By Zoila Palma: Maya leader and activist Cristina Coc has issued a strong statement defending the historical and ongoing land rights of Maya communities in Belize, highlighting what she describes as long-standing dispossession, legal victories, and continued inequality in land governance.
Coc emphasized the deep cultural and economic relationship between Maya people and their ancestral lands, stating that, “The Maya people have always lived and depended on land for their survival.”
She added that, “With the sweat of their brows, hard work and sharpened traditional ecological knowledge and machet hands they toil the soil and plant their food.”
She further noted, “Their values and customary practices is rooted in ecosystem balance protecting water, forest and sacred sites for the continuation of life,” and described Maya communities as “the first stewards of land, doing ecosystem conservation long before the NGOs.”
Coc said, “Times are changing we are not immune to globalization,” while acknowledging education and technology shifts among younger generations.
However, she stressed continuity in cultural identity, stating, “One thing remains – our deep connection to our land, our values of reciprocity of balance, our responsibility to mother earth as good stewards.” She also warned that “there is mounting pressure to erode this and there is changing climate not caused by our actions but impacting us first who are closest to the land.”
Coc pointed to years of legal action over land tenure insecurity, stating, “For years, we saw the insecurity of our land Tenure system.”
She explained that Maya communities turned to the courts after failed negotiations, adding, “We went to the courts when we were left with no other recourse after friendly talks failed, to seek recognition and respect for our land rights.”
She referenced court rulings, saying, “The courts agreed with us, it affirmed that Maya land Tenure exists and that our rights must be protected as any other form of property in Belize.”
She further stated, “Our rights did not start in 2015, it already existed,” and argued that historical non-recognition led to dispossession.
“During the time when it was not recognized or respected, we were dispossessed of much of our lands,” she said, adding that land was “given away through leases, private title to others” and allocated for commercial extraction, including logging concessions.
Coc also criticized systemic inequality in land access, stating, “The state says only 5 areas per Maya person while thousands of acres for others? Where is the justice?”
Coc calls for unity in finding a resolution.
The post Maya Leader Cristina Coc calls for justice over land rights, criticizes historical and ongoing inequality in Belize appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: Maya leader and activist Cristina Coc has issued a strong statement defending the historical and ongoing land rights of Maya communities in Belize, highlighting what she describes as long-standing dispossession, legal victories, and continued inequality in land governance. Coc emphasized the deep cultural and economic relationship between Maya people and their ancestral
The post Maya Leader Cristina Coc calls for justice over land rights, criticizes historical and ongoing inequality in Belize appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
