15 January 2010
Hon. Dean Oliver Barrow
Prime Minister of Belize
Office of the Prime Minister
Belmopan
Dear Hon. Dean Barrow,
On behalf of SATIIM and the communities we have the privilege of working with, I extend warm greetings to you for the New Year. I apologize for taking up your valuable time but I must, once again, bring your attention to a salient matter.
As you may recall, on the 29 April, 2009, SATIIM’s Board of Directors met with you and the Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Gasper Vega, to find a way forward on (1) the disputes over the renewal of SATIIM’s Co-management agreement; (2) SATIIM’s request for involvement in monitoring of US Capital Energy’s Seismic Survey activities; and (3) SATIIM’s request for support for its Community-based Sustainable Forest Management Initiative. On 4 May 2009, I sent out a letter documenting the verbal commitments made at this 29 April meeting.
With regard to the Community-based Sustainable Forest Management Initiative, I am disappointed to inform you that the Ministry of Natural Resources’ uncooperative attitude remains entrenched in their policy of engagement towards SATIIM and the communities in the south. We are no closer in resolving these matters than when first brought to your attention.
SATIIM and the communities of Conejo and Santa Teresa embarked on a historic sustainable forest management initiative, with the help of the international community through the World Bank, USAID, Oak, WWF and other donors. The sustainable forest management plan, not required by law or a prerequisite for a forest concession, embodies our strongly held belief that planned and concrete actions, that do not compromise today’s urgent needs, are needed to safeguard the future of our communities and living heritage.
On 10 November 2008, Conejo and Santa Teresa completed a sustainable forest management plan for their respective communities. On 5 December 2008 and after the Department of the Environment granted environmental clearance, Conejo and Santa Teresa properly submitted their plans along with applications for a forest license to the Forest Department. Based on their management plan timeframes, Conejo applied for a twenty-year concession and Santa Teresa applied for a twenty-five year concession – an extraordinary accomplishment for these two isolated communities.
In a letter dated July 26, 2009, the Chief Forest Officer commended the accomplishments of the two communities. However, it is baffling that in the face of commending the two communities on their accomplishments, with numerous letters from community leaders and visits to the Forest Department to request updates on the status of their application, the Forest Department continues to refuse to grant Santa Teresa a forest license. For over twelve months, the Ministry has denied the community a forest license. For over twelve months, the Ministry has been blatantly violating the rights of these two communities.
Moreover, public officers from the Ministry of Natural Resources came to Conejo, unknown to the majority of the community, and coerced the community representatives to sign a one-year license, a license with several conflicts and inconsistencies with the 2007 Supreme Court Judgment. The license clearly abrogates some of the rights granted under the 2007 Judgment. It is incomprehensible that our government, with promises of upholding the rule of law, would continue to so openly disregard rights affirmed by the High Court.
Hon. Prime Minister, the Community-based Sustainable Forest Management Planning and Enterprise Development (CSFME) clearly underscores opportunities for economic development desperately needed in Toledo. More importantly, such community development initiatives are environmentally friendly and rooted in the visions and aspirations of our communities. The unprecedented accomplishments of SATIIM and these two communities in pioneering community-based sustainable forest management and enterprise development demonstrate a conscious and strong commitment from our Maya communities to safeguard resources that are vital for their survival.
SATIIM is confident in the path of development we are facilitating in our communities. Our programs parallel globally emerging norms in resource management and protection. As we contemplate the imminent impacts of global climate change, we are fortified in the World Bank’s characterization of our program as “an innovative idea to save the planet.” In November 2009, the World Bank awarded SATIIM’s forestry program for building Q’eqchi Communities capacity and flexibility to adapt to climate change through Community-based Sustainable Forest Management.
Our model of community-based sustainable forest management and enterprise development is one concrete example of what communities can do to contribute to the mitigation and adaptation to global climate change. It is a flagship for Belize in community-based solutions for addressing climate change.
It is extremely disheartening for communities, having mustered the courage and determination to make a better life, while confronted by challenges of monumental proportions, to have to endure further suffering because of who they are. There is no comforting explanation for such a situation. This experience only serves to illuminate a concrete example of the continuation of institutionalized racial discrimination against the Maya communities.
Hon. Prime Minster, much time has elapsed. I am kindly asking for your intervention to rectify such obvious human rights violations so that our communities can move forward with their sustainable development and Belize can take its place among the community of nations as a place where justice, equality and democracy truly flourish.
Yours Respectfully,
Gregory Ch’oc
Executive Director
cc: Hon. Gaspar Vega
Hon. Peter Eden Martinez
Hon. Gabriel Martinez
Hon. Michael Finnegan
Hon. Manuel Heredia
Hon. Carlos Perdomo
Hon. John Saldivar
Hon. Patrick Faber
Hon. Rene Montero
Hon. Mark Espat
Hon. Cordel Hyde
Hon. John Briceño
Hon. Said Musa
Hon. Anthony Martinez
Hon. Erwin Contreras
Hon. Pablo Marin
Hon. Melvin Hulse
Hon. Francis Fonseca
Hon. Edmund Castro
Hon. Juan Coy
Hon Elvin Penner
Professor James Anaya, UN Indigenous Special Raporteur