Belmopan, June 4, 2026.
In accordance with its Terms of Reference and Standing Orders, the Independent Commission on Village Boundary Disputes continues to advance its work pursuant to its legal and regulatory mandate.
To date, the Commission has received substantive and counter-substantive submissions regarding village boundary claims from the respective village councils involved in the disputes under mediation. These include the villages of Placencia, Seine Bight, Hopkins, and Sittee River.
During the periods May 15-16 and May 29-30, 2026, the Commission conducted public consultation sessions in the villages of Placencia and Seine Bight Village, and in the villages of Hopkins and Sittee River, respectively.
These public consultation sessions were well attended, and members of the public and key community advocates were able to make direct oral representations to the Commission. Furthermore, stakeholders were advised that additional certified written submissions could be made to the Commission through the respective village councils within two weeks of the public meetings.
The Commission is now in the process of compiling and analysing all the data and information it has received in preparation for providing its substantive report to the Minister with responsibility for villages and village councils.
For context, the public is reminded that, subject to section 3(3)(b) of the Village Council Act, Chapter 88 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020, the Hon. Minister with responsibility for villages and village councils, in the exercise of his authority, appointed an Independent Commission to mediate existing boundary disputes between adjoining villages.
The six-member Commission is chaired by Her Worship, Madam Chief Magistrate, and includes commissioners representing the Ministry of Natural Resources, Petroleum and Mining, the Attorney General’s Ministry, the Elections and Boundaries Department, the National Association of Village Councils, and the private sector.
The Ministry of Rural Transformation serves as the Secretariat to the Independent Commission, headed by the Director of Rural Development. For further information, kindly submit queries to Clifford King via email at clifford.king@mrt.gov.bz or by telephone at 670-2643.
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