I got a letter from four, signed by four persons, one of a common law union making a demand. That's not the way to approach any problem Jules and therefore in true form I felt that that was disrespecting my office and we are prepared to meet when the situation of the relocation is on hand to discuss the options that will be made available to the squatters. But it's hard to negotiate with people who break the law and then demand concessions. That's not in good form." "It's definitely politics. On one hand Mr. Saldivar speaks with me on the issue of squatting, it's illegal, it should not be tolerated and then clandestinely he suggests to the squatters to transfer their ID's to his office that he is going to get the land for them. So as a leader Mr. Saldivar is being very, very irresponsible. There is no way that issue is going to stand. It is not fair to send people down a wrong path. As leaders we should set example. There is always room for politics Jules. We are in that business. But there is a certain amount of responsibility that goes with that right."
The picketing lasted up until the end of the prime minister's address...