Indian Creek Villagers Protest Prince William Visit
Members of the Royal family have, from time to time, come under scrutiny, and there are some Belizeans who associate them with colonialism and the fraught history that accompanied it. Some residents of one village where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are scheduled to visit this weekend staged a protest today saying they do not want them there. News Five’s Marion Ali has the story.
Voice of: Protestor)
“We’re facing the reality of Colonial injustice, Colonial legacy. For those Belizeans out there who might say “they’re ungrateful for the opportunity,” let’s make it clear: our lives will remain the same if he comes or does not come to Indian Creek.”
Marion Ali, Reporting
What these villagers of Indian Creek in Toledo are upset about is that Prince William will visit the Akte ‘il Ha cacao farm and the family who established the farm in 2001. It is supported by the Ya’axhè Conservation Trust, and Ya’axhe are partners in Belize of Flora and Fauna International, a non-governmental organization with whom the villages have a land dispute. First Alcalde of Indian Creek, Mateo Chub, told News Five today that it is Colonial rule that has made life for many people difficult.
Voice of: Mateo Chub, First Alcalde, Indian Creek
“This you have to understand is still the Colonial legacy. The Colonial legacy is that Prince William is a patron of F.F.I., who we have a direct dispute with land here. That would be the message – as a people of Indian Creek, we are still suffering from the injustice of the Colonial legacy. And much worse, (it) directly impacts us because he is now a patron of F.F.I., which simply means he is the one sending the money for people – rangers to restrict access to use of the land that we have in dispute with. So that is where Prince Harry, or Prince William comes into the picture.”
The Minister of Rural Development, Oscar Requena, who is also the Area Representative for Toledo West where Indian Creek is located, said he can understand the issues that the community has raised.
Oscar Requena
Oscar Requena, Area Representative, Toledo
“Indian Creek certainly has concerns with regards to the adjacent lands. They are lands that they have been using for farming, lands where they go in and hunt, lands where they go in and get materials to build their homes and as you’re aware, it’s a very large tract of land. I think it’s about thirteen thousand acres of land and the community is very much concerned that that’s where they do their livelihood. I must clarify though, that, my understanding is that it’s private land and what has to happen is that the parties have to come together. The community is in need of additional land in order to be able to expand and I believe that the only way to work it (out) is that the company or private owners that own those lands have to take those things into account.”
What makes matters worse, Chub said, is that they will be kept away from the Royal couple so they will not be able to let them know of their discontent. And what has made it worse is that his helicopter is scheduled to land on their football field.
Voice of: Mateo Chub
“The landing of the helicopter – let me give you an example. If I go and park my vehicle or go eena your yard without I notify you, you nuh feel that yoh wa feel something eena that? That is what the villagers are feeling.”
From Indian Creek, the Duke and Duchess will move on to Hopkins Village. Marion Ali reporting for News Five.
Meanwhile, the United Black Association for Development Educational Foundation has issued a press release, saying the Queen and her heirs, “have the face ah brass fu koh da Belize now.” The association also claims the government of Belize is “complicit in re-traumatizing African Belizeans by endorsing their visit.”
