Government has identified the person who will replace Lisel Alamilla, the former Chair of the Toledo Maya Land Rights Commission - and, for many it is a surprising choice.
The Government's new liaison between themselves and the Maya communities of Toledo is Greg Ch'oc, former executive director of SATIIM, the Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management.
As viewers are aware, Ch'oc rose to prominence in the early 2000s as a national figure who was always on the front-line in the fight for Maya land, cultural and human rights. In 2014, he stepped down and went to study law at UWI in Barbados. He's now a qualified attorney, and the Government says that he has been appointed as Commissioner of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs. It appears that the Commission of Indigenous Peoples Affairs is the successor to the Toledo Maya Land Rights Commission, which was formed by the Barrow Administration. The Indigenous People's Affairs office will act in the same capacity and work toward full implementation of the 2015 Consent Order from the CCJ.
It's a unique position for Ch'oc - who's now working on the other side of the issue he first heralded two decades ago.
At last week Thursday's compliance hearing, the judges of the Caribbean Court of Justice asked Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, the Minister responsible for Indigenous People's Affairs, about the continuity of the Office, and here's how that conversation went:
Hon. Jacob Wit, CCJ Judge
"We got to some of the issues that are before us and one of them is of course the commission, was chaired by Miss Alamilla, but as I understand it her term ended on the 31st December, 2020. So, the ministry is now in the process of appointed a new commissioner. Any idea when that would be effect?"
Samantha Matute-Tucker, Asst. Solicitor General
"If it pleases you your honor my instructions are is that the ministry is looking to appoint a new commissioner in February of 2021."
Hon. Jacob Wit, CCJ Judge
"Is there a possibility that some of the commissioners will be re-appointed, at least to have some people in there who have gone through the process or is that not the intention as far as you know?"
Samantha Matute-Tucker, Asst. Solicitor General
"Your honor I don't know if the minister can respond to that question. As it is now I have no instructions on that issue."
Hon. Jacob Wit, CCJ Judge
"That's why we appreciate so much minister that you are here."
Voice of: Hon. Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Indigenous People's Affairs
"Yes indeed your honors. Let me say that it was a very small commission to our understanding and certainly within the next 2-3 weeks we will have the commissioner in place, but we do wish to keep at least 2 of the office staff that were actually on the commission, so that there will be a level of continuity, but we may appoint perhaps another 2-3 persons, if I could say it this way: if I could beefed-up the commission to be more effective."
Today's Government press release announcing Ch'oc's appointment says, quote, "Mr. Ch'oc is well-qualified and has over two decades of experience working with indigenous people at the local and international level. His scope of work includes addressing the unique needs of indigenous peoples and leading the implementation of the Caribbean Court of Justice consent order of 2015." End quote.
