The Sarstun Temash National Park in the Toledo District - it's emerging as the battleground for the inevitable battle between oil exploration and conservation. The park is under a co-management agreement with SATIIM, the Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management. Today, the Chairman of the park, Alvin Loredo, from Barranco Village, called us from Punta Gorda to say, it's not just a Mayan thing, the Garifuna, who are party to the co-management agreement, are also opposed to the seismic testing by U.S. Capital Energy.
Alvin Loredo, SATIIM
"Most of the villagers are expressing that they are discontented because first and foremost our livelihoods have depended on that area so people have tried to adjust living by not going in and contravening the laws set forth by government. So one of the biggest questions that comes to us is that we are allowing all this happen while they themselves can't go hunt or fish or even collect materials from within that area."
Jules Vasquez,
So in the communities that you represent there is a feeling of resentment for the government's action because they feel that in fact the reserves, so to speak, are reserved for someone else?
Alvin Loredo,
"Precisely. If there is contamination within that area, definitely we will suffer for the next one hundred years or so."
Jules Vasquez,
What is SATIIM prepared to do to resist a final and formal decision that has been made by the government?
Alvin Loredo,
"If it means that we have to packed as many people we can on the bus to go to Belize City and have a press conference, I think we are prepared to do that."
Jules Vasquez,
How significant is that both indigenous groups are allied in their resistance for this seismic testing in the national park?
Alvin Loredo,
"Barranco also is the only Garifuna village in the Toledo District. So we are very closely related with that area. It is true that it is viewed as being a Maya thing because you and I know that most of Toledo is still inhabited, majority, by Indian people. But I strongly believe that we also as Garifunas have a right to that area."
As we reported yesterday, SATIIM has indicated it will file an injunction to put a hold on government's decision to permit seismic testing in the park.
