1 week ago
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Villagers of Maya Center in the Stann Creek District are upset with its Area Representative, Rodwell Ferguson over land distribution. Dozens of the residents gathered in the rain over the weekend to lobby against the unfair distribution of lands. Spokesperson for the group, Michael Chun, told Love News that it is unjust to see Area Rep Ferguson develop an area called Rodsville when those in the village are in need of land.
Michael Chun, Resident: “The government keep on selling dreams and the Mayan people have been neglected for 40 odd years. Honorable Rodwell Ferguson has distributed so much land. He has a Radsville community. Why can’t we get extension in Maya center? You, when you passed and campaigned, you didn’t say you only wanted the people of Pomona you came to Maya Center, Red Bank and all the communities. So why are you neglecting the Mayan ? These people these people voted you in? And they are the same people that can vote you out again. Now, we don’t want to go to the extent to escalate things. We are humbly asking the chairperson and the village council, along with the Honorable Rodwell Ferguson, please come to the table as soon as possible. It won’t be tomorrow, it can be tonight, it can be this evening, can be now, it can be whatever it is, but we need it now. Come to the table, the people are not against you. The people need help. Listen to the cry of your people. The people invited you, they elected you on a mandate and your mandate is to serve and listen to your community. Not go against the community. And we are asking the Prime Minister, the Honorable Johnny Briceño send one of your representatives to listen to us. Come to the table, we are ready to work with you. Let us work in hand so that we can fight what we want. What we want right now is the land. Why do you believe? Why do you think that there’s a lot of domestic violence happening or families fighting against each other? Because we are a bunched up. They are living seven people living in one piece of land. But if these people earn a piece of land then we know we have something at least we can plant something or do a little thatch house. But come to us and say you know what we are willing to work. Let us come as a community. This is about the fight Probably government can say all you guys are you guys are one set of people but tell the chairman to come. We want to see him to meet to the table and let us work forward. This is for his benefit as well. The people here has a mandate for you. Why will you turn your back against your people? Let us come together. We are calling again on the government. There’s one more thing I want to say Mr. Prime Minister and the Honorable Rodwell Ferguson, these people are frustrated. The next thing you will see is you will see us at the foot of the National Assembly in Belmopan.”
Ferguson called into The Morning Show today to respond to the protestors. He cited several factors that contribute to the issue including a delay in land papers and the politics of the village leaders.
Hon. Rodwell Ferguson: “Myself and the people of Maya Center village council had a very good relationship. But when they had the village council election two teams decided they were going to run for the village council. And two of them proclaimed to be PUP. So I told them I will not interfere with your process. The people of Maya Center will decide who is going to win the village council election. And whoever wins, I’m going to work with. And so I backed off and I never went there to assist nobody. So now we will collaborate because one team lost and one team won but we are still in the process of trying to solve this issue. As a matter of fact we are having a meeting this morning with Minister Hyde to figure out what is the way forward.”
We understand that a meeting was held with the Ferguson and the Minister of Lands, Cordel Hyde, earlier today. We will have an update with this story in tomorrow’s newscast.
English (US) ·