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National Garifuna Council speaks on Rupert Myles incident

By on June 28, 2015
Rupert Myles detention

Rupert Myles detention

Punta Gorda town, Toledo. Sunday, June 28, 2015. One week after the images of Toledo resident Rupert Myles in handcuffs and tied up with a rope emerged from Santa Cruz village, the discussion continues about his treatment at the hands of the fellow residents.

Mr. Myles is accusing the residents of Santa Cruz, including the chairman Aram Canti of racial discrimination and physical assault as they tried to evict him from his home in the village on Saturday, June 20.

The leaders of Santa Cruz village, including the Alcalde Manuel Pop and his deputy Renato Canti, backed by the Maya Leaders Alliance, strongly deny any racial discrimination.

Their counterclaim is that Mr. Myles had taken up residence in the village without first obtaining permission under customary practices, of occupying and destruction of portions of an archaeological area – Uxbenka – and of threatening his fellow villagers with a shotgun.

On the day of the incident in Santa Cruz village – June 20 – Wil Maheia of PGTV, spoke with a villager of Santa Cruz and asked him for his personal thoughts on the incident.

Today, the National Garifuna Council issued a statement on the issue saying it is “appalled at the infringement of the constitutional rights of this gentleman by the said villagers.”

The NCG statement says that “My Myles being a citizen of Belize, should enjoy the privilege of choosing where to live and with whom without being subject to any inhumane or degrading treatment.”

Furthermore, the NCG statement addresses claims of racial discrimination made by Mr. Myles.

The statement says that “NGC stands united with every Belizean in condemning all forms of racism, bigotry and xenophobia.”

The statement ends by calling on the Maya Leaders “to adhere to all individual’s constitutional rights.”

NGC says it is hoping that Mr. Myles and his family can continue to live peacefully in Santa Cruz village.

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