Tourism war and sabotage at Nohoch Che’en
Now for some bad news, the rappelling platform constructed by Chukka Belize at Caves Branch was recently at the center of contention with the Federation of Cruise Tourism Association of Belize. FECTAB claimed that Chukka desecrated the Nohoch Che’en Archaeological Reserve and was endangering visitors; those claims were quickly shot down by the National Institute of Culture and History. Well, tonight there is news from the Ministry of Tourism & Culture and NICH that over the past weekend, the rappel platform was sabotaged. The damage includes the cutting of client safety lines and the rope barrier, as well as partial cuts to the metal supports of the platform and to the anchor cable. There was also evidence of fire damage at the entrance stairway to the Crystal Cave. According to NICH, it poses a serious safety risk to visitors at this site and can have serious ramifications on the country’s tourism product and investment environment. The sabotage is being treated as a criminal act and an investigation has been launched in collaboration with the Ministry of National Security and the Police Department. In keeping with its zero tolerance policy, NICH says that whoever is found responsible will be punished to the full extent of the law. It also notes that the Nohoch Che’en Archaeological Reserve is the largest revenue generator for NICH and, therefore, supports the maintenance, management and improvement of facilities at archaeological reserves throughout the country.
I hope they catch and imprison the criminals.
Why not have security on such a treasured location?
I have seen many US national park websites that have “streaming webcams,” that you can click on any time and see what is going on there in real-time. I imagine that is neither costly nor hard to set up, and it would provide some good security for this and other sites. Where does the admission money go, anyway? What is it used for, and by whom?
I wonder if Tom and his cronies knew something about this. Without prejudice, they appear to have a personal vendetta against Chukka. Instead of trying to create their own interesting and exciting tours, which attracts customers, they invest their energies in trying to close down an innovative operation which draws the crowds. If FECTAB wants to become competitive, they need to improve their standards and come up with with new ideas and offer more than just riding a tube. If it is them, it is a sad situation when you can’t compete with the opposition that you stoop so low as to sabotage your competitions business. Let’s hope the perpetrators are brought to justice. Whoever did this is just another low life criminal.
Why is the minister of national security not in jail and his employees for selling pass ports why is no one in jail for those treasonous acts against. The country of Belize. This is what they should be investigating and nothing is being done belizeans soon unu wa wake up one maning and find out that unu house and lot has been given away to some Nigerian or Haitian or Guatemalan or Libyan wake up belizeans ask why is no one in jail for treason.
No one person regardless of who they are should have control of a park. Every one should have access to it regardless who takes tours to the site. Either the GOB takes charge and build the platform for every one’s use instead of a company building for their sole use.
This reeks of corruption and should not be occurring .
SHAME on every one involved and look the name is in MAYA, are the MAYA people benefitting from this?
Again they are just being used to gain profits….