So, is this an accurate representation of the realities of the 39 Mayan Villages scattered all over Toledo? Well, that's what we asked the Program Coordinator for the Maya Leaders Alliance, and here's what he had to say about the situation:
Pablo Mis, Program Coordinator - MLA
"Unfortunately that has been the reality of many of our communities when it comes to flooding they become very isolated from the commercial areas in town, but also it hinders the ability to pursue other activities such as generating some income. It is a big issue. It also affects not only when its flooding, but this amount of rain has prohibited many of our students to not reach high schools and primary schools. You will notice at times there are bus drivers, to not go on the road because the roads are very terrible. They are in the worst of conditions. So that unfortunately is the reality for communities and the Toledo districts perhaps has the highest numbers of communities that still does not have electricity. A lot of communities and our children are studying with candle and flash lights - situations that should not be happening at this time. But that is something that we have discussed collectively with the Maya people and those are the main issues, the central issues that the Maya land rights hopes to address. We do recognize that the government will not be able to address all of those issues on their own and it is our hope that by working along with the Maya people, recognizing their rights to those lands, allowing the Maya people to pursue other alternatives of income generation of engaging entrepreneurial initiatives that we would be able to on our own, support and work with the government to remedy some of those extreme poverty situations that we have in our communities."
Today, we spoke with Oscar Requena, the Area Representative for Toledo West, and he told us that at every opportunity in which he's been given a platform, he's spoken at the National Assembly to bring the attention of the Government to the terrible road bridge conditions in Toledo West. We showed you the condition of the bridge where the newborn almost lost her life. Well, Requena says that he's asked the Prime Minister to fix this particular bypass between Santa Cruz and San Jose, but his request has gone unanswered.
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