John Briceño appalled by destruction of Noh Mul
John Briceño
The destruction of Noh Mul continues to draw condemnation from numerous sectors. Late last week, Noh Mul was savaged by a company, De Mar’s, owned by businessman and U.D.P. affiliate, Denny Grijalva for road fill. It has been a personal loss for John Briceño, P.U.P.’s Area Representative for Orange Walk Central. Briceño told News Five that he is outraged that the incident had occurred and he hopes that Grijalva is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
John Briceño, P.U.P. Area Rep., Orange Walk Central
“I am certainly surprised and actually dissatisfied that we haven’t heard a word from the cabinet about the destruction of Noh Mul in Orange Walk District. As a Belizean and also a Belizean of Mayan descent, I am outraged that something like this could happen and the Cabinet, the highest body in this country, has decided to remain silent. I am calling on the Prime Minister to call for a full investigation as to what happened with the destruction of temple at Noh Mul; to ensure that the guilty persons be prosecuted to the full extent of the law; that the contract being given to the company, De Mar’s, be canceled. I know that De Mar’s has been a favorite contractor in the north for the government. They get all kinds of contracts from sugar roads to fixing streets in the villages—especially during the village council elections—he’s been getting all these contracts. I believe that these contracts should be canceled. And I do believe that it is time to review our laws to ensure that we have stricter laws that are more easily enforceable for the protection of national patrimony and to ensure that we can’t protect it for future generations.”
Jose Sanchez
“Do you believe that it was intentional; the destruction or perhaps the person who did this act was simply dumb?”
John Briceño
“I think it was an issue of not caring and making sure that they can make the most money out of the contract. Anybody can tell you, any fool can see that this mound is not a natural mound. The whole area is flat and when you have this huge mound there, everybody knows that it is a Mayan temple.”
Denny Grijalva
Jose Sanchez
“Forgive me to correct you, but there are at least two fools who didn’t see?”
John Briceño
“Well obviously these fools did not see it including the contractor, who should know better; who should know it is a mound. As I am told, this was brought to his attention, but he felt this is closest to where he is filling his streets. So that less wear and tear, faster to get supply to streets and make more money. At the end of the day it was about making more money. They did not care about our natural patrimony, about protecting these Mayan mounds and wanting to ensure they make a quick buck.”
Jose Sanchez
“A release did come from the Deputy Prime Minister’s ministry suggesting that they should persecute and hopefully someday prosecute the offenders that destroyed Noh Mul.”
John Briceño
“Yes we heard about that and it took a little time for them to respond because the deputy Prime Minister is from the north, he represents Orange Walk North in the division where the Noh Mul temple is located. And I guess he felt the political pressure was just too much and he needed to say something. But I am happy that he said something and that we need to go after contractor, Mister Grijalva and the people that are responsible for the destruction of such an important Mayan temple.”
Grijalva issued a release on Wednesday to say that he will launch an investigation and that extraction of material had been taking place in the area for the past ten years.
Same story – different headline
Guatemalans destroying Belize
Let’s see Grijalva in handcuffs! It’s time for a prosecution to begin, or the people might take justice into their own hands. I think they would be justified in doing that.
Has the PM been struck deaf and dumb? His silence speaks loudly.
Politicians who live in glass houses should not throw stones. SAD to say but the average Belizean does not give a $h17 and it will all be forgotten in a few weeks and the politicians of both parties will all get together and drink contraband whiskey and talk about the close call they had with their corruption.
Grijalva will be given the highest order to civilians in guatemala the Order of Quetzal. for his heroic destruction of the enemies territory. he is a hero in Guatemala.
Wondering if the propaganda department of GOB will put in their documentaries those beautiful white streets in northern villages and show where the source material was obtained.
Even with a law that is supposed to protect ALL of the Mayan mounds in the country, it would be better physically to protect as many of them as possible, starting with the most important/largest.
I admit we don’t have the resources necessary to do that, but we could invite in foreign universities to excavate them — other countries use that approach all the time. Trained professionals come in, they hire local labor, and usually over a period of years or decades they slowly uncover the past — protecting it all the while.
I think that’s a better approach than what we have now, what do you think?
I am responding to the question of “do you think they were just dumb”. First of all ‘dumb people’ will not be able to identify limestone NOR it’s value. Secondly, anyone who even thought that maybe “they could just be dumb” – they themselves… let’s just say their intelligence is questionable! SOMETHING has to be done ASAP – BELIZE can no longer continue to be thought of as a country of dumb people! (especially when it runs DEEP in my BLOOD!!!) BELIZEANS RISE UP AND TAKE A STAND!
totally unbrlievable and Debby Grijalva should be prosecuted for ignoriing the country’s Patrimony pf the Historic site