One dispute that seems to have been brewing in the background for some time now is the reported renewal of interest by US Capital Energy to explore for oil in Southern Belize.
You'll remember how members of the Maya communities vehemently resisted their oil exploration operations. In certain instances, that fight was famously led by Gregory Ch'oc, who has been serving as the Briceno Administration's Commissioner of Indigenous Peoples Affairs.
When the Prime Minister arrived back in the country this weekend, the waiting press grilled him on a number of topics, including reports about US Capital Energy going to the communities to engage in preliminary discussions. Here's how that conversation went:
Alindy Marisol Amaya - Krem News Director
"US Capital, we understand they are going on the ground, and this time, they're accompanied by someone, that is, the Commissioner for Indigenous Peoples Affairs, who was on the other side of this matter some years ago, trying to convince the people to give their consent. We're being told that they're being rejected. But from the larger perspective, would you hope that that proceeds, oil exploration down south, to see if we can oil?"
John Briceno - Prime Minister
"I don't know where you're getting your information. I had a meeting two Fridays ago in the Toledo District, where I met 60 Alcaldes and chairpersons. None of them were saying that they were against oil exploration, not a single one of them. So, I don't know where you're getting your information. Now, the Commissioner is doing his job. The Commissioner - since they're going to have under the FPIC, they're going from village to village, to meet with the villagers, to inform them about what's going on, and try to see if they will get - whether they will get the support or not. He's just there as the witness. He's not there to encourage them one way or the other. I can tell you that several villages have informed me that they have signed a petition. They have signed saying that they want the seismic tests to commence because they believe that by doing that, they can - again - create jobs for them. So, Marisol, I'm sorry, but you have the wrong information."
