On Monday, Maya Leaders Alliance spokespersons Greg Ch’oc sent out an angry letter complaining that judging by their actions relating to Maya land rights, the UDP government doesn’t differ greatly from its pup predecessors. And as an example of this, he pointed to what’s happening in Golden Stream Village where an outsider has, “laid down pegs for a purported lease”. Cho’oc reports that this outsider has bulldozed 2,000 cacao plants and 7 acres of corn fields – putting 25 farmers in a dire situation.
Yesterday Lands Commissioner Noreen Fairweather said they have received the report, but she says the so called outsider isn’t operating on a lease, he has land tenure.
Noreen Fairweather, Lands Commissioner
“The matter of Golden Stream, that is not a community that was named. There is a person clearing land there, that person has a full tenure and I believe the communities in the vicinity of San Marcos were objecting but the person does have tenure and they are claiming that they are clearing more than what they are supposed to clear and we have sent persons into the field to try and verify and establish if that indeed is the case but there is tenure there.
And again that is one of the discussions we have to have because we’re looking at existing tenure in the area and what do we with those persons that have title and leases in those areas, have done significant developments, because there is a judgement for a particular area. I don’t see us telling those persons that your rights no longer exist, they diminish. That is a discussion we have to take to another level.”
Ch’oc says the problem arises because government has sent out a directive, instructing government departments that the only land rights which require strict adherence are those in Conejo and Santa Cruz – which, we’ll note, is in line with the Supreme Court judgement.
