AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize Life News American Crocodile Educational Sanctuary destroyed

I'm posting this for my friend and neighbor, expert Rick Wilk, google him .

Before people start making posts about 'savages' and calling for revenge and retribution, it is important to put the present incident in historic context. Most people who come to Toledo District have no idea what kind of things the the Q'eqchi' and Mopan Maya have faced over the last few hundred years, which help explain why they are often suspicious of outsiders, especially white people (and lets remember that they are not the only people in the world who can be hostile towards cultures they do not understand - think about the present anti-immigrant movement in the USA, or the public Koran burnings).

Q'eqchi' and Mopan Maya people once lived peacefully with their own rulers, religion, and communities in southern Belize and Guatemala. They were driven out of their villages and forced to live in 'reduccion' camps (concentration camps) by Spanish conquistadors, and about 90% of the population died from starvation and disease within a hundred years. Their culture was devastated. Right up through the 1930s it was forbidden for them to get an education, and they were treated like slaves on what had once been their own land. Most of the land was illegally taken away and sold to German coffee planters, who got laws passed which required every Indian to carry a permission slip from a German landlord, otherwise they could be thrown in jail and forced to work for free for six months. Indian women were regularly raped by landlords, who were also allowed to flog and discipline men. The Germans deliberately spread stories about how they would kill and eat Indian babies, as a means of terrorizing the communities into submission. Then through the 1930s and 40s, thousands of Indians were drafted to work on railroad and highway projects, where they were paid 10 cents a day, with no provision for feeding their families.

This all happened before the brutal war by the Guatemalan government against Indian communities in the 1970s and 80s, a time when thousands of Maya people were displaced, as the last of their land was gobbled up for nickel mines, cattle ranches, and illegal logging. Again, many atrocities were committed by government soldiers against women and children - and thousands of Indian children were abducted and sold to families in the city as servants, or illegally adopted. Many of the people now living in Belize suffered through this time - and they remember. The memories are kept alive by telling stories, since very little was ever written down, and remember, they were never allowed to go to school.

I am absolutely sure that most of the Americans who come to Toledo on various kinds of projects mean well, and do their best to help Belize. But good intentions cannot wash away 500 years of oppression and fear. The native people who live in Toledo have been exploited, denied basic human rights and generally traumatized for a long long time. They treat all white people as potentially harmful, even after many years of acquaintance. It would be nice if we could all forgive and forget, but trauma is not like that - it often appears in strange ways. In much of Guatemala and Central America for the last 30 years there have been widespread rumors in rural and urban areas about white people stealing children for their organs, draining and selling their blood, and abducting children for adoption. There have been a number of incidents where tourists, aid workers and missionaries have been threatened, mobbed, and even lynched. People are afraid, and the political and economic climate has allowed these rumors to flourish - and who knows if some of them may actually be true, or founded on real fears of forced adoption, or organ selling?

I am not making excuses for the burning of the Crocodile Sanctuary, or the threats against the Roses, which are clearly unjustified. But it is very important to recognize that there is a history here, and foreigners with the best intentions have often fallen afoul of local culture when they have not understood the full context of the things they are trying to change. There are certain historical facts they cannot change with good intentions.

Professor Richard Wilk has been working with Q'eqchi' and Mopan Maya people in Toledo District for more than 30 years.

Thank you for providing us with this insight.

And to add to that As a people group they are treated horribly by their own Belizean society. They are still denied land rights and when they are in even PG hospital they are treated horribly. But that does not make it right for what has happened here. This was out and out tragedy. We know both involved and their heart was for Belize and the people of Belize. They were not people who hung out only with other expats and treated Belizeans rudely. This was sensless stupidity and this is not the first time villagers from San Marcos have done things like this.

With regard to Amanda's and Dave's posts, I had an interesting conversation with my Belizean housekeeper this AM. She is from the north and says she believes the whole problem is education and access to education. She believes the people of that part of Belize don't get the chance to learn about the world or go to school. I don't know if this is true, as I don't venture much outside of SP. People without access to education don't see the world the same way as those of us who live and travel throughout the world. My grandmother from eastern Kentucky didn't believe men went to the moon, even though her own son worked for NASA and helped send them there. I still say, from taking Early English History in University; law abiding people learned in the 1500's not to take the law into their own hands. You can imagine the level of superstition and education then. Well, it is up to the government, and the government here doesn't seem to understand their responsibility to all of their people. They need to educate and create a real justice system. With regard to the latter we know how that is going.

This is an awful situation-two kids missing and a couple caught in the middle of this horror who lost their worldly possesions and peace of mind. On Ambergris, you know the Yucateca Maya from the north and they along with the Mopan from the west are much more assimiliated, better educated and have developed better coping skills than the Ketchi and Mopan Maya in Toledo, which is in itself, our poorest district in Belize. These are simple agrarian people-plant, hope for rain and sun, harvest enough to feed your family and sell or trade for other goods. The mother of the two kids only speaks Ketchi, so her experience with the outside world is probably limited to market day in PG town. I am not going to romanticize the Maya, nor get into my private feelings about them on a public forum. But I have had many conversations and insight into their thought proccesses. I have had to step in for problem solving. Issues that would seem easy for you or I to resolve. And the reasons are endless-lack of education, resources, health issues. My neighbor was over this morning. She is Mopan from a village in Toledo and was told the kids were fed to the crocs and sort of believes it. Her aunt is related to the kids. Her thinking process is much different than mine, so I make allowances, being that I had a relatively privileged background. These are people who have been marginalized in their own country and their biggest win so far was the recent Maya land rights case they won in court against GOB. They don't work thru the system, don't expect police to help them and they settle problems thru their alcade or on their own, thru force. Add to that a village frantic with worry over the missing kids. What would you do if your two kids were missing and someone told you what had happened to them? How reasonable would you be? Mix in other elements and you get a violent mob, taking their angry frustrations out on who they think is responsible. Devastating for the Rose's and I wish them all the best and my heart goes out to them. When cultures collide. But restitution? Where will these villagers get the money from? But there has to be consequences for their actions. I would love to hear what Chief Justice Conteh would suggest, how the Rose's get justice and what sort of punishment should be levied.
I want to know where the Maya leaders and alcade's were as this was brewing. Why didn't the police read the situation and take proactive measures. And of course there is history-the present past and going back 400 yrs when the first Spanish landed on these shores. Know your neighbors. As far as being anti foreigner, well, I think the Maya are equal opportunity when it comes to things like this. There's been many fires before, but this happened to a well respected couple in the country who had a sizeable investment go up in smoke, who are foreigners, so it plays out here on these boards, as well as national and intl news. You know how many bodegas been burnt down over jealousy? Jealousy is a spiritual disease in the Maya culture, not a personality trait like it would be with us. I'm not sure I've said anything useful here and think the best we can do is put on our boots and help look for the kids and give a donation to the Rose's and suggest they insure their valuables in the future. But like I said, this incident requires someone with more anthropological info than I have to explain how it escalated to this point. And police or other to find out where the kids are or what happened to them. There is someone out there who does know, unless the kids were lost in a river. Lets hope we find the kids alive and the Rose's have the emotional and economic resources to continue their good work and put this behind them. As with every story in Belize, there is alot behind it, like an onion, you peel one layer to find another. But this is still about the kids. Not the sideshow.

Villagers Gone Mad?

Crocodile Sanctuary in Punta Gorda Burnt by Angry Villagers

It has been over a week now that two children, 9-year-old Onelia Rash and 11-year-old Benjamin Rash from San Marcos Village in the Toledo District have been missing and the worst is feared for them and their disappearance has caused uproar in Punta Gorda Town.

Villagers from San Marcos feel the police have been casually ignoring them - and that bitterness culminated on Sunday, September 5, when a home was burnt down. According to sources an angry mob of armed villagers showed up outside the PG police station demanding the police to go and search an American couple's home in the Water Hole Area, the American Crocodile Education Sanctuary (ACES). Police didn't give in to the demands and shortly after the home was on fire.

The house was set on fire by an angry mob who believed that the owners Vince and Cherie Rose were holding the children hostage at their premises; this information was given to the villagers by a local fortune teller (oracle) unto police.

Luckily the owners of ACES were out of PG and in San Pedro at the request of the Belize Forest Department the team were rescuing three problem crocs, and meeting with top Belize tourism officials discussing the prospect of creating an American Crocodile sanctuary on the island.

"My whole life is ruined and so is some of Toledo's tourism now. The Maya community should be ashamed of itself," commented Vince Rose to Channel 5. "They burned the wrong man's house down and destroyed a future entity for their own Toledo District."

After the fire, police intercepted the mob, took control of their bus and their arms which included machetes and rifles and detained the still enraged group at the PG station. The men were detained until around noon yesterday and then released without charge. Police say a special team is investigating.

A press release by ACES stated that the Rose's two story home that included a laboratory and nursery for baby crocs that homed a baby American Crocodile was to be flown to Chicago to the Wildlife Discovery Center in Lake Forest, Ill. USA for the first ever animal exchange program between Belize and the USA. Over $2,500 in vet supplies that were recently donated for a new humane society that Cherie, along with other locals was working on in Punta Gorda were also lost. "This one wrongful incident has effected and hurt many innocent people and animals," added Cherie in the release.

Also destroyed by the fire were two caba�as where visiting guests and research students would stay. Vince and Cherie are now homeless and do not have anything to their name. "Our lives have been threatened if we return to Punta Gorda," she said. "We are not sure how to handle the situation, but the villagers and the country of Belize need to be held accountable," stressed Rose.

Seeking help from the United States Embassy in Belize proved to be fruitless. "They just told us what it will cost to replace our passports," Vince grumbled.

There were 17 crocodiles housed at ACES which is next to the house that was on fire. None of them escaped but reports are that one was shot and one was hacked with a machete. The physical damage to the structure is estimated at one million dollars - it was not insured. And having seen the damage Rose said he plans to move the crocodiles to San Pedro - where he will set up a mini sanctuary if he can find financing. But even as the uproar on all sides increases - the most worrying aspect of the case is that the children are still missing. Police say they were selling fruits for their family when they went missing on Monday, August 30.

Vince Rose mentioned to Channel 5 that he would be taking legal action against the Mayan Community and they have also sent several press releases to both national and international media. Social media sites including facebook.com and belizeforums.com are buzzing with discussions about the ACES tragedy, including CNN who posted the story on their home page and has scheduled an interview with the Rose's.

It is sad to say that even though the Mayan Community took matters on their hand based on a so called fortune teller and have left two persons homeless, the children are still missing. Police say that they have over 100 persons looking for kids - but so far they have not been found and there are no leads.

Vince Rose - a croc behaviorist and Cherie Chenot Rose - Biologist lost everything on the fire. Those of you who wish to make a kind contribution can do so at:
International wiring account number for donations
Belize Bank # 630-1-1-10130
Account# Vince & Cherie Rose Fire Victim Account

Ambergris Today

CNN video of story

Belize Forest Department Issues Press Release Regarding ACES

The American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus)is the only thing I've seen on Ambergris Caye . I'm pretty sure we don't have the Morelet.
The Mata Lagoon is full of American Crocodile and they nest on its shore line behind the Mata Grande area.
The American crocodile is endangered and Ambergris Caye has them thriving and nesting. Imagine the Tourist draw if we could entice ACES to relocate here on the island.
I'm sure San Pedro/Ambergris Caye would embrace ACES and we have lots of government owned mangrove and lagoon that could be more secure with an agency looking over it as an endangered species habitat.
Much harder to build condos on Endangered Species Habitat if its noted as such.
http://matalagoon.blogspot.com/ http://matalagoon.blogspot.com/

No Morelet's here on the island as they are a freshwater species. They appear in some brackish water areas though like where the incoming saltwater meets the freshwater in the New River.