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Petillo and BGYEA pushed ahead with their plans, and Government responded by filing an injunction against them in Court. As a counter, BGYEA planned the "Plant Di Corn" rally, and the Rod of Correction's membership fell in behind him. It was the first time for the rod to be whipped out, and so we stopped by to get a heat check on saturday. Daniel Ortiz found out more:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
At around 9 a.m., half hour before the start of the demonstration was set to start, BGYEA helpers were still putting together the final touches.

BGYEA's event, 'Plant di Corn' was a rally for like-minded members of the public to show solidarity for their cause, but at the beginning, it looked more like a concert in the making.

Still if you looked closely, you could spot representation from the different pressure groups. Their membership and supporters blended their voices on behalf of BGYEA's cause.

Nigel Petillo - President, BGYEA
"The message is about development, as unified out here. Different issues are out here today represented by individuals and organizations to get their voices heard. Today is not just about a BGYEA issue, it's not just about planting corn, it's not just about the buffer, it's about getting the attention of our representatives - it's about sending that one unified message that we have you working for us and when you are not working for us then this is the result."

Wil Maheia - Belize Territorial Volunteers
"I am here as a member of the Belize Territorial Volunteers, but also I want it to be known that we the People's National Party is also represented here today, political party coming to support BGYEA because the PUDP system is not working for Belizeans."

Robert Bobby Lopez - Rally Attendant
"I am here as a private citizen, as a Belizean concerned about the future of our country. I am here because all the injustices have to stop, it's gone too far. But I am also here to stand in solidarity because for a long time the VIP were the only ones shouting out there, we call spoilers, we call very name we could, but I am glad to see that people are waking up now."

Paco Smith - Rally Attendant
"It's just time for BGYEA, Belizeans in general to let the government know who they work for. This selective enforcement, this kisses by favour type of foolishness has to stop. That's what has our country in the mess that we are in right now. That's why I am out here to voice my opinion to let the government that people are fed up and we need to take a stand."

George Guest - Rally Attendant
"I'm out here for the people and for plant the corn because it's about time somebody stand up for this country."

Delroy Herrera - Rally Attendant
"I am not sure what the situation is with the government why the government doesn't want BGYEA to plant the corn, but I am full support of BGYEA planting the corn and If I have to go out there and help them plant the corn, we and COLA and also my friends are going out there to pant the corn too as well."

Christina Coc - Maya Leaders Alliance
"For a number of years now we've been defending our right to our land and our right to our life in southern Belize and for a long time the government has said that the Maya people are trying to fight for special rights. We've long recognize that it's never been a fight of just the Maya people; it's been a fight for social justice for all Belizeans today, because the struggle at Harmonyville is very similar. They are fighting for their right to life. They are fighting for their land. They are fighting as Belizeans to have a piece of land to develop and to make a living off of and in southern Belize it's no different."

Guillermo Marroquin - Valley of Peace Farmers In Dispute w/ Green Tropics
"Today we brought 30 members, our wives and our kids - we have like 100-150 with the kids."

Mike Rudon, Ch5
"Why was it important for you and for the farmers of valley of piece to be out here today?"

Guillermo Marroquin
"We are just trying to make a point that we are here together along with BGYEA and everybody here. We are the voive of Belize and we need to be heard."

Geovannie Brackett - President, COLA
"The government of this day is sending out the wrong message. The government of this day is telling the Belizean people that Guatemalans have more rights than us, they can plant corn and they don't do anything about it, but when Belizeans want to plant we are being getting hammered from our own government officials. You ask me the question; who is the government representing, us or foreign interest?"

Dylan Reneau - President, NTUCB
"Earlier in the week you saw that we had form the "rod of correction" movement and BGYEA forms a part of that movement and so we are coming together to solidify our ability to challenge the government on various issues."

Luke Palacio - President, BNTU
"This is the beginning and yes the "rod of correction" is an organization that grew out of a meeting on Thursday at the Belize national Teacher's Union office and we believe that this showing is very much in order."

Marisol Melhado - Vice President, Pharmacy Association of Belize
"We also there when we formed the "rod of correction" and so we inherited all our issues and therefore we needed to be here to show solidarity."

This rally was the debut for the Rod of Correction movement and their chance to show Government that they mean business. Today, however, with 11 organizations with a collective membership above ten thousand, only a micro-fraction of that, about 275 showed up - a figure which is still a fraction of 1040 Harmonyville leas-holders. Still, the different leaders weren't the least bit concerned, as long as the message is heard.

Dylan Reneau - President, NTUCB
"We always tend to give credence or importance to numbers. The mere fact that an event like this was kicked off is testament to the people's will. I am pretty happy with the turn-out out here actually and certainly its planting that seed. I always reflect back to 2005 when you look how we started our movement, it started with about 15 people walking down protesting and at the end of the day when that protest grew it was thousands of people."

Christina Coc - Maya Leaders Alliance
"The Maya Leaders Alliance and the Toledo Alcalde Association are quite encouraged to see that civil society has taken on a more prominent role in defending justice, in bringing the government to its heels and being able to show them that you know what we are not just going to sit around and watch."

Wil Maheia - Belize Territorial Volunteers
"I would say that we should have more people out here, but it just goes to show you how effective their intimidation tactics are."

An important point of contention for rally participants was the injunction filed to block BGYEA from planting in the Harmonyville buffer zone.

Wil Maheia
"I believe it is ridiculous. If the government wanted to prevent anybody from planting corn they should take care of the buffer zone that matters the most in this country and that's the border line. People are planting corn at the border line every day and the government have not taken out injunction against those people."

Geovannie Brackett
"We have thousands upon thousands of buffer zones land, Belizean own land that is for Belize and we have illegal Guatemalans immigrants who are constantly illegally farming our land. Yet when we have a bunch of legitimate citizens about to farm some corn on some 50-60 acres of buffer zone land we come down on them like all hell is breaking loose."