On Wednesday night, we told you that the President of NEAB, Pastor Victor Hernandez has been arraigned on two counts of sexual offenses, including rape and sexual assault. Hernandez is currently out on bail. According to the Commissioner of Police, the alleged victim made a report some time ago, but the police were unable to get her to cooperate fully because she feared for her life. He noted that police moved on the arrest based on directives from the Office of the D.P.P.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“From what I was told by the acting OC of the Toledo Police Formation, is that this report was made to the police some time ago but there was no cooperation or minimal cooperation coming from the complainant due to fear from threats that she had received. Eventually she came forward and gave a full account of what may have transpired. And so, the police had sent the matter to the D.P.P. representative in the south for advice. And having reviewed the file, the evidence on file, he advised the police to proceed with the charges against the pastor and the police acted accordingly. It is extremely sad because those of us who are in public, who has authority and are in public life, where people depends on us, people relies on us, people trust us. When we breach the trust of the people that trusted us, then that is something that we have to be concerned about. A pastor is a person of eminence in society. And when a pastor is accused of rape, it will certainly cause a concern, not just for that community, but the whole country.”
The National Evangelical Association of Belize is under fire, following the arraignment of Pastor Victor Hernandez. The sixty-five-year-old is the president of NEAB and heads up the Toledo Faith Outreach Christian Center. Hernandez has been charged for two counts of sexual offenses, including rape and sexual assault, on the heels of allegations made by thirty-eight-year-old woman. The alleged victim reported to police that on two occasions, in August 2015 and March 2016, she was raped by Pastor Hernandez at his place of business and at his home in Jacintoville, Toledo District. Sometime in 2021, Pastor Hernandez reportedly groped the woman’s breast in the presence of her teenage daughter. Subsequently, the matter was reported to Punta Gorda police and the D.P.P.’s office handed down instructions that led to his arrest. In court, Pastor Hernandez was granted bail in the sum of ten thousand dollars, plus one surety of the same amount. It is the second time in a little over a year that NEAB has been brought into disrepute by the purported actions of its members. In August 2023, the Evangelical Association faced similar public outcry when Mervin Budram, a worship leader affiliated with one of NEAB’s churches, was also accused of sexual abuse. Budram was arrested and charged for the offenses he allegedly committed. Late this evening, NEAB issued a statement regarding the arrest of Pastor Hernandez. The release states, quote, the National Evangelical Association of Belize was saddened and shocked today to learn from News of the arrest and charges against Rev. Victor Hernandez for sexual crimes. Situations like this are extremely serious and violate God’s Biblical standards for leadership, as well as NEAB’s Code of Ethics. As such, Reverend Hernandez has been removed from NEAB Executive Leadership effective immediately while the investigation is ongoing. Reverend Launcelot Lewis is currently serving as President pro tem. It is imperative that Police do a thorough investigation in this matter. We have reached out to those close to the victim, who is under the care of a licensed trauma therapist as well as loving family, end quote.
Indian Creek Village is a quiet Maya community situated along the Southern Highway in the Toledo District. The village has roughly one thousand five hundred villagers, comprising about two hundred households twelve miles out of Punta Gorda Town. But there is an unease in the village, brought on by different ideals. One is enforced by a Caribbean Court of Justice ruling in 2015 which stipulates that the traditional Maya system of governance remains in effect, and the other falls under the Village Council Act. Both systems have been around for centuries and while both have worked together seamlessly in the past, some residents of Indian Creek want to move away from the traditional way of life and towards the constitutional way that affords them to keep up with development. To move towards that goal, in November of last year, the villagers decided among themselves to vote out the alcalde, Jose Choc and his deputy, Felipe Sam, who they say were using the 2015 C.C.J. ruling to prohibit them from developing their village at the pace they want to go. They replaced Choc and Sam with Manuel Ack and Nicolas Choc, a decision that was approved by the Attorney-General’s Ministry. The Maya Leaders’ Alliance and the Toledo Alcalde’s Association, which adheres to the C.C.J. ruling, got an injunction in the High Court, however, and the villagers are now at a crossroads as to who are their village leaders. News Five’s Marion Ali was in Indian Creek for a meeting the village council called on Tuesday to discuss the matter with the residents. Here’s that report.
Augustine Sam
Augustine Sam, Resident, Indian Creek, Village
“Do you want the current alcalde to stay?” (Crowd cheer and clap)
Marion Ali, Reporting
The fifty or so residents of Indian Creek Village who cheered on their current alcalde, Manuel Ack and deputy alcalde Nicolas Choc on Tuesday, did so in defiance of a motion brought forward by the Maya Leaders’ Alliance and the Toledo Alcalde’s Association to seek the court’s intervention to restrain Ack and Choc from carrying out alcalde duties. It comes in the face of a dual system of governance that has existed for centuries. The villagers, however, are torn between tradition and development.
Anselmo Cholom
Anselmo Cholom, Member, Indian Creek Village Council
“What customary practice are we talking here? Are we talking in the 1200 BC when the ancient Mayas begin their civilization? Or are we talking when the Spaniards conquered the Maya people in the 17th, 17th and 19th, or 1502? So what tradition? I’m confused. So if we want to go back to tradition, are we going to build temples, Mayan civilization, like how we, like how we know about? Is that what we want now? Do we want our children to be slaves? We need to get an education. We need to get out of these things.”
Avelina Coc
Avelina Coc, Chairlady, Indian Creek Maya Arts Women’s Group
“We remove the past Alcalde, Jose Choc, and Felipe Sam, because they have done many things. They rejected our digital power. They even signed a letter without the consent of the village council and the villagers of Indian Creek. They wrote a letter to the CEO. That same letter bounced back to the village council and there the problem arises. And then we voiced our concern that we need a change of the Alcalde because he is not doing development. He’s just rejecting whatcomes to the village and because we need development in our community.”
Avelina Coc was emphatic about her wish to have their November vote for Manuel Ack and Nicolas Choc remain as is. Several others from the village shared her sentiment.
Miguel Ack
Miguel Ack, Elder, Indian Creek Village
“(Talking in Kek’chi Maya…translated) The past alcalde doesn’t agree with the chairman. How can they work together if they’re all divided?”
Avelina Coc
“Now with our present alcalde village councils are working together and then we see improvement streets being fixed. Things are happening in the village.”
The MLA and TAA want the previous alcalde leaders, Jose Choc and his deputy, Felipe Sam, to be reinstated. Senior Counsel Godfrey Smith told the media in June that they just want what the CCJ ruled upon to carry through.
Godfrey Smith
Godfrey Smith, S.C., Attorney for T.A.A
“The government is saying, listen, you come here to court arguing about Alcaldes having customary rights. Practices and rights. No such thing exists in the laws of Belize. You won’t find anything about Alcalde’s customary practices in Village Councils Act and the Inferior Courts Act, and the state has the sovereign right to legislate, and it has, and this is the law of the land! And our response to that is, and will be developed, that in the same way that way back when the Maya first advocated for protection of customary land tenure, it wasn’t recognized in the laws of Belize, so too, we’re saying, that the right of their villages to exclusively determine who will be their alcaldes, and the right to remove them, vests in the village. Not by virtue of any. Written law of the land, but by a process of constitutional interpretation, utilizing international treaty obligations and international customary law.”
FILE: Jun 30, 2010
In 2007, the villages of Conejo and Santa Cruz in Toledo claimed their right of ownership over their communal lands in the Supreme Court of Belize. The Supreme Court agreed and decisively acknowledged that the two villages’ customary land rights are protected by international and Belizean law. In 2010, the Supreme Court of Belize extended the judgment to include the remaining thirty-six Maya communities in the Toledo District.
That same day, the Maya Leaders’ Alliance, led by Cristina Coc, celebrated the ruling in Indian Creek Village. Coc told the media then that the MLA supported progression, just in congruence with the Maya people’s standards. She said quote, we have never denied development, we have only asked for a development that is defined by our identity; a development that we define as a Maya people. Not a development that is imposed on us, not concepts and projects and programs that are imposed on us. We have seen many development projects come to Toledo and it has done more damage than good to our people so we are at a very important point where now we can define our development. Now the management of these lands are left in our hands and certainly we’re not moving backwards, we’re moving together with our country Belize, end quote.
Situated not far from the Nim Li Punit Maya Temple, an archaeological monument that whispers the Maya tradition of past centuries, the way of life and the system of governance for Indian Creek residents rests on another court judgement. When that is determined, the people will be governed by what the collective wanted back in 2010, or what they say they now want for their children’s future. Village Council Member, Anselmo Cholom told News 5 that development does not mean departing from tradition, but they feel their previous alcaldes were imposing that.
Anselmo Cholom
“We’re not saying that we want to give up our tradition or move from the communal land system. But the people, the people that are leading the Mayan people is dividing us in a way where they did not respect the decision of the community. I practice traditions. That doesn’t mean that I cannot do it. Get development. That doesn’t mean that I cannot get a concrete building. And if we have to get out of a communal system because of that, then we have to change.”
While the number of people that showed up at Tuesday’s meeting represented only a fraction of the village, Cholom said that they speak on behalf of the majority of the residents who want development. Whether the villagers’ wishes will mean they have to return to the courts in the future to fight for an adjustment of the 2015 C.C.J. ruling to have their wish materialize remains something to see. Marion Ali for News Five.
Villagers of Indian Creek find themselves in the middle of a legal battle with the Maya Leaders Alliance and the Toledo Alcaldes’ Association. The underlying cause is that they’re stuck between a C.C.J. ruling that binds them to tradition and the government system that allows them to develop. Today, the village council held a meeting to say that they reject the legal steps that the M.L.A. has taken to reverse their election of an alcalde and deputy alcalde last November and to reinstate the previous village officials who served in those capacities prior to then. Village Councilor Anselmo Cholom said the reason they chose new alcalde leaders was because the previous ones stuck to the doctrine of the M.L.A., which impedes development in their village.
Anselmo Cholom
Anselmo Cholom, Member, Indian Creek Village Council
“The people that are leading the Maya people are dividing us in a way where they did not respect the decision of the community that happens at the community center. That’s what we want to [talk] about. And then to see that tradition that we’re practicing – when I am a Mayan person, I practice traditions. That doesn’t mean that I cannot get development. That doesn’t mean that I cannot get a concrete building and stay within a thatch building. It doesn’t keep me away from advancing. That’s basically what I’m talking about.”
Marion Ali
“But it’s not that you want to detach or divorce yourselves from the communal land system that has been in a part of the tradition for decades, centuries?”
Anselmo Cholom
“Yes, but if it is that the Maya leaders don’t leave the community in Indian Creek, then what is the sense that we practice, that we are there? What is the sense if we don’t want to – if they don’t want to allow us for development? Because that’s what basically the previous Alcalde was doing from not having development. So what is the sense to keep stuck in something that we don’t want to move away? We have to give up. We have to give up on that. We cannot being slave. We have to get out of that and if we have to get out of a communal system because of that, then we have to change.”
Following the election of Jose Choc and Felipe Sam as Alcalde and Deputy Alcalde, respectively, the Attorney General’s ministry declared both men duly elected officials of the village. But he informed the villagers on August fifteenth of the M.L.A.’s civil suit, challenging the installation of Choc and Sam. The women who spoke today, Jessica Ack and Silvania Maquin, vehemently opposed the reinstatement of the previous alcaldes and gave their reasons why.
Jessica Ack
Jessica Ack, Resident, Indian Creek Village
“I just want to ask, if these people come back in power, do you think that they will cooperate with the village council when we want development in our community? (Crowd shouts “No”) So this is the reason why we do not want these people. We want that Mr. Manuel Ak and Mr. Nicholas Choc to stay as alcalde and deputy alcalde.”
Silvania Maquin
Silvania Maquin, Resident, Indian Creek Village
“They will not work, they will not cooperate with our chairman, and I have seen it. And the beginning of this problem is not just today. It started when we were to bring – when this prince was to come in this village, there is where the problem started. There is where this village is divided in two. And from that day forward, this M.L.A. system is brainwashing these alcaldes that they want them back again. And we don’t want these two sets of alcaldes in the village.”
Indian Creek has a population of around fifteen hundred residents, and today’s meeting had less than a hundred persons in attendance. In no way did it reflect a majority position, based on numbers, but Cholom assured that they have the support of the masses. Considering the possibility of a court ruling in favour of the M.L.A., one of the elders, Miguel Ack, shared a likely scenario since they refuse to give up their current alcalde rulers.
Miguel Ack
Miguel Ack, Elder, Indian Creek Village
“(Speaking in Kek’chi Maya…we never had any issue within our Maya community to have to go to a high court. If we have any issue within the Maya, we solve it within the Maya community center. (Cheers) We can even end up killing each other if we continue with the MLA division. Now is the time to make a decision and resolve the matter. Now, the current, we will not change them.” (Cheers)
There is a situation that’s brewing in Indian Creek Village where there is confusion among members of that southern community regarding the alcalde who is in charge. The chaos over who has control of that jurisdiction which falls under the Inferior Courts Act has resulted in letters being issued by the Attorney General, as well as the law office of Senior Counsel Godfrey Smith on behalf of the government and the Toledo Alcaldes Association, respectively. A letter from Attorney General Anthony Sylvestre was sent to Superintendent Brent Hamilton on August fifteenth, informing the Officer Commanding the Toledo District police formation that three individuals representing the Toledo Alcaldes Association are challenging his decision to remove Jose Choc and Felipe Sam as Alcalde and Deputy Alcalde of Indian Creek Village. They are also challenging the A.G.’s decision to appoint in their place Manuel Ack and Nicolas Choc as Alcalde and Deputy Alcalde. Earlier today, we spoke by phone with Ancelmo Cholom, a member of the Indian Creek Village Council.
On the phone: Ancelmo Cholom
On the phone: Ancelmo Cholom, Member, Indian Creek Village Council
“The matter is before the court and it’s a challenging and confusing situation that is happening in our community since there was an alcalde that was being removed and there is a new alcalde that is elected by the community of Indian Creek. The Toledo Alcaldes Association took the government [to court] to challenge the decision made by the community to the High Court. That is affecting our residents now because it is confusing and letters are flying around and they are trying to reinstate back this ousted alcalde while there is a split in duties, but then we are getting to understand that the attorney general, for the applicants, is not satisfied with the decision of the government or the decision of the court.”
Isani Cayetano
“So what is the actual effect of that on the ground?”
Ancelmo Cholom
“The effect of it is because the people that elected the new alcalde, there’s an old alcalde and if the old alcalde gets back into power then there will be a lot of confusion and chaos within our community. The community is divided at this point, they don’t know who is their alcalde now. They believe that they elected a new one and it’s causing a confusion within our community.”
In the Attorney General’s letter to Superintendent Hamilton, he wrote, quote, I have asked the new alcaldes to deliver the ceremonial staff to the Old Alcaldes and to have a new one made with the name of the Alcalde Jurisdiction Court clearly marked there for use in court proceedings only. While I do not believe that your intervention will be necessary to compel compliance with these requests, in compliance with the Court Order, I nonetheless hereby formally request your assistance in facilitating the return of the above-described items for use by the old alcaldes in their customary roles as alcalde and deputy alcalde, end quote.
Isani Cayetano
“I understand that several items were taken into custody by the police department down there in Toledo. Is that to your knowledge and can you speak on that?”
On the phone: Ancelmo Cholom
On the phone: Ancelmo Cholom, Member, Indian Creek Village Council
“The new alcalde was elected, the letters were sent to the attorney general. The Attorney General’s Ministry approved those signatures from the election process that took place on the sixth of November and after it was approved, there was a handing over that took place at the Punta Gorda Police Station. The items that the old alcalde was using were handed over to the new alcalde for them to perform their duties. So then, after that, there was an interim injunction, they are trying to claim back everything and those are some of the things that the community, or the residents of Indian Creek are now arguing that as much as we understand that there are items that are probably purchased by the Toledo Alcaldes Association, we also believe that not every item that they are claiming back is purchase by them because we know in our village what we purchase or what we give the alcaldes to use. For example, the key. Definitely we do know that the T.A.A. did not purchase those keys. We purchased it under the village council.”
Isani Cayetano
“Talk to us about what’s to happen tomorrow. You guys have called a press conference to bring awareness to this issue at hand.”
Ancelmo Cholom
“The reason why we are calling a press conference tomorrow is for the country or the people to understand what is affecting the community of Indian Creek. We are a Maya community and it looks like the Maya leaders who are representing the community of Indian Creek are not respecting the decision of the Maya people. Why are we fighting among the Maya people. We must respect a decision, I mean they are appealing to the government that the government does not care to understand or see what is happening in Indian Creek. Likewise with the Toledo Alcaldes Association, they are not here, they are not seeing what is happening in our community. They only took the matter from one or two individuals or from the ousted alcaldes and then say, okay they went to their attorney and took it to court. They were not here to even analyze or see, or, you know what, trying to mediate with both parties what is happening, they just took the matter to court.”
The lifeless body of a man was found floating in the sea near Punta Gorda Town on Saturday. A postmortem examination is still pending, but police say no sign of foul play was visible on the body of Victor Bol. A.C.P. Romero said today that the twenty-three-year-old was seen socializing only the night before his body was discovered.
“On Saturday, the 10th day of August, 2024 Punta Gorda Police responded to a report of a body floating in the sea on Front Street. Upon arrival, they saw the lifeless body of a male person. The body was retrieved, taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Thereafter, the body was identified as that of Victor Bol, twenty-three years, Belizean of Punta Gorda Town. There were no signs of any injuries on the body.”
Marion Ali
Can you say when was the last time he was seen alive?
A.C.P Hilberto Romero
“He was seen the night before. He was consuming alcoholic beverages. Thereafter, his body was found.”
Last night we told you that Punta Gorda Town Mayor Carlos “Obeah” Galvez is taking another victory lap, after the High Court struck out a U.D.P. petition against the town’s March 2024 municipal election. In our interview with Mayor Galvez, we also asked him about ongoing infrastructure work within the municipality, like the construction of a marina. Here is what he told us.
Carlos “Obeah” Galvez
Carlos “Obeah” Galvez, Mayor, Punta Gorda Town
“I have been spending a lot of time focusing on trying to get the work done. The people of PG have given us a mandate. I am grateful to the prime minister and all the other colleagues, all those other ministers who are instrumental in ensuring PG gets its fair share. We have a lot of projects onstream. A milestone achievement is going to be that Joe Taylor Bridge. We have the House of Culture by B.T.B. and Anthony Mahler, a marina coming in place. As we speak, that hot mix truck is going down to PG and we are going to get five more streets hot mixed, hopefully by the end of September. So, the work is ongoing. There is a lot of work. I have submitted an additional budget for ten additional streets. So, a lot of work has been going on and I want to applaud my colleague Osmond Martinez. We are a great team and with him on my team we are going to accomplish a lot and stick to Plan Belize.”
