And Usher's cousin, Minister Dolores Balderamos Garcia is also under scrutiny for what some interpret to be her hypersensitive reaction to the Mayas of southern Belize. They have made bold political statements rejecting the PUP government's approach to the land rights issue. But, while the cane farmers did that and worse, there was tolerance for and even indulgence of the Caneros. But, not so for the mayas.
Our colleague Marisol Amaya asked the Minister of Natural Resources about that today:
Reporter
"The Minister of Indigenous Peoples Affairs seems to take a very adversarial tone toward the Maya people. She says things like, oh, you people are putting, we won't support you in the next elections on your placards and so."
"But the Caneros did this up north. As politicians, you face this. When people are dissatisfied, you face this. But she does not seem to understand, even though she is an elected official. How do you move beyond that because it appears that the Maya people no longer trust this government to lead that case and implement the consent order?"
Cordel Hyde, Minister of Natural Resources
"Well, I mean, yes, you're right. We're in the business of politics and people will say things and you can't be thinskined in this. You have to be motivated by criticism, be challenged by criticism and try to do better all the time."
"I don't know that that is the position of the Minister. I think ultimately she's done a lot of heavy lifting since we got in. Like she's met with these communities over and over and over a long period of time, almost every weekend they are down there trying to engage with the communities, trying to reach some sort of understanding, some consensus as to the way forward."
"This issue has been with us for years and years and years. It's a vexing issue. It's a difficult issue. And everybody won't be happy. And so that's like she has a string and needle and that's going to be hard."
"But the only way to get that done is by talking to each other, by engaging with each other, by sitting down with each other and trying to give and take, trying to compromise, trying to see eye to eye because ultimately it's about Belize. We're one nation, we're one people."
