The battle over seismic testing for oil in the Sarstoon=Temash National Park was ratcheted up a notch yesterday when representatives from U.S. Capital Energy went to leaders of the villages in the park to ask them to attend a meeting today in Belmopan. Chairman of SATIIM Greg Choq says it's the old strategy of divide and conquer, except this time, the state is conspiring with corporate interests.
Greg Choq, SATIIM Chairman
"It's a divide and conquer strategy and it seems that the oil company, as well as the government, have come together to conspire to push forward their own agenda. Its very unfortunate and we are in 2006."
Jules Vasquez,
How does it weaken your position overall? You are trying to have your matter heard in the court next week.
Greg Choq,
"I don't think it weakens the resolve of the marginalized people in Toledo because..."
Jules Vasquez,
Well if your leadership is compromised.
Greg Choq,
"Well I think that the communities situation, the economic situation, provides and allows the community to try to accommodate the interests of the company. We recognize that many of our communities have been forced and coerced to make decisions that jeopardize and undermine their own ability to participate and engage in development. And the action of the company to bring in leaders from the five communities to Belmopan, its raises a lot of concern for us.
It's simply established, that notion, that the state is looking after the interest of the corporation. We are not saying that we don't want oil exploration in Toledo. I think the consensus now is that we want oil development but likewise we will not allow oil development unless the benefit, in a tangible way, is reconfigured in the whole equation of redistribution of health from the exploitation and extraction of oil from Toledo.
We need to attach some intrinsic value to these sites, to these resources, to these protected areas, and despite the desperate need for financing, as a country, and as people, there must be certain things that we cherish and we value. Despite our desperation, we will not touched because it means a lot more to us. The government has not established a position to determine whether we will have any part of this country excluded from oil exploration. I haven't heard anything from the government stating, 'we are willing and we are going to exclude certain areas of this country from oil exploration.' As it looks right now, it looks like they will drill everywhere."
Egbert Valencio is one of the leaders of a community within the national park. He is from Barranco where he is the treasurer of the village council. He says that consistently U.S. Capital Energy has approached his community with disregard bordering on disdain.
Egbert Valencio, Barranco Village
"This the tactics from the beginning with the oil company representatives. They would give us a date and we agree to meet at a certain and two days after maybe they pop in and they say we are ready to meet now or they just don't show up. I can't really understand that. I don't think you should come to me, as a person who is supposed to represent some huge organization or whatever, to make a deal in that kind of way. That shows to me that you have some sort of a mindset towards people maybe like me or my community, so I will think a funny kind of way about you too."
Despite the protestations of those tow leaders, we are informed that at the meeting in Belmopan, representatives of three of the five villages did sign an affidavit in support of U.S. Capital Energy and the government. Consequential because the preliminary hearing is set to go before the Supreme Court next month.
