250-year-old Succotz Tree Felled; Residents are Up in Arms
Residents of Succotz took to the George Price Highway on Monday night where a bonfire was lit following the cutting down of a Monkey Apple Tree over the extended weekend. The iconic Succotz Tree was said to be two hundred and fifty years old and was a landmark in that western community and was mistakenly felled as preparations are being undertaken to rehabilitate the highway between San Ignacio and Benque Viejo. Earlier today, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing, the Succotz Village Council and Belize Electricity Limited met to discuss what transpired and how all parties will be able to move ahead, despite the unfortunate incident. We begin tonight’s newscast with that story. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
A towering Monkey Apple Tree, emblematic of Succotz Village, was cut down over the weekend, ahead of a road rehabilitation project along the George Price Highway between the neighboring towns of San Ignacio and Benque Viejo. The two hundred and fifty-year-old tropical fruit tree stood at the entrance of the community as a symbol of its homeliness. When the iconic Succotz Tree was felled on Monday, it raised the ire of many across the namesake village.
Rafael Manzanero
Rafael Manzanero, Executive Director, FCD
“It is really a big loss to the community because certainly there is a whole historical context behind the tree, particularly on this one which is the Succotz Tree or the Monkey Apple tree, that’s how it’s known in English. So it’s really a cultural feature for the village. It’s really at the very, very entrance of the community and, you know, there has been a lot of other descriptions in other communities where the big trees are removed which are really historical or antiques, really, in terms of the country.”
The landmark Succotz Tree was mistakenly taken down by Belize Electricity Limited. The utility company has been working with MIDH in transferring is lines from that location. According to BEL’s General Manager and Counsel, Dawn Sampson-Nunez, it was during that process that the tree was cut down.
On the phone: Dawn Sampson-Nunez
On the phone: Dawn Sampson-Nunez, General Manager, B.E.L.
“BEL is supporting the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing. As you know, there is a road rehabilitation project under way from the roundabout in San Ignacio to Benque. We were informed that the works between Succotz Village and Benque Viejo would have commenced sometime in January and so, our team, in fulfilling our mission and our purpose, was very eager to get the works underway in terms of relocation of the lines from the riverside to the left side of the road. The left side of the road is where the Succotz Tree is located.”
Rafael Manzanero is a resident of Succotz. He is also the Executive Director of Friends of Conservation and Development.
Rafael Manzanero
“I think the community has already expressed the concern that it was not really consulted on, particularly for one like this. I must say that over the years, there have been removal of trees, particularly along the riverside of the Mopan River. In many cases, most of the situations like that, even all the limbs and all the parts of the trees are left behind and such is the case of this one here where then somebody will have to care for that also, the removal of that. So it is really a big matter of impact for the community, and if it is really BEL that really has been in charge of this, then there is really something to be done with regards to the responsibility on them for this community.”
Upon realizing that the tree had been taken down, residents of Succotz took to the George Price Highway on Monday night where a bonfire was set across the road at the entrance of the village.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“Yes, they may have been aggrieved over the cutting of a tree and the police responded, along with the village council chairperson and they were able to calm the crowd down and disperse them. We’re hoping that going forward we’ll be able to get the support and cooperation from the people.”
According to Manzanero, villagers saw several other trees being trimmed and cut down along the stretch of road, but did not think that the Succotz Tree would be felled in the process.
Rafael Manzanero
“Yesterday and two days ago when I saw the cutting of the trees along this same highway, you know, I don’t think it really kicked in that they would also come in after this tree because, you know, I guess only by local knowledge it’s understood that this one is really a very important one. So I don’t think it even really came to our minds that it could happen. So now, you know, of course after the fact then you realize that it’s really a big surprise to us.”
Isani Cayetano for News Five.
