Original language
English
Country
Belize
Date of text
Status
Unknown
Type of court
National - higher court
Sources
Court name
Supreme Court of Belize
Seat of court
Belize City
Justice(s)
Conteh, A.
Abstract
This judgment relates to consolidated claims which raise essentially the same issue. All the claimants have in common the fact that they are members of Maya communities in Southern Belize.It concluded that the defendants are bound, in both domestic law in virtue of the Constitutional provisions that have been canvassed in this case, and international law, arising from Belizes obligation thereunder, to respect the rights to and interests of the claimants as members of the indigenous Maya community, to their lands and resources which are the subject of this case. The order included but not be limited to, directing the government to abstain from: a. issuing any lease or grants to lands or resources under the National Lands Act or any other Act; b. registering any such interest in land; c. issuing any regulations concerning land or resources use; and d. issuing any concessions for resource exploitation and harvesting, including concessions, permits or contracts authorizing logging, prospecting or exploration, mining or similar activity under the Forest Act, the Mines and Minerals Act, the Petroleum Act, or any other Act.