Cancun, Q.R. — Public officials of Benito Juárez are being taught the region’s Maya language so they can better serve the sector.
Amada Moo Arriaga, director of del Instituto para el Desarrollo del Pueblo Maya, says approximately half of the population in Cancun speak Maya as a first language, not Spanish, adding that to be able to better serve them, city officials have been training to speak the regions’ indigenous language.
According to Moo Arriaga, in the municipality of Felipe Carrillo Puerto there are 55 Mayan communities, while in José María Morelos there are about 70 communities and three communities in Tulum.
She explained that due to the fact approximately 70 percent of the regional population speaks Maya as a first language, it is important to train officials from different town councils to learn the language, adding that the training of officials needs to be requested by municipal directorates. She says that in each demarcation, there are personnel to teach courses.
She notes that educational books on the Mayan language have been circulated, mostly in the municipality of Solidaridad since it is considered one of the areas where the Maya culture has been lost, but remains the most representative since it is considered the heart of Riviera Maya.