And the minister also spoke about another pressing land related issue: the Jalacte case and the road that goes through the village - which falls within the much larger discussion of customary land rights versus private property ownership in Toledo.
Recently, the Acting Chief Justice ruled in favour of the Jalacte villagers awarding them damages totalling just over 6.3 million dollars.
But the government is not giving up yet. According to Minister Hyde, they will be appealing:
Hon. Cordel Hyde - Deputy Prime Minister
"Whenever you go to court, it's costly but hopefully we're going to appeal it but hopefully through this process of coming up with the protocol there will be satisfaction all around, hopefully once we establish the process we can come to happy understanding in terms of moving forward and that may have implications also for that case because at the end of the day, a road is there for the benefit of everyone but at the same time who the Mayans contend that their customary land rights have been prejudice by this road but at the end of the day I think if we can talk to each instead of at each other, if we can consult with each other, if we can work together as Belizeans under one flag, one nation, I think we can work things out, I think we can find a solution that is satisfactory, it's just how we go about doing business and I am hopeful that we're coming to the Mayans with respect and that it will be reciprocated and ultimately at the end of the day we'll work this out for the benefit of all Belizeans."
