By Zoila Palma: The Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management (SATIIM)issued a statement on April 15, 2026 calling on the government to fulfill its legal duty to consult the Maya communities in Southern Belize on the development of the Maya Customary Land Tenure legislation.
“Under the 2015 Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Consent Order, the Government of Belize agreed to develop legislative, administrative and other measures to identify and protect the property and other rights arising from Maya customary land tenure, in accordance with Maya customary laws and land tenure practices,” SATIIM said.
“Maya customary governance is a direct democracy, which means each and every village must be consulted.
Instead, a Maya land tenure policy was drafted without the input of Maya communities, despite repeated requests for consultation. That third-party landowners have had access to the draft legislation while Maya communities have yet to be consulted speaks volumes about the deep imbalance of power that continues to define this process,” SATIIM added.
In addition, SATIIM called on the Government, as the duty bearer, to take immediate steps to provide Maya communities with the full draft legislation and begin meaningful consultations.
“While wider public consultation is also important given the broader impact of this matter, such engagement must not come at the expense of the Government’s primary duty to consult the Maya communities first.
The continued lack of information and transparency around the development of this legislation is leading us down a dangerous path. Misinformation and rumors are feeding mistrust, fear and tension in Southern Belize. Productive conversations can only happen when there is full transparency and genuine consultation,” the organization explained.
SATIIM further called for calm, peace and understanding in our communities.
The post Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management calls on Government to consult Maya communities in development of Maya Customary Land tenure legislation appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: The Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management (SATIIM)issued a statement on April 15, 2026 calling on the government to fulfill its legal duty to consult the Maya communities in Southern Belize on the development of the Maya Customary Land Tenure legislation. “Under the 2015 Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Consent Order, the
The post Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management calls on Government to consult Maya communities in development of Maya Customary Land tenure legislation appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
