Tensions between SATIIM and U.S. Capital reach boiling point

Greg Cho’c

Last Friday there was a standoff between Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management, Maya Leaders and the Police when the group attempted to leave Punta Gorda by boat to visit Temash Two, the location of a drill pad currently under construction by U.S. Capital Energy. And tonight we can report that there is further tension brewing between SATIIM and the oil company. It comes on the heels of a meeting earlier today during which attorneys for both parties met to discuss a planned media tour of the Sarstoon/Temash National Park which begins on Friday.   SATIIM, through executive director Greg Cho’c, has invited the local media on a tour of the area, including the worksite which sits on roughly four acres of Maya customary land within the national park.  But, there are objections from U.S. Capital.  Its country representative contends that permission needs to be sought from the company prior to visiting the location since SATIIM no longer co-manages the reserve.  Last Friday, a team of SATIIM rangers, as well as a group of community leaders from the buffer villages, was involved in a standoff with police officers in Punta Gorda Town before embarking on an unauthorized visit of the area by boat.  News Five understands that Choc, along with attorneys from Courtenay-Coye, met with U.S. Capital’s country representative Alistair King and attorney Michael Peyrefitte this afternoon.  That meeting, it seems, ended in an impasse, as SATIIM intends to proceed full steam ahead with the excursion. Cho’c confirms that the tour will take place, but he did not offer any comment on whether or not he will be leaving SATIIM to take up a scholarship to study law.