25 YEARS AGO ON AMBERGRIS CAYE BY ANGEL NUÑEZ
For the newcomers to San Pedro, here is a summary of a few “firsts”. You can learn a whole lot of informal history about San Pedro by simply perusing along. At the same time this is an acknowledgement to those people who set the pace for development of our beloved San Pedro and Ambergris Caye.
FIRST AIRSTRIP: The very first one on Ambergris Caye was at Basil Jones up north. It was a private strip for an oil exploration company. The first one in San Pedro came about through the efforts of John Grief, Jim Blake, Area Representative in the PUP Louis Sylvestre, and influential villagers.
FIRST AIRPLANE: There was a small plane belonging to an American who had a bar in San Pedro by the name of Chris. Undoubtedly the revolution of flying was brought to San Pedro by our good friend John Grief Sr. who set the pace for the development of Holiday Hotel and tourism in San Pedro. The first plane was a seaplane.
FIRST SPEEDBOAT: Vernon Hammon, a U.S.citizen who retired in San Pedro, was about to inaugurate a resort known as the Reef Colony Club. His speedboat which he used to commute from San Pedro to Belize City was the Reef Colony, captained by Cruz Nuñez and Libby Azueta. The hotel was never inaugurated as it was destroyed in 1961 by Hurricane Hattie. Scores of Sanpedranos traveled this speedboat for free. No wonder Vernon Hammon and his wife Terry were very much liked.
FIRST VEHICLE: Caribeña Fishing cooperative brought the first Land Rover jeep to haul its boxes of lobster for exportation from the cooperative to the main pier. It also hauled blocks of ice for the fishermen to the main pier.
FIRST DOCTOR: Dr. Manuel Lizama flew in once a week from Belize City to offer medical services to the islanders just a few years before the Lions Clinic was founded. The first resident doctor to actually live on the island was our good Dr. Otto Rodgigurz who came here in the 1970’s along with his lovely wife and two charming baby boys. Yes, as young as Dr. Otto Rodriguez looks, he has been here for a while, and thank you for your dedication to San Pedro.
FIRST CINEMA: The first cinema to be completed was by Jim Blake (RIP). Exactly where Sun Breeze Hotel is. It was built with cushioned seats and large screen too. That also did not into operation as it was destroyed by Hurricane Hattie in 1961. The first one to operate was Teatro Arenas owned by Fido Nuñez (RIP), situated at the now famous Fido’s Courtyard.
FIRST BAR: Indisputably the first public bar was owned by Mr. Gildardo “Daddy” Paz Sr.and was situated in a small building where Big Daddy’s is. It expanded to boast billiard tables, dance hall and small restaurant. Many young loving couples met and courted at Daddy’s Club dance hall, a most popular place in the village.
FIRST TELEPHONE: Again Area Representative Louis Sylvestre brought the first community telephone to San Pedro. It was located at the home of Mr. Enrique Staines Sr. (RIP). Mr. Staines sent messages to villagers to come and answer the phone or wait for phone calls at telephone Number 52. There was one line and one phone, and when it was busy, that was it.
More on these “first’s “ next week and for a few weeks to come.
Last week I hit in summary form a little bit of history of San Pedro by acknowledging the very first ones. It is good to know where we come from and who helped in the molding and development of our beloved San Pedro. Today, we thank the Chamber of Commerce for doing so much for San Pedro. They too are making history. So here go some firsts.
First Electric Plant: The very first one was privately owned and supplied power to El Casino and some neighbors. The remains still stand in the property occupied by Sands Hotel of Mr. George Parham. The first one to supply some power to the village was at El Astillero, now Sun Breeze Hotel. It belonged to the Blake Family. The first government owned Electric Plant was brought about by PUP area representative Louis Sylvestre.
First Water System: Long before WASA and BWS there were private shallow wells in San Pedro. Everyone had a system in his yard. The first village water system was again a Louis Sylvestre project, which operated 5 wells along the airstrip. It had a pumping station and an elevated tank that gravity fed the village. The first desalination water system was a project of Area Representative Glen Godfrey.
First Hotel: Our first hotel to operate in San Pedro was indisputably the Holiday Hotel, owned and operated by Celi and John Grief. It opened its doors in 1965, exactly forty years ago. Hurrah to the first 5 rooms offered to visiting tourists in San Pedro. The first shower taken by any tourist was done with a hand pump maneuvered by Celi McCorkle. It was not hot and cold, but it was strenuous work for Celi.
First Mayor: The first mayor for San Pedro when it gained its township status was Mr. Gilberto Chico Gomez back in 1984.
First Horse: Horses have never been part of our culture or way of life. They have been exciting when we have had them. In the 1940’s there was one by Tio Mac, whatever. But in 1963 the village council brought one and hitched it to a cart hoping to establish a garbage system. The horse refused to move forward. It gave a few steps backward and then became as stubborn as a mule. Gonzalo “Reds” Lara bought it and offered rides to the guys in town for 25 cents.
First Bank: Those living in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s remember when Scotia Bank used to bring in two girls to offer banking every Wednesday. The office was about ten by ten feet located downstairs of Mash Residence across from the Catholic Church. Great banking- savings and withdrawal with perhaps money orders. (I hear they are coming again soon. Welcome, especially with loans.)
First San Juan Residents: Remember when as long as 1980 the end of the village used to be around Paradise Hotel area? The rest was a dense forest of coconut trees, mangrove and bush. George Eiley and family and Mrs. Leonor Rosado and family were the first to construct homes in the San Juan area when there were no roads, no electricity, no water, no telephones, no cable television, not even people. Hats off to Georgie and Mrs. Leonor for their faith in government because San Juan has indeed come a long way.
Hey, thanks to all the first ones and congratulations for setting the pace for development of our Isla Bonita. More of these first’s next week.
For the newcomers to San Pedro, here is a
summary of a few “firsts”. You can learn a whole lot of informal
history about San Pedro by simply perusing along. At the same time
this is an acknowledgement to those people who set the pace for
development of our beloved San Pedro and Ambergris
Caye.
FIRST GIFT SHOPS: Have you ever wondered who set
the example by having the vision that tourists like buying strange
and exotic things that they can take back home and call them
souvenirs? The first one did not have a name. It was Genaro Nunez
who was a fisherman and he found some bottles on the beach and sold
one or two. That started his ambition and eventually he grew into
Sea Turtle Gift Shop under his house, then at Barrier Reef Hotel,
and then to its own building on Pescador Drive. At about this same
time Dimas Guerrero was painting T-shirts, and working on frames
with island paintings and conch products. Because he was Dimas and
his girlfriend Gloria, I suggested the name D and G’s which stands
up until this time. Pretty soon it was Paisano who entered with two
gift shops on the island. Had he stayed on the job, he would be
pretty rich today, or perhaps he is and we do not
know!
FIRST DIVE SHOP: The first tourists that came to
the island did not know what to expect. It was Holiday Hotel that
set their itinerary with fishing and snorkeling mostly. But as
tourism became popular, so did diving. It was Coral Beach Hotel,
owned by Allan Forman, that set up the first dive shop equipped with
an air compressor, about two dozen tanks, and the rest of the gear.
It became such a popular sport after that all hotels started
advertising spectacular diving in Belize and opening more dive
shops. Thank you, Coral Beach Hotel.
FIRST SANPEDRANO
PILOT: I only wish I could say it is Johnny Grief Jr. because I
have seen him all my life in San Pedro and I know he feels and acts
and thinks San Pedrano. I genuinely consider him a San Pedrano too,
for all the good he had done in our island, but Johnny was born in
the United States. So for the record, the first San Pedrano pilot is
Nando Trejo Jr., who once was owner of Island Air. Nando worked as
handyman at Holiday to earn enough money to go make his dream a
reality. Through good luck and effort, Nando dated this beautiful
girl (not as beautiful as Mercy) and her father gave him the
opportunity to go study for his dream. Nando also got help from Bob
Witte, a friend of his family and pretty soon he was back in San
Pedro to fly with Tropic Air. It was Nando who opened the eyes of
many young Sanpedranos, who have now venture in this adventurous yet
risky profession- flying the skies of Belize.
FIRST GIRLS
OF THE EASY LIFE: In the 1980’s there was the first attempt to
establish prostitution in San Pedro. It was a hotel with a bar known
as Casa Solana that brought a few young ladies as bait to attract
men to the bar. San Pedro women put great resistance and were about
to hold a demonstration when the management decided to get rid of
the girls. It was a victory not for the women, but for San Pedro.
Casa Solana then sold to Royal Palm and the story stops right
there.
FIRST DEMONSTRATION: The first demonstration in
San Pedro was a protest, one organized by the first PUP town
council. In 1985 just months after we got our township, the UDP
elected government decided to reduce the boundaries of our town
making it very small so that the PUP town council would not be able
to collect taxes and fail in its administration. Minister Goldson
(may he rest in peace) informed us of the decision and hundreds of
Sanpedranos took to the streets to protest. Goldson informed us (I
was there) that he would not do it without consulting the people.
However, the following hour he signed the paper, which rolled back
our boundaries. That was the infamous “Roll Back”, and it happened
in 1985. So for the record, the first demonstration in San Pedro did
not achieve its desired objective.
For the newcomers to San Pedro, here is a
summary of a few “firsts”. You can learn a whole lot of informal
history about San Pedro by simply perusing along. At the same time
this is an acknowledgement to those people who set the pace for
development of our beloved San Pedro and Ambergris
Caye.
FIRST GRADUATION: Graduations in other parts of
Belize go over one hundred years ago. In San Pedro it dates back to
the year 1976 when San Pedro High held its first graduation ever
with eleven proud graduates of its first graduation class. The first
recipients were Abel Guerrero Jr., Clarita Ancona Paz, Milly
Castillo, Guillermo “Mito” Paz, Orlando Trejo, Odilia Nunez, Lydia
Gonzalez Lavin, James Azueta, Efrain Guerrero Jr. and Pedro “Sony”
Vasquez. The very first diplomas were signed by Principal Angel
Nunez and Hon. Said Musa who was Minister of
Education.
FIRST QUEEN: Our first beauty queen dates
back to the year 1956 when Leni Aguilar Alamilla was selected and
crowned as San Pedro’s first queen. Prior to that there were no
celebrations of September 10, our National Day, but George Price
entered as political leader and started creating a national
awareness of our identity. Soon San Pedro had its first lovely Miss
San Pedro.
FIRST PRESIDENT: The tiny fishing village
of San Pedro had no need for presidents like president of Lions, Red
Cross, Chamber of Commerce, Alcoholic Anonymous, and other
organizations. The first need of a president was when the fishing
cooperative was founded. Mr. Jeminiano Aguilar was duly elected to
act as the first president of San Pedro’s Caribena Fishing
Cooperative. He is deceased, but survived by Julie Aguilar Alamilla,
Oscar Aguilar, and Leni Aguilar Alamilla. His first office was
downstairs of Tio Pil’s house where Cholo’s is presently located. It
used to be a storage room for corned fish.
FIRST
STORE: Where was San Pedro’s first store. Take a big guess.
Here’s a clue. It was located where present day Alliance Bank is.
Yes, it was a store owned by the Blake family, the wealthiest family
and powerful family in San Pedro. Well, they had bought the entire
island for 625 dollars Belize. They had coconut plantations etc. and
they employed a lot of the Sanpedranos to work in the harvesting of
coconuts. Well, they had a nice store, concrete floor, polished
shelves and even glass counter. For us Sanpedranos it was like being
in a shopping mall today. It was the only place in the entire island
where you could get something cold. The name of the store was El
Comisariato. You, know it has enough history to have a weekly column
all by itself. Next week, okay?
FIRST COMMERCIAL LOBSTER
BUYER: Thirty five years ago the selling of barbecued bony fish
for 10 cents and boiled lobsters for 5 cents each was common around
the streets of the village of San Pedro. Then commercial buying of
lobsters brought a boost to San Pedro. Mr. Efrain Guerrero Sr. was
the first buyer who did so for an agent in Belize City who then
exported them to the United States. Mr. Guerrero weighed the whole
lobster at the beach. He then loaded hundreds (yes, hundreds) of
sacks of whole lobster into his boat, La Ilda, and sailed away to
Belize City to deliver to his agent. As a child I remember good
prices starting at 8 cents per pound and fishermen were extremely
happy. On first day of the season I remember my father delivering up
to sixty sacks of lobsters each weighing some 60 to 75 pounds. (Full
story on this topic soon)
It’s not that being first is the
most important thing in your life, but knowing that you were a
pioneer and helped in the forming and development of your community
brings some form of satisfaction. These issues on first’s, gives
acknowledgement to those people who helped carve San Pedro. Kudos,
thumbs up, congratulations, our respect to all of you.
For the newcomers to San Pedro, here is a
summary of a few “firsts”. You can learn a whole lot of informal
history about San Pedro by simply perusing along. At the same time
this is an acknowledgement to those people who set the pace for
development of our beloved San Pedro and Ambergris
Caye.
First Village Council: I am told that the first
village council was headed by Chairman Wilfrido “Fido” Nuñez, who
did a great job in leading good old San Pedro to progress. However,
in all fairness, there might have been another one who was first, so
we would like to acknowledge early village chairmen like Efrain
Guerrero, Abel Guerrero Sr. J.P. Esq., Alfredo Alamilla (deceased)
and Enrique Staines Sr. (deceased).
First San Pablo
Residents: Development of San Pablo with roads and waterways
etc. took some three years. Around 1990 we had our very first
residents who were Bruce and Victoria Collins who owned the San
Pedro Sun. Second was Lincoln Eiley and third was yours truly. In
those first days there was no water nor sewer system, no lights on
the streets but a lot of flora and fauna. Today there are over one
hundred residences, restaurants, stores, bars, churches, apartments,
hardware store and more.
First High School: San Pedro
High School was founded in 1971 (33 years ago). The first enrolment
was of 25 students and two teachers. It was located at the community
center, now the San Pedro Town Council for sixteen years. It was not
until 1987 that San Pedro High moved to its own building with four
classes and 95 students. Today there are twelve classes and 325
students, 21 rooms, laboratories etc.
First Air
Accident: In the early1960’s an American pilot, whose name
remained unknown, tried to take off on a windy day with a light
plane covered with a canvas-like material. He had loaded the
airplane with several bags of sand to help stabilize the airplane.
It was a grass runway and a short runway, but it was the strong
breeze that flipped him over and he landed wheels in the air on the
west side of the airplane more or less where Captain Sharks is
located. He escaped death, but the plane was totally destroyed. As
children we delighted in taking metal rods from the plane’s body and
used them for spearing fish. Yes we made spears out of them. Gladly
this occurred before commercial flying.
First Skiff
Accident: Mr. Armando Graniel, the famous contractor of
Graniel’s Cabinet, hit a floating log with his skiff, El Veloz while
on his way from Belize City to San Pedro. At that time, Armando was
a daring fisherman. The skiff started leaking and was about to sink.
As soon as he landed at the football field area, he pulled it up,
sprinkled gasoline over it and lit it. It burned to ashes. Later he
was told that what he had done was a crime called arson, but nothing
happened, of course.
First Two-Party Election: Before
1984, village councils were elected at public meetings by a raise of
hands. The first two party election campaign was held in November
1984 and was contested as follows: P.U.P.- Pedro Salazar, Betito
Marin, Gilberto Gomez, Angel Nuñez, Nicolas Varela, Luis “Chato”
Nuñez (deceased) and Gustavo Arceo. For the U.D.P- Claudio Azueta,
Kevin Gonzalez, Manuel Heredia, Jose Gonzalez, Ramon Nuñez, Efrain
Guerrero Jr. and Gilberto Paz. I am not sure whether we need any
more political campaigns for they have become rather
nasty.
FIRST
SCUBA DIVERS: I do not have a documented record of many of these
firsts, but a good and accurate idea of most of them. In scuba
diving there is no known record, but probably “Mista” Jim Currie who
lived aboard his yacht The Pamelyn had diving equipment in his
luxury yacht.
As I recollect, Jerry McDermott and his partner
who came to build Paradise Hotel some 40 years ago were among some
of the first to engage in scuba diving. Alan Forman had also gone
down in the “cenote” (deep fresh water hole) at Basil Jones with a
scuba tank. Do we call that scuba diving? By the way, Jerry
McDermott’s friend lost his life in one of those early dives outside
the reef on a very windy day. Other early divers were Edwardo Brown,
Adolfo Ayuso, and Ramon Nuñez.
FIRST FEMALE PILOT:
Without a doubt many of you will guess this very multifaceted woman
to have the record as San Pedro’s first female pilot. She is also
one of the first female graduates from a high school, a great woman
with a great personality, a great chef, a lovely mother and spouse,
and active community service-minded person, and first in the hotel
and tourism business. By now you are no longer guessing but know
that I am talking about our first Sanpedrana pilot, and she is none
other than Celi McCorkel, of Holiday Hotel.
FIRST BEAUTY
QUEEN: The first beauty pageant and popularity contest held in
San Pedro was in 1955 (50 years ago) and the winner was Miss Leni
Aguilar now Leni Alamilla, proud mother of Leni Nunez, Chabby Ayuso,
and Lucy Marin. Miss San Pedro 1955 is still going strong, very
active in family and religious affairs, and still a beauty at her
age. San Pedro is proud of this courageous girl who in 1955 took
that first and historic title.
FIRST LIONS: The very
first San Pedro Lions were actually members of the Belize City Lions
Club. They are Wil Alamilla, Allan Forman and Pete Salazar. Lionism
was introduced to San Pedro by these Lions and our very first
president was Pete Salazar who was installed on October 25, 1975.
The secretary was Johnny Lizama and the charter night ceremony was
held at Marino’s Bar and Rooftop. The meetings were held regularly
at Skin Diver’s Club belonging to Lion Ovidio Guerrero. Of the 35
founding members, only about 8 still remain in the club, which is
now going on its 30th year.
FIRST LIONS GOVERNOR: For
the country of Belize, it was Lions Pete Lizarraga (RIP), who was
elected at a Lions convention held in San Pedro. The first
Sanpedrano Lions Governor was Lion Pete Salazar.
FIRST
MISS SAN PEDRO: Lovely girls in San Pedro there have always been
and Sanpedranos have no difficulty in locating one for a beautiful
wife. But lovely and willing to participate in the Miss San Pedro
pageant, there have not always been more than enough volunteers. The
first volunteer to become Miss San Pedro back in 1955 was Leni
Alamilla, who is mom to Leni, Chabby, and Lucy- all three beauties
themselves.
FIRST BEAUTY SALON: The very first young
lady who became interested in the art of beautifying young people
was Helen Paz, a Sanpedrana who married a young man from Belize
City. Her parents owned the Seabreze Hotel and later on the
Sunbreeze Hotel. She studied in Mexico to be a beautician and did
the honors in San Pedro with beauty queens, brides, quinceañeras and
all the lovely Sanpedranas in general. Her success story led to the
opening of some 8 beauty salons now operating in San
Pedro.
FIRST ACCORDION BAND: You see them on
television today. The accordion bands are extremely popular in
southern United States, in Mexico and all over. In San Pedro the
accordion bands started in the 1950’s and provided lots of dancing
pleasure to San Pedro and neighboring X’calack for many years. El
Conjunto Sargaso (The Sargasso Band) featured Wil Alamilla at the
accordion with talented musicians like Emilio Rivero Sr. (guitar),
Betito Marin (accompaniment), Carlos Marin Sr. (deceased- banjo),
Johnny Forman ((bongos), and a few others. Accordion music provided
boleros and cumbias for the dancing pleasure of Sanpedranos for some
15 years. Other accordion players that came on later were Ovidio
Guerrero, Aldo Marin, Wilber Marin, Wil Nuñez, and Yours
truly.
FIRST ALL ELECTRIC BAND: Caribeña Fishing
Cooperative purchased some electric instruments including a
saxophone and they were given to interested parties. From there the
Sargasso Band started, but was really a combination of accordion,
electric and acoustics. The first all electric band was named “The
Shadows”. It featured Wil Nuñez with lead guitar, Wilber Marin with
accompaniment, Angel Nuñez behind the bass, Nando Trejo at the
drums, Oscar Aguilar as vocalist, and Pete Graniel with the
tambourines. The Shadows made its debut in 1971 at a primary school
dance. They played weddings and parties regularly for 50 dollars a
night and on Sundays they entertained at Marinos Bar for 2 dollars a
song. The Shadows broke up as individuals got married and left the
group.
FIRST SCUBA DIVERS: Who really knows? It is
hard to tell as it happened so casually. Good old Mr. Jim Corey
probably had Scuba diving equipment on board his yacht, the Pamelyn.
But as I recollect, Jerry McDermott and a partner of his who came to
build Paradise Hotel some 40 years ago were among some of the first
to engage in scuba ;diving. Allan Forman has also gone down in the
“cenote” at Basil Jones with a tank. Do we call that scuba diving?
Jerry and his partner, guided by an inexperienced guide, took a
diving trip outside the reef one very windy and rough day. Jerry’s
partner was never to be seen again. Either he surfaced too far away
and was lost, or never surfaced, or was attacked by some sea
monster, but sad to say, our early scuba diving has a death in its
record. Today we do have highly qualified scuba diving instructors
to guide our avid divers at Ambergris Caye.
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