It is unfortunate that the thrust of my letter to the Prime Minister ? the issue of illegally squatting on private or national lands ? was never seriously addressed in your letter. While we all agree on the fundamental right of all Belizeans to migrate to any part of this country, (the City of Belmopan being no exception), this right must be guided by systems of governance which respect principles of law and order. Illegally squatting as a means to obtaining land cannot and should not be tolerated anywhere in a democratic country. In fact, as I write, several Belizeans, including indigenous persons, are queued in line patiently awaiting their piece of the ?Garden City?. To regularize this latest case of squatting is to trample on these people?s collective rights and freedoms and to give legitimacy to what most Belizeans regard as unacceptable; it destabilizes the procedure of due process and distorts the planned development of municipal goods and services of our city. For these reasons, it must be reiterated and made abundantly clear that illegal squatting will no longer be tolerated within City limits. We must, however, agree with you that we must seek to identify and act upon the root causes of the migration issue of Belize?s indigenous peoples, the Maya specifically. I have, therefore, asked my colleague on the Belize Governance Improvement Commission, Ms. Pulcheria Teul, to organize a meeting among ourselves. I have also petitioned the Minister of National Development, the Minister of Rural Development and the Cayo South Area Representative to accompany me in a quest to better understand the possible root causes of migration. Perhaps this whole exchange can be positively used to persuade our government to revisit its policies regarding Toledo?s development, an issue which is obviously laced with complexities. As a God-fearing nation of peace loving, multi-ethnic people, we must foster an honest partnership in our respective roles of leadership if we are to succeed in building a better Belize for this generation of Belizeans and the next. As Belize approaches the 23rdanniversary of its Independence, then, I invite you to engage in this conversation. We owe it to ourselves, and to those coming after us, to set examples of problem solving? without fear or favour, affection or ill-will, and in an environment of peace and respect. Sincerely, (Signed) Anthony Chanona MAYOR, Belmopan City cc. Hon Said Musa ? Prime Minister of Belize All media houses
AMANDALA, a biweekly newspaper published on Tuesdays and Fridays, was founded as an organ of the United Black Association for Development (UBAD), which emerged on August 13, 1969. Even after UBAD was divided and later dissolved in 1974, AMANDALA remained.
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