Punta Gorda Town celebrated 128 years of its existence. However, during the celebration speeches, Hon. Michael, Espat, Area representative for Toledo East, went on record and made derogatory remarks about the Maya Land Rights in Toledo. On 31st January, the Belize Progressive Party issued a press release to condemn the derogatory remarks made by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and request an immediate apology to the Commissioner of Indigenous People Affairs and the Maya people in Belize. The press release further states that we have the right to freedom of speech and expression, but we must do so respectfully, and Minister Espat can also be responsible for creating ethnic division. Furthermore, the speech was delivered on PG Day, which should showcase good things about Toledo but rather Hon. Michael Espat’s speech was filled with an ugly racial undertone. The BPP called on the government to promote unity amongst all ethnic groups and called for more presentations regarding the Maya Land use case to be properly informed.
The Voice of Southern Belize
