And while the PM is prepared to reconsider the testing regulations, he's not going to give an inch to the Maya Leaders Alliance. As we have been reporting for the past few weeks, there is substantial difference of opinion over what's known as FPIC protocol - meaning Free, Prior and Informed Consent, which the CCJ says the Mayas must give before the government does anything with lands relating to their 40 villages in the Toledo district.
The dispute is fundamental and it has led to name calling on both sides with the Maya Leaders Alliance calling out commissioner of indigenous affairs, Greg Choc, and his minister Dolores Balderamos Garcia.
We asked the PM today if a change in personalities might be needed.
Courtney Menzies:
"The situation with the Mayas down in south..."
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"You mean the Toledo, the alliance. The maya leader alliance, the MLA. So it's not the Mayas."
Courtney Menzies:
"The group representing the Mayas."
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Not necessarily."
Courtney Menzies:
"Sir, your government set up an indigenous people's affairs ministry but the maya people, or the MLA, they're not too happy with the Minister in charge, they seem to have a conflict. Do you think that eventually Ms Dolores would have to be shuffled from the ministry because the maya people just don't like her?"
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"That's their problem, I think they will not be happy until we give them the Toledo district and that's never going to happen under a PUP government. What we have done is what the CCJ has asked of us is to set the FPIC, the free prior informed consent, which is basically a mechanism where we go with them and anybody that wants to, any kind of projects in that area, they can go and present it to them but it' a matter that they are going to have a monopoly as to what is going to take place in that area. Toledo is a part of this country and as a government we have a responsibility to the people of Toledo."
Jules Vasquez:
"However, sir, the FPIC requires free prior and informed consent, not consultation, that is the big sticking point right now."
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"But the consent the way it has been structure or said by the CCJ is basically a process of where we go, it's not a process where they have any kind of monopoly as to say if you will put a road, they have to approve, that's not the case and it will not happen under a PUP government."
Jules Vasquez:
"But sir..."
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"We have a responsibility, could we end it here? We have a responsibility to this country, we have a responsibility to the people who live in the Toledo District, we have a responsibility to the Maya people to try and improve their lives. It's not only the MLA, the MLA is an association, we have that responsibility and we are not going to abdicate our responsibility to the people of the Toledo district."
