Indian Creek Apologizes To Prince William
While one southern Cacao farm is celebrating meeting members of the Royal family, another family is hurting over the loss of their own lost opportunity. The Makin family, who own the Akte ‘il Ha Cacao Farm in Indian Creek, had their royal visit canceled after a protest on Friday by a handful of the villagers took a stand against the Prince’s visit and Flora and Fauna International to which he is a patron. Now, instead of a historic and memorable event, they are left in debt, paying for goods and services they never got the use. Some villagers of Indian Creek who did want to see the Royals also came out on Sunday to apologize to the Duke and Duchess. Here again is News Five’s Marion Ali with that story.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Back in Indian Creek, a great many of the residents were disappointed by the cancelation of the Royal visit and about three dozen of them turned out bearing placards still hoping the Duke and Duchess would visit their village. For example, their messages read: I want you back Prince and Princess, Welcome Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and we love you, William and Kate. And when they spoke, their words were even deeper.
Edwardo Pop
Edwardo Pop, resident, Indian Creek
“We were so proud. We got the opportunity that the prince would have come to visit our village. That’s the reason I am sorry, and what they did to him is not fair. To the Belizean people and to the Prince that never did land here, we are so sorry. We want to say sorry; please forgive us for what happened.”
The Makin family say their investment to prepare their cacao farm which was on the original schedule was wasted.
Rehinalio Makin
Rehinalio Makin, Co-owner, Akte ‘il Ha Cacao Farm
“From the moment that the organization Yax’che called us and told us that they wanted to have a very important person visit – we didn’t know the name – we didn’t know who it was. They just told us to prepare. So what we have done, we started to clean our farm, we started to do a lot of preparation; we started to practice our marimba dance, we started to rehearse. And we paid a couple of people to clean up the farm, to clean around the house, to do a lot of touching up of the grounds and we rented some flowers to decorate up the place. Those are some of the preparations that went on. Like I said, we had night practices, about three of four practices so we had – we are yet in the process – we haven’t paid our teachers that are teaching us to play the marimba; we were having training with the ladies from the different women’s groups to do the dance.”
Coupled with the debt they have incurred is the lost opportunity to get international exposure.
Pablo Makin
Pablo Makin, Co-owner, Akte ‘il Ha Cacao Farm, Indian Creek
“The last minute we hear that it’s canceled. So that makes me hurt. And then – it’s not only the Makin family that would benefit. It could have been a benefit for my village.”
But instead of welcoming the Royal couple on Sunday, the Makins welcomed cruise tourists who arrived via Harvest Caye. While the tour package is an income earner for the family, they were planning to close their farm to meet the future British monarchs that day.
Rehinalio Makin
“Everybody would have known about Akte ‘il Ha Cacao Farm. Everybody would have seen here this very important person would have come and they would have – probably more people would want to come and see because this would have been – in fact, I still consider it a royal destination because for a farm, for some place to be chosen by that person of that magnitude is very – well we consider ourselves very lucky. So that would have been a very good plus for us. But we were robbed of that opportunity.”
Makin feels there was a much better way his fellow Maya villagers could have handled the situation.
Rehinalio Makin
“What they could have done is talk to the organizer or talk to us so they could have had a face time with the prince to ask him if it is true what he is doing – try to find a common ground with him on that particular day. Who knows, maybe they would have – that would have been a better way then.”
There were also some points of clarification to set the record straight against statements that have been made.
Pedro Choc,
Pedro Choc, resident, Indian Creek
“Some of the posts are saying that the (Makin’s) farm is actually funded by Flora and Fauna International; hence, they’re staging a short protest for today. I want to make it categorically clear that Flora and Fauna is not helping this particular farm, basically. What I can say is a lot of farmers in the community have received some sort of assistance or capacity -building through like seedlings, etc, from Yax’che Conservation Trust. In fact, the Trust has been helping farmers not only from this community.”
Edwardo Pop
“Do still access the acres of land that they are talking about.”
Marion Ali
“So there are no rangers that are paid to keep you off?”
Edwardo Pop
“Well, yes rangers are on the land but they are not – I mean they are getting paid but then they are still working along with the people.”
Marion Ali
“So you guys are allowed to go and harvest and take logs to build your houses from the same land?”
Edwardo Pop
“At the moment, yes.”
The Makins showed us the trail that was cleaned for the Royal couple to trek, and the view they would have had atop a hill that overlooked the Caribbean Sea. They showed us the collections of traditional wares they have made that are used as kitchen utensils. The prince would have likely been shown how to play this harp. They also showed and shared with us their precious chocolate drink that they would have offered the Duke and Duchess. The main ingredient is cacao that is grown and grounded on their farm. And just in case the Prince and the Duchess ever view our newscast, the Makins want to send them this message.
Reginalio Makin
“If he wants to still come, we welcome (him); we welcome everybody; we would have welcomed him to visit our farm.”
Marion Ali reporting for News Five.
Meanwhile, the Yax’che Conservation Trust issued a press release over the weekend, wishing the Duke and Duchess an enjoyable time in Belize. The N.G.O. also took the opportunity to point out that as part of the royal visit, they extended an invitation to showcase the work and culture of the Maya people, and this provided the opportunity to the Makins and the women’s groups to market themselves and their products and services. Yax’che says it remains open to work with all communities in southern Belize for continued collaboration that support sustainable conservation and livelihood improvement.
