OAS Press Release on Sta Rosa Project

• Date: 1/10/2008

Organization of American States
www.oas.org
Press Release
(E-004-08)
January 9, 2008

BELIZE-GUATEMALA: OAS GENERAL SECRETARIAT COORDINATES TRANSFER OF FAMILIES FROM THE SANTA ROSA COMMUNITY

In the context of the Agreement on a Framework of Negotiation and Confidence Building Measures between Belize and Guatemala, on January 4, 2008, the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS) commenced the transfer of 8 of 17 Guatemalan families from the Santa Rosa Community to a housing complex on a farm acquired for this specific purpose in Popt�epartment of Pet� Guatemala. The remaining nine families will be similarly transferred to said farm as soon as possible.

This transfer was carried out as part of the Santa Rosa Community Resettlement Project which the OAS General Secretariat is implementing in accordance with the Agreement signed by Belize, Guatemala and the OAS Secretary General on September 7, 2005. The families being transferred agreed in a voluntary manner with the resettlement. Assistant Secretary General, Albert Ramdin, reiterated the commitment of the General Secretariat of the OAS to �conclude this project as soon as possible.�

As part of the support to the sustainability and productive reactivation of these families, the Guatemalan Government is seeking cooperation from government agencies and international cooperation organizations to develop productive projects.

The Santa Rosa Community Resettlement Project being implemented by the OAS received financial support from the governments of Spain, the United States, Mexico, Great Britain and Turkey.