As we reported last night, the UDP issued a policy statement on the Maya land rights issue at its Sunday convention. Certainly, the significance of the statement was lost in the political carnage that was the 6 hour event. But it was certainly noteworthy because it lays completely bare the fact that the UDP squarely and unapologetically rejects the notion of Mayan communal land rights.
Now this was no secret at all, as the prime minister has said as much. But it is now officially the party line as laid out by Reynaldo Ico who told Sunday's gathering that communal land rights only creates utter confusion:....
Reynaldo Ico
"Because a large amount of person in the wider Maya community have questioned and sought information and clarification on the actions and objectives of the Mayan Leaders Alliance in securing a judgment and agrees that such a ruling is not in the best interest of every Mayan citizens and family. Because the ruling has thrown state of Mayan land tenure into utter confusion, because the party concern that such a judgment sets a unwise undesirable and unpractical precedence that can create and fuel racial disharmony in our country because we believe in a democratic nation of Belize there should be no place for any such precedence to be set. The UDP therefore is of the firm position that the issuance of individual land titles to members of the Mayan community as it the birth right of all Belizeans and has already been secured by many citizens of Maya heritage is the right and desirable to go."
The Mayan Leaders Alliance has not issued a response to the UDP policy position...
