At the start of the month, we took you to Yemeri Grove, where the residents were concerned about what they say is encroachment on their community land by the Laguna villagers. Those in Laguna say part of Yemeri falls under their customary lands, but the Yemeri residents are trying to preserve one of the last non-Maya villages in the south.
Today, the representative for the area where both villages lie, and Minister of Rural Transformation and Community Development, Oscar Requena would not get into the meat of a very complex dispute - he would only say that the next logical step is for everyone to come to the discussion table.
Oscar Requena, Minister of Rural Transformation, Labor
"What I can say is that certainly we are aware, I am aware of the concerns that have been expressed by both communities, both Yemeri Grove and Laguna and I'm happy to say that the Minister responsible for Indigenous Peoples' Affairs, the Honorable Dolores Balderamos Garcia, along with myself and personnel, the CEO from the Ministry of Lands and the Commissioner of Indigenous Affairs, we have all been engaged in meetings with these communities and the truth of the matter is that there is a need for continued dialogue, there are concerns on both sides. Laguna has their own concerns, Yemeri Grove has their own concerns and the truth of the matter is that the only way to address these concerns is to come to the table, to speak to them and to find a way how you are going to resolve those issues."
