Our top segment tonight spoke about SATIIM and the present difficulties they are having in the Sarstoon Temash National Park. Their co management agreement has come to an official end – eight years after it first started. Tonight we got back to the start in 2005 – when it was big news that the Mayas were getting rights to administer lands that they called communal. We got back in our archives for that story:..

FILE - June 22nd, 2005

Jules Vasquez Reporting, [Email - jules.Vasquez@gmail.com]
This vast expanse of pristine green forest is part of the Sarstoon Temash National Park, a 41,000 acre spread adjoining 5 communities, 4 of them Ketchi, and one Garifuna. Today community leaders signed an agreement to take over the management of the park.

It is the first time that communities that live near to a national park will be in charge of that park and the management of its resources. No small accomplishment and the work, lobbying and vision that went into it was tremendous.

Greg Choc, President SATIM
"We had many challenges, many skeptics, many of those who did not believe that we could achieve and we could negotiate and we could justify why we believe we need a say and we need a say in the Sarstoon Temash National Park. We never thought that one day we would be sitting here signing an agreement that reconciled our needs with the needs of the management of the Sarstoon Temash National Park."

But that day came today when the community leaders signed. It is a signal accomplishment not only for them, but also for the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Johnny Briceno, Minister of Natural Resources
"Indeed today it is a historic day because for the very first time we're signing a management plan that has been well thought out and it has been thought out not only by the technical people, not only by foreigners, or by the World Bank who is helping with the project, but it is being driven by the 5 communities that live and depend around the Sarstoon Temash National Park."

Greg Choc,
"For the first time in Belize, it is my understanding in the region, that we sign an agreement, a management plan with the government, that recognizes the customary and traditional rights of the communities to harvest resources from the Sarstoon Temash National Park. Our community lives there, they farm there, they fish in the river, and they have done so sustainably."

Now the communities will look after this park, which has so long provided for their sustenance and well-being. Briceno says the idea to look to the communities denotes a sea change in government's outlook.

Johnny Briceno,
"For too long people in Belmopan, people in the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Forestry Department, were making decisions without really consulting the people that live in those areas. This is one time where the communities, the 5 communities, decided to be proactive, to take charge of the SATIM and the Sarstoon Temash National Park."

Greg Choc,
"Today's ceremony shows that our government, and indeed the Belizean people, have matured to the point where we need to begin to demonstrate tolerance."

But what Choc calls tolerance, others might call catering to special interests and, in a small notional sense, surrendering to the Mayas and their claim to communal land rights.

Johnny Briceno,
"Indigenous people have maintained that case internationally about their rights. We recognize those rights but it does not have to be at the expense of the balkanization of this country. We are one country, we have one Belize, and we are all Belizeans. Yes they do have their special rights because they have been here for many many generations and we recognize this."

But how far do those special rights extend; that is, where does the Maya's right to control their traditional land end, and the state's authority to govern those lands begin?

Greg Choc,
"Today's signing presents and demonstrate that as a people, and as citizens of this country, we want to be a part of Belize, we want to participate in its development, but it has to on our terms and our capacities. They say you start to eat an elephant one bite at a time and that certainly is what we have done here and what we want to do here."

Jules Vasquez,
Is that 'elephant' you are talking about the Mayan homeland which the Prime Minister sees as balkanization?

Greg Choc,
"You can give a different name to the whole concept and the whole struggles that we have been engaged in Jules but I think that its really justice that we are seeking for, rights to our land that we have been not necessarily denied of but by means of policy, by means of regularity framework and law that is non-existent. Anybody can take us off that land and its been proven over and over again."

That issue of security of tenure over what the Mayas call communal land is one thing, but the reality of land control, ownership and exploitation is another - because this vast undeveloped swathe of green is also an un-exploited economic resource.

Jules Vasquez,
Are you selling them a pipe dream by saying that the community should benefit when we know that the western capitalist construct is that large multinationals are who benefit from our national resources?

Johnny Briceno,
"Whilst the way you put your question sounds quite interesting, why can't they go hand in hand? What we're saying is that when we work an agreement with the communities whereby they'll be the true custodians it, doesn't mean that they cannot form partnerships with these companies. They will have to find companies or group of people that have the technical know how and that they have the money to be able to put into practice how they're going to be extracting the natural resources. If it is logging that they are going to be doing, they do not have the tractors, they do not have the heavy equipment, but what they can do is sign an agreement with a company. We have those companies in Belize right now that they'll be able to sign off with them."

And while they signed for control - with the lure of private developers' dollars, the question now is: are these community groups ready and able to manage this precious natural resource more honorably and competently than the state?

The communities that will manage the park are Barranco, which is Garifuna, and the Ketchi Villages of Midway, Conejo, Sunday-Wood, and Crique Carco. As we noted, it is 41,000 acres, bordered by a combined 30 miles of river and coastline which is policed by 4 rangers.

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7NEWS produced for broadcast by News Director Jules Vasquez
Edited and Prepared for the internet by Keith Swift

As we now know, due to oil pressures and other issues, that agreement which lapsed in 2008 has come formally to an end. The Forestry Department says SATIIM can re-apply to co-manage the area…..