The Toledo Howler Volume 8 issue 2
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Transcript of The Toledo Howler Volume 8 issue 2
S P R I N G / S U M M E R — 2 0 1 5 Y E A R 8 , I S S U E 2
I N S I D E T H I S
I S S U E
TIDE’s Cultural Trail
in Toledo
1
The Way We Lived
Then PT2
1
This amazing planet
we named “Earth”
2
Toledo Cave and
Adventure Tours
3
Calendar of Events 4
Christmas Bird Count
2014
5
Map fo PG Town 6
Blue Creek Canopy
Course
7
Registered Tour
Operators
7
Transport Schedule
and Emergency
Numbers
8/9
New craft markets in
Toledo
10
9th Chocolate
Festival of Belize
11
Advanced Skills
Training for TTGA
12
BTIA Toledo
Members 2014
13
Wat’s Cookin? 14
Review: How to cook
a Tapir
14
Herbs: Zedoary -
Curcuma Zedoaria
15
Developing local
artisans in Toledo
18
BTIA Welcomes: New
Members
19
Toledo Map 20
Newspaper of the Toledo Chapter of the Belize Tourism Industry Association
The Toledo Institute for Development
and Environment (TIDE), a non-
governmental organization, was found-
ed in 1997 to meet the growing envi-
ronmental and development needs of
Toledo District, the south-
ernmost district of Belize.
In 1999 its subsidiary TIDE
Tours was formed to pro-
mote eco-tourism opportu-
nities and alternative liveli-
hood programs for the Tole-
do District. With such rich
and diverse cultures to
highlight here in Toledo,
TIDE Tours partnered with
the Belize Tourism Board to
develop a Toledo Cultural
Trail which will provide for
more cultural attractions for our visi-
tors to enjoy. This trail program will
allow for the continuation of cultural
preservation for the five main cultural
ethnic groups in Toledo which are the
Mestizo, Maya, East Indian, Creole and
Garifuna. The trail will be marketed as
a one day tour, which tourist will be
able to purchase a package from a
tour operator or just walk into the es-
tablished culture houses at these fam-
ilies’ homes. They would spend one
hour with each family, learning about
the history, food, dances and all other
aspects associate with their culture,
including some interactive traditional
activities. Here is a description of how
what can be done on the trail at the
different cultural stops:
The Creole Experience:
The Creoles of Belize
played an instrumental role
in the colonial days as log-
wood cutter and those that
fought in the battle of St.
George’s Caye. Stopping in
at one of Belize’s most dy-
namic creole artist’s resi-
dence, Ms. Leela Vernon,
visitors will be able to view
several antiques, tradition-
al musical instruments,
learn about the history of Creoles to
Belize, view the traditional clothing
and listen to original creole songs.
Continued on pg 4
The Way We Lived Then: Part 2 In this article we continue the remi-
niscences of Don Owen-Lewis about
life in Toledo half a century ago.
Recreation and Leisure
In those days when people were not
working their farms they would spend
their leisure time hunting and fishing.
They were good at both. They would
paddle a dory down the river to look for
gibnut. Perhaps they had a football
from time to time but they would not
last long. There wasn’t even any radio
much. Perhaps one or two people in the
village would have a little radio on
which they would pick up Radio Belize
and it was very good; far better then
than now.
In the absence of formal education the
young children would learn the prayers
to say at planting and the conventions
attached to it. The first thing we did was
to get schools in every village. (Don Ow-
en-Lewis played a central role in making
this happen). We focused on two
things: health and education. After I left
nine years later in 1962 some of the
things fell apart within six months be-
cause there was no continuity. We had
an airstrip in Crique Sarco and a village
boat that used to go up to Punta Gorda
every two or three weeks but that thing
sank; partly my fault for not delegating
responsibility for it. The airstrip proba-
bly had no more than about twenty
flights come in.
The governor would occasionally visit
me and he would fly in. The pilot Colo-
nel Baker did not like to fly in there at
all because he did not know what he
was going to be putting his foot into. It
was a shaky deal. It was made by hand
with shovels and hoes and grazed by
cattle. Looking back we should have
taken a tractor down there; dismantled
it and put it in a dory and then we could
have maintained and mown it. Looking
back there were many things I would
have done differently.
1959 Moving to Machaca
Eventually the base in Crique Sarco be-
came too remote and in 1959 Don
moved to what he considered then the
centre of Toledo district at Machaca.
What is now the Forest Department
office near the Laguna junction was
Continued on pg17
TIDE’s Cultural Trail in Toledo
2
Imagine a dream where you are walking
through the most beautiful garden full
of colour and wildlife. You are smiling
and feeling happy. Then, with every
step that you take something dies, the
colour starts to fade, the leaves turn
brown, the flowers disappear and the
wildlife is gone. The dream has turned
into a nightmare.
Now imagine a beautiful coral garden,
full of life. Much more life and colour
than that garden. There are colourful
corals and sponges, an abundance of
gorgeous tropical fish, turtles, moray eels, dol-
phins playing and rays gliding past. If we do
not protect our marine environment, this
beautiful coral garden will become our night-
mare. Here in Belize we are lucky to be located
on the second biggest barrier reef in our planet
and the largest in the northern hemisphere.
Our coral seas are a makeup of a fragile ecosys-
tem where different elements and species rely
on each other for survival. Everyone, every-
where depends upon a healthy sea.
71% of our planet is made up of ocean. So
why is it called earth? Of that 71% only .02% is
coral reef. Within that .02%, 25% of marine
species live.50-70% of our oxygen comes from
the sea, which is more than all of the rainfor-
ests combined.
The ocean provides the number one source of
protein for more than one billion people. Thirty
million people totally rely on coral reefs for
income and food. More than 60% of the world
population lives on or near the coast. The
ocean provides a livelihood, recreation, beau-
ty, wonder, and untapped scientific discovery,
leading to new medications, foods, and ad-
vanced technologies. But the ocean is in trou-
ble.
Threats to the coral reefs
Coral reefs are threatened by an increasing
array of impacts, primarily from unsustainable
fishing, global climate change and pollution.
Commercial Overfishing
Bottom trawling is considered the major threat
in most US regions where such fishing is al-
lowed.
Now imagine going to a farm and
wanting to purchase just one sheep.
But, in order to get your one sheep
you need to kill all the lambs, all the
cows, all the chickens, all the hors-
es, the farmer, the farmer’s wife,
their kids. You also need to destroy
the barn, all outbuildings and the
farmer’s house. Bottom trawling
destroys sea grass and its inhabit-
ants and important eco-systems
such as mangroves. It destroys eve-
rything.
Additional threats include: other bottom-
contact fishing gear e.g. traps
and bottom-set gillnets and
long lines. In 2010, Belize was
one of the first countries to ban
all forms of trawling.
Other impacts
Climate change impacts have
been identified as one of the
greatest global threats to coral
reef ecosystems. As tempera-
tures rise, mass bleaching and
infectious disease outbreaks
are likely to become more fre-
quent.
Additional impacts on coral reef ecosystems
are from land-based sources of pollution e.g.
agriculture, deforestation, storm water, imper-
vious surfaces, coastal de-
velopment, road construc-
tion, and oil and chemical
spills. Also, increased sedi-
mentation, nutrient en-
richment, toxins, and path-
ogen introduction. These
pollutants and related syn-
ergistic effects can cause
disease and mortality in
sensitive species and dis-
rupt critical ecological functions and
impede growth, reproduction, and lar-
val settlement.
Other threats to corals that have been
deemed important and relevant in-
clude: coral disease; tropical storms;
tourism and recreation; vessel damage;
marine debris and pollution; and
aquatic invasive species such as the
invasive Lionfish in the Caribbean and
Atlantic belt.
What if we do nothing and
what can you do to help?
The ocean is at a tipping point. Oceanographer
Sylvia Earle says our actions over the next ten
years will determine the state of the ocean for
the next 10,000 years. Many popular seafood
species will likely be wiped out within forty
years with current commercial fishing practic-
es.
Unless we change our rate of consumption,
we’re within a century — possibly even less —
of a world where jellyfish are the only wild sea-
food option left.
Find out what seafood is sustainable and in
season where you live. Do not support com-
mercial unsustainable fishing practices. Sup-
port local, sustainable fishing practises. Book a
trip where you can help remove Lionfish. Order
Lionfish at local restaurants that serve it. If
they do not show it on the menu, help create a
demand and ask them if they have it.
By Polly Alford – Founder & Director, ReefCI
This amazing planet we named “Earth”
3
The Howler spoke to Bruno Kuppinger
about Toledo Cave and Adventure Tours, his
tour company. Here he gives an overview of
the business and his passion for developing
tours to excite visitors and give them an
insight in to the Mayan culture and way of
life.
“We changed the name in 2011 from IBTM
to Toledo Cave and Adventure Tours. IBTM
had been established in 1999. Since that
time we have done a lot more product de-
velopment. We run tours for guests staying
in Punta Gorda and elsewhere in Toledo and
work with regional tour companies in Anti-
gua Guatemala and Playa del Carmen in
Mexico. These companies bring in a significant
number of visitors from Europe especially. We are
included in a number of established itineraries run
by European tour operators and do countrywide
tours with fixed dates of departure each month
usually lasting for a week each. We take them all
over; to Lamanai and Altun Ha as well as down
here in Toledo.
“I think we were also the first company to develop
the cacao trail tours around 2007 when the Tole-
do Cacao Festival was being run for the first time.
“We are happy to work with the cruise lines that
are beginning to operate down here although not
without a good deal of controversy. We made a
good contact with Hapag a German company last
year and I have just come back from taking a
cruise director on a ten-day tour. He is someone
who comes to Belize already with smaller cruise
ships. And the good news is that they will contin-
ue bringing these small cruise ships down here
and they will guarantee an overnight stay for their
passengers in small properties around Toledo.
They have five or six ships
including the Ms Deutsch-
land. They are concerned
about protecting the envi-
ronment. We went togeth-
er to Lamanai and they
wanted to be sure there
were not five or six hundred
in front of us and so we
would always schedule our
arrivals around that.
“So in short we are reaching
local, regional and interna-
tional markets.
“We are a small operation
but have English speaking guides in
Cayo who we contract out work to for
our countrywide tours but we have
more and more requests for German
speaking guides for our German and
Swiss clients. I hope that the Belize
Tourism Board will start to offer more
language training for guides. Visitors to
Tikal can choose a French, Spanish,
English or German speaking guide and
we need to foster those same language
skills as the European market develops.
Here in Belize we could do more busi-
ness but we cannot provide the lan-
guage services required.
“Locally, the cacao trail tour offered by
Eladio Pop at Agouti Farm is one of our
most popular tours and often com-
bined with other visits to Lubaantun
Nim Li Punit and elsewhere. Eladio just
loves what he does, is willing to share
and always has a smile on his face even
though he has done the tour five hun-
dred times before. I think guides ac-
companying their guests at Eladio’s
farm can all learn a great deal from
him. I have taken guests there many
times and I learn something new on
each visit. I think all guides should realize that
they will learn from these experiences in the field
much more than from reading. And that is what I
love to do and love to share with others.
“As well as the soft adventure we also offer tours
to Yok Balum cave where the visitors definitely
have to be physically fit. We also visit Tiger Cave
upstream from San Miguel village. We swim inside
Hokeb Ha cave and hike the trail from Blue Creek
to Santa Cruz stopping to see the point where the
Rio Blanco disappears into a sinkhole in the moun-
tainside. Whenever the archaeologists are here in
the spring we are able to offer visitors the oppor-
tunity to be part of the excavation at Uxbenka or
pay a visit if the team makes a find at the site.
continued on pg 12
Toledo Cave and Adventure Tours
4
Calendar of Events Date Event Venue/Time Other Info
April 3rd Good Friday More information on activities in Town closer to date
April 4th Holy Saturday More information on activities in Town closer to date
April 6th Easter Monday More information on activities in Town closer to date
May 1st Labour Day Public and Bank Holiday
May 22nd Friday Night Gala - 1st day of Chocolate Festival of Belize
Garbutts Marine from 6pm to 11pm More info contact [email protected] or 722-2531
May 23rd Taste of Toledo - 2nd day of Chocolate Festival of Belize
Front Street, Punta Gorda town - Cultural food and entertainment from 9am to 6pm
More info contact [email protected] or call 722-2531
May 24th Grand Finale - 3rd day of the Chocolate Festival of Belize
More info contact [email protected] or call 722-2531
May 25th Sovereign’s Day/Commonwealth Day (in lieu of 24th May)
Public and Bank Holiday
September 10th St. George’s Caye Day Celebrated within the country of Belize!
September 21st Independence Day Celebrated within the country of Belize!
October 9th Seafood Gala - 1st day of TIDE Fish Fest Venue to be mentioned later Tide Tours - [email protected] or call 722-2129
October 10th Youth Conservation Competition - 2nd day of TIDE Fish Fest
Venue to be mentioned later Tide Tours - [email protected] or call 722-2129
October 11th Fish Fest - 3rd day of TIDE Fish Fest TIDE Headquarters, Cattle Landing Village Tide Tours - [email protected] or call 722-2129
October 12th Pan American Day Public and Bank Holiday
Continued from pg1
The Mestizo Experience:
The Mestizos of Belize have significantly contrib-
uted to our economy with their skills in agricul-
ture and clothing and textile among others. Visi-
tors will be able to try their hand at embroidery,
weaving bags, making earrings and other crafts
by “upcycling” plastics and tires. Ms. Mendez
will enlighten you about other aspects of the
Mestizo culture including its history, food, cloth-
ing and traditional beliefs.
The Living Maya Experience:
A scenic twenty minutes’ drive will take you to
Big Falls Village where the Cal Family warmly
welcomes visitors to immerse themselves in the
authenticity of the Maya Culture. Here you will
view the different tools which the Maya used for
daily survival, their musical instruments, learn
about the history and traditional beliefs of the
Mayas and tour short medicinal trail. You also
get a once in a lifetime experience to prepare a
tasty Maya lunch from corn and other vegeta-
bles. The Living Maya Experience is also part of
the Toledo Adventure Trail.
The East Indian Experience:
The East Indian Experience- A
fifteen minute drive from Big
Falls will take you to a small his-
toric community of Forest Home,
home to a vast majority of East
Indians who first came to Belize
as indentured workers to work on
the sugar plantations in the
1800’s. A replica of a traditional
East Indian home has been well
preserved by one family who has
many tools
and antiques from genera-
tions ago. Learn about the
history, traditional beliefs
and how the East Indians
have contributed to the
growth of Belize’s economy.
The Garifuna Experience:
Punta Gorda is home to a
large and vibrant population
of Garinagu people. Ronald
McDonald is well versed
with playing the
Garifuna drums and will have you
dancing ‘Punta’ by the end of your
session at the Warasa Garifuna
Drum School. Well identified with the
upbeat music from the Garifuna
drums, you will learn how the
Garinagus settled in Belize, their tra-
ditions, language and also spend
quality time learning to play these
drums in all forms of musical
rhythms within its culture. View tradi-
tional gift items for sale at the Wara-
sa Drum School.
Contacts:
Creole — France Vernon 665-5024
Mestizo — Mirta Mendez 666-3229
Maya — Anita Cal 627-7408
East Indian — Elenor Tillet 664-4068
Garifuna — Ronald McDonald 632-7701
TIDE Tours—722-2129
TIDE’s Cultural Trail in Toledo
5
Christmas Bird Count 2014
The Punta Gorda Christmas Bird Count this year
tallied its lowest total (212 species) and lowest
turnout (12 participants in four groups) in its four-
teen-year history. This compares with an average
of 245 species
and twenty to
twenty five
people in the
previous thir-
teen years.
But we made
up for the lack
of species
with four nev-
er before rec-
orded on
the count:
Broad-
winged
Hawk, Wil-
let, For-
ster's Tern,
and Great
Potoo
(pictures
attached). The turnout was low for two reasons,
one good, and one not so good. The good news is
that many of our past participants are now fully
employed tour guides who have other respon-
sibilities -- like catering to the ever increasing
number of tourists who are visiting Toledo at
this time of year. The not-so-good news is ve-
hicle trouble. Philip Balderamos, who has never
before missed a count, and each year brings down
a contingent of top-notch birders from Belmopan,
had his vehicle in the shop this year for repairs.
But the weather cooperated, the birding was ex-
cellent, and
everyone
who partici-
pated had a
great day!
“Forster's Tern” Photo by Alex
Lamoreaux
“Broad-winged Hawk”
Photo by Victor Bonilla
“Great Potoo”
Photo by
Mario Muschamp
6
Sketch map of PG Town
7
Tour Operator Local Phone Number Location Belcampo Lodge 722-0050 Punta Gorda Big Falls Extreme Adventures 634-6979 Big Falls Blue Creek Rainforest Lodge 653-6533 Blue Creek Cotton Tree Lodge 670-0557 San Felipe The Farm Inn 732-4781 San Antonio Garbutt’s Marine Investment Co. 722-0070 Punta Gorda The Lodge at Big Falls 732-4444 Big Falls Natural Adventure Tours 533-3028 Monkey River PG Tours 629-4266 Punta Gorda Reef Conservation International 702-0229 Punta Gorda TIDE Tours 722-2129 Punta Gorda Toledo Cave & Adventure Tours 604-2124 Sun Creek Wild Encounters 636-1028 Punta Gorda
In the heart of the jungle of Toledo, in the beauti-
ful village of Blue Creek, sit nine zip lines, fifteen
decks and a ninety-five foot suspended bridge
owned and operated by Blue Creek Canopy
Course (BCCC). The construction started January
18, 2014 with the course completed by the 1st of
June. All the construction work, surveys, and
building on the property were done by a Belize
team of seven led by the manager Cesar Godinez
from Valley of Peace, Stann Creek district.
Titanic Explorer, Bob Ballard and the Jason Pro-
ject built a canopy walk on the same site in 1994
which was enjoyed by thousands until it was de-
stroyed by Hurricane Iris in 2001. The course is
built on a property owned by International Zoo-
logical Expedition (IZE) and is being used as a re-
search centre for universities across the USA.
30,000 board feet of lumber and 14,000 feet of
cable were used to construct the lines, decks and
the ninety-five foot suspended bridge which
brings you over two miles into the rainforest
treetops. They also offer tours to the Hokeb Ha
Cave, birding, medicinal trails and kayaking to
guests.
All of these tours are being guided by fully li-
censed and experienced tour guides and profes-
sionals who have been in the industry for over
ten years. They make you feel very comfortable
and by the time you get to the third line you feel
like a professional.
They have trained eleven villagers including
three females that were selected by village
leaders for ropes and harness training
which also included Site Specific Guide
Training in September and October of
2014. They also did some apprentice train-
ing in December with selected candidates.
Blue Creek Canopy Cours has been very
active with the Blue Creek R.C School , one
of which is putting lights in the school,
working towards getting school supplies for
them and they continue to provide as much
help where they could to the community.
The managers and owners of BCCC are very
protective of the natural beauty of the rain-
forest and have built around and through
it. Old fallen trees have been used around
the property and it allows access to the
highest points of the rainforest while mini-
mizing the impact on the ecology. Nothing
has been damaged in the process of building the
canopy course.
When you arrive at the entrance of the BCCC, you
will then hike in for three minutes to the office,
where you will sign up and prepare for the lines.
You will then take a little hike up the side of the
hill to the first line and from there the adventure
continues. After which you could take a swim in
the refreshing blue chilled pool of water. It is a
family experience and one that you will not re-
gret.
Reservations contact: [email protected] Ticket Agent:: PGTours 629-4266 Front St. Punta Gorda Town
Registered Tour Operators in Toledo District 2015 Always book your trip with a registered tour operator to ensure your guide has been
trained & licensed and vehicles are properly insured
Welcome to BTIA: Blue Creek Canopy Course
8
T O L E D O V I L L A G E B U S E S
Service Depart PG Destination Calling at... Days Return to PG
Kan 11:30 Aguacate Dump, Mafredi, Blue Creek Mon /Wed/Fri/Sat 05:20
J ‘n’ L 12:00 Barranco San Felipe (for Ixcacao), Santa Ana, Midway Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat 06:00
Garcia 11:00 Big Falls Dump, Jacintoville, Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat 08:00
Chub 11:30 Crique Sarco San Felipe, Santa Ana, Midway, Conejo, Sunday Wood Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat 05:15
Ack 12:00 Dolores Dump, Mafredi, Jordon, Santa Teresa, Mabilha, San Lucas,
Corazon Creek, Otoxha Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat 03:00
Pop 10:30 Golden Stream Dump, Big Falls, Indian Creek Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat 06:45
Pop 13:00 Golden Stream Dump, Big Falls, Hicatee, Indian Creek (for Nim Li Punit) Mon to Sat 07:30
Pop 17:00 Indian Creek Dump, Big Falls, Hicatee Mon to Sat 12:00
Pop 21:00 Indian Creek Dump, Big Falls, Hicatee Mon to Thurs 15:30
Bol 06:00 Jalacte Dump, Mafredi, San Antonio, Santa Cruz, Santa Elena,
Pueblo Viejo Mon to Sun 05:00
Chunny 11:30 Jalacte Dump, Mafredi, San Antonio, Santa Cruz (for Rio Blanco),
Santa Elena, Pueblo Viejo, Jalacte Mon to Sat 03:00
Bol 16:00 Jalacte Dump, Mafredi, San Antonio, Santa Cruz (for Rio Blanco),
Santa Elena, Pueblo Viejo, Jalacte Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat 15:00
Shol 12:00 Laguna Elridgeville Wed/Fri/Sat
Pop 11:30 Medina Bank Dump, Big Falls, Hicatee, Indian Creek (for Nim Li Punit) Mon to Sat 05:30
Chunny 11:30 San Antonio Dump, Mafredi Mon to Sat 06:00
Coc 12:00 San Antonio Dump, Mafredi Mon to Sat 06:30
Coc 12:00 San Antonio Dump, Mafredi Mon to Sat 13:30
Teck 12:00 San Benito Poite Dump, Mafredi, Blue Creek (for Hokeb Ha), Santa Teresa Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat 04:30
Sho 11:30 San Jose Jacintoville, Dump, Mafredi, Crique Jute, Nah Lum Ca Wed/Sat 04:00
Choc 12:00 San Jose Dump, Mafredi, Crique Jute, Nah Lum Cah Mon/Fri 05:00
Chen 11:30 San Vicente Dump, Mafredi, San Antonio, Santa Cruz (for Rio Blanco),
Santa Elena, Pueblo Viejo, Jalacte Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat 02:00
Chen 05:30 San Vicente Dump, Mafredi, San Antonio, Santa Cruz, Santa Elena,
Pueblo Viejo, Jalacte Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat 14:00
Bobby 11:00 Santa Ana San Felipe (for Ixcacao) Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat 07:15
Cal 04:30 Silver Creek Dump, San Pedro Columbia, San Miguel Mon to Sat 13:00
Cal 11:00 Silver Creek Dump, San Pedro Columbia (for Lubaantun), San Miguel Mon to Sat 06:00
Cucul 11:30 Silver Creek Dump, San Pedro Columbia (for Lubaantun), San Miguel Mon to Sat 07:00
Cucul 16:00 Silver Creek Dump, San Pedro Columbia, San Miguel Mon to Sat 12:30
Cucul 21:00 Silver Creek San Pedro Columbia, San Miguel Mon to Thurs 16:00
Emergency Numbers
PG Police station: 722-2022
PG Hospital: 722-2026 / 722-2161 / 722-2145
PG Fire Department: 722-2032
National Emergencies (NEMO): 822-0153
Belize Tourism Board: 227-2420 / 227-2417
BTIA Main Office Belize City: 227-1144
9
Together we’re stronger!
Become a part of BTIA
and make a practical con-
tribution to the economic
development of Toledo
District, and benefit from
our promotional work.
We meet monthly at the
Tourism information Cen-
tre on Front Street.
How Do I Join BTIA?
Visit www.btia.org to read about BTIA and all the member-
ship benefits and to download an application form. Com-
plete the form and hand it in at the Tourism Information Cen-
ter on Front St.
Flights
Depart Punta Gorda Arrives Belize City Service Provider Depart Belize Intl. Arrive In Punta Gorda Service Provider
06:45 07:55 Maya Island Air 08:10 09:15 Maya Island Air
06:30 07:30 Tropic Air 07:50 09:00 Tropic Air
09:30 10:35 Maya Island Air 10:10 11:15 Maya Island Air
09:20 10:20 Tropic Air 10:20 11:30 Tropic Air
11:30 12:35 Maya Island Air 12:20 13:30 Tropic Air
11:35 12:35 Tropic Air 14:20 15:30 Tropic Air
13:35 14:35 Tropic Air 14:40 15:45 Maya Island Air
16:00 17:05 Maya Island Air 16:40 17:45 Maya Island Air
16:00 17:10 Tropic Air 16:40 17:40 Tropic Air
James Bus Line Schedule Departs P.G. Arrives Belize City Departs Belize City Arrives P.G.
03:50am 10:30am 05:15am Express (except Sun) 10:30am
04:50am 11:30am 06:15am 12:45pm
06:00am (express) 10:45am 07:15am 01:45pm
05:50am 12:30pm 08:15am 02:45pm
07:50am 02:30pm 09:15am 03:45pm
09:50am 04:30pm 10:15am 04:45pm
11:50am 06:30pm 12:15pm 06:45pm
01:50pm 08:00pm 01:45pm 07:45pm
02:50pm 08:30pm 03:15pm 09:45pm
03:50pm 09:30pm 03:45pm Express 08:45pm
Boats To & From Puerto Barrios , Guatemala
Service Provider Dep Punta Gorda Arrive Puerto Barrios Depart Puerto Barrios Arrive Punta Gorda
Requena’s Charter Service 09:30 10:30 14:00 15:00
Tek-Dat 01:00 14:00 03:00 04:00
Pichilingo 14:00 15:00 10:00 11:00
Sharkboy 16:00 17:00 13:00 14:00
*Boats to Livingston depart on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 a.m.
*Memos depart everyday to Livingston @ 1pm. (prices vary depending on quantity)
T R A N S P O R T S C H E D U L E S
Where to get your copy of The Toledo Howler
Distribution points include:
Tourism Information Centres throughout Belize
Tropic Air and Maya Island Air terminals
BTIA Toledo members
Requena’s Charters, Puerto Barrios
Major gas stations As well as a wide online presence in electronic format
Please contact the Toledo Howler team at 722-2531 if you would like to become a distributor for the voice of tourism development in Belize’s deep south!
Toledo Tourism Information Centre
Front Street, Punta Gorda Town
Mon to Fri 8am to 5pm
Tel: 722-2531
BTIA Toledo and The Toledo Howler
10
On January 21st 2015, A ceremony was held at
Nim Li Punit to inaugurate new pathways and ven-
dor stalls that have been built at the three archae-
ological sites of Nim Li Punit, Lubaantun and Blue
Creek.
There were around fifty people in attendance
from surrounding villages of Indian Creek, San
Pedro Columbia and Blue Creek. The ceremony
was addressed by Melissa Badillo, Archaeologist
Institute of Archaeology/NICH, Kevin Gonzalez,
Director, Destination Planning Belize
Tourism Board and Ambassador Paula
Amadei, European Union.
The inauguration of the stalls at the ar-
chaeological sites were part of a project
funded by the European Union in con-
junction with Belize Tourism Belize. The
Project’s name was Making Tourism Ben-
efit Communities Adjacent to Archaeolog-
ical Sites (MTBCAAS).
At Nim Li Punit, a 250 foot gravel trail and
steps were installed and also a vendors’
stall. At Lubaantun, a vendors’ stall and a
concrete and gravel stairway with safety
rails leading to the visitor centre was built.
Blue Creek now has a vendors’ stall as
well. Other improvements at all three
sites were the installation of directional,
interpretative, warning signs and benches
in designated rest areas. The new gravel
pathways has made access to all three
sites easier and safer.
The newly constructed vendor’s stall and the new
walking trail at the archaeological sites will allow
visitors to enjoy their time and will give the locals
a weather proof area to showcase and sell their
products.
Craft Market Nim Li Punit, Indian Creek village
Villagers and Paula Amadei, EU
Craft Market Lubaantun, San Pedro Columbia Village
Craft Market Blue Creek Village
New craft markets in Toledo
11
12
The Toledo Tour Guide Association (TTGA) through
Community Management of Protected Areas for
Conservation (COMPACT) funding, has joined
efforts to demonstrate how community based pro-
jects can help alleviate stressors on the Belize Bar-
rier Reef System (BBRS)— World Heritage Sight
(WHS), through educational programs that will
prove beneficial to the system’s long term survival.
Development and conservation can coexist in har-
mony.
We should use the environment in ways that en-
sure we have resources for the future ,so that gen-
erations can continue to enjoy them the same way
we do today. There are many different resources
we need to conserve in order to live sustainably.
As part of the project the participants were taught
the importance of the BBRS-WHS.
The workshops on the Belize Barrier Reef World
Heritage Site was done on two separate days with
a total attendance of 65 members. The first work-
shop was held on October 31st and was given by
Ms. Denise Garcia of the Belize Fisheries Depart-
ment. The second was held on November 26th and
was given by Ms. Patricia Nightingale. Both work-
shops stressed the importance of the Belize Barrier
Reef and its major role in Marine and Terrestrial
Tourism. Ways to prevent more pollution of the
BBR and how to protect it. Both workshops were
successful and members of the TTGA were very
satisfied with the outcome.
A navigation course was designed for one day for
tour guides on the basics of Coastwise Navigation.
Each topic was covered by instructor in a class
room setting using audio visual tools, basic naviga-
tion equipment traditional and modern. The class
was held in two sessions, first with only five partic-
ipants and the second session had nineteen par-
ticipants. Each session participants were given a
short overview of materials to be covered in class.
The information was presented in 6 sec-
tions highlighting each topic of out-
line .Audio visual materials were used,
maps, books, and hand outs. Examples
of navigation tools were presented and
talked about the importance of a good
navigator having tools.
Compass basics and how to use it were
taught and an introduction to using a
GPS was Presented along with other
modern methods of navigation. Most
Participants had knowledge of reading
maps so the concepts of chart reading
navigation was unknown. Emphasis was
placed on the importance of local
knowledge and safety when guiding
with people. Overall the course was a
success and the guides were eager to
know more and felt they had learned a lot. The
instructor for this course was Mr. Christopher L
Crowell.
As a part of the project the staff and executive
body of the Toledo Tour Guide Association did a
workshop on Marketing and Communications . The
workshop was to equip the TTGA with some of the
necessary information to better market them-
selves to tour operators and stakeholder partners.
The marketing and communications workshop
covered various aspects such as educating tourists
on their ecological footprint, appropriate codes of
conduct, cultural sensitivity, importance of conser-
vation and protection of critical marine habitats
(Port Honduras Marine Reserve, Sapodilla Caye
Marine Reserve), supporting local conservation
groups such as Toledo Institute for Development
and Environment (TIDE) and the Fisheries Depart-
ment in park management, surveillance and com-
municating with tourists effectively.
Advanced Skills Training for Toledo Tour Guides Association
continued from pg3
“Culture is also part of our offering and we have recently added the Living Maya Experience
in Big Falls and the feedback from guests is very positive.
“I think we probably have the greatest variety of tours down here with about thirty different
tour offerings but we could still be more imaginative in creating new tour options. For exam-
ple, what about a tropical fruit adventure? We have so many fruit and Europeans especially
want to see them and harvest them and taste them and see how they can be incorporated
into recipes. A visit to the spice farm in Golden Stream followed by a tour of Eladio Pop’s
farm already offers a wide
variety of fruits and food. But
long term the prospects for
tourism in Toledo are excel-
lent”
Contact
www.tcatours.com
Tel: +501-604-2124
Toledo Cave and Adventure Tours
13
B T I A T O L E D O M E M B E R S 2 0 1 4
Business Contact Person Phone Email
Belcampo Shirleymae Parham 722-0050 [email protected]
Beya Suites Lisa Avila 722-2188 [email protected]
Big Falls Cottages Fransisca Bardalez 605-9985 [email protected]
Canopy Course & Jungle Tours Cesar Godinez 653-6533 [email protected]
Catarina Choco Catarina Choco 601-6514 [email protected]
Coleman's Café Thomas & Pearleen Coleman 630-4069 /630-4432 [email protected]
Coral House Inn Darla & Rick Mallory 722-2878 [email protected]
Cuxlin Ha Resort Dona Scafe 732-4747 [email protected]
Eladio's Chocolate Adventure Eladio Pop 624-0166 [email protected]
Garbutt's Fishing Lodge Dennis Garbutt 722-0070 /604-3548 [email protected]
Golden Stream Plantation Thomas & Tessy Mathew 732-4014 [email protected]
Grace Restaurant and Hotel Pallavi Mahung 702-2414 [email protected]
Hickatee Cottages Ian & Kate Morton 662-4475 www.hickatee.com
Ixcacao Maya Belizean Chocolates Juan Cho 742-4050/660-2840 [email protected]
Ixchel Women's Group Tecla Acal 626-2338/632-7938 Indian Creek Village
Living Maya Experience Anita Cal & Marta Chiac 627-7408/632-4585 [email protected]
Marigold Womens Group Sarah Shol 620-6084 [email protected]
Maroon Creole Drum School Emmeth & Jill Young 668-7733/632-7841 [email protected]
Maya Bags Belize Crafts Ltd. Desiree Arnold 722-2175 [email protected]
Mountain Spirit Wellness Community Dr. Ana Arzu 600-3873 [email protected]
ProWorld Belize Nicole Andrewin 610-1063 [email protected]
Prudencio Cucul Prudencio Cucul 602-3906
ReefCI Polly Alford 629-4266 [email protected]
Requena's Charter Service Julio Requena 722-2070 [email protected]
Robert Pennell
The Farm Inn Renee Brown 732-4781 [email protected]
The Lodge at Big Falls Rob Hirons 732-4444 /610-0126 [email protected]
Tide Tours Delonie Forman 722-2129 [email protected]
Toledo Cave & Adventure Tours Bruno Kuppinger 604-2124 [email protected]
Toledo Tour Guide Association BTIA Office 637-2000 [email protected]
Warasa Garifuna Drumming School Ruth & Ronald McDonald 632-7701 [email protected]
Yum Kax Women's Group Concepciona Coc 662-8539/636-9586 [email protected]
14
Wat’s Cookin? Dat smell gud! Banana Cream Pie
Ingredients:
5 tbsp. flour
¾ cup Brown Sugar
2 cups milk
2 egg yolks
2 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp. butter
2 – 3 sliced bananas
Courtesy Of: Mrs. Barbara Nightingale
Crust
2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
2/3 cup chilled shortening
5 tblsp cold water
**Optional: you could use Gram Cracker Crust
Directions:
1. Mix flour and sugar together, then add milk slowly, making a paste (no lumps), then add remaining milk.
2. Separate yolks and beat until lemony color. Set aside.
3. Cook #1 ingredients in sauce pan, place over a pot of boiling water, until slightly thickened.
4. Add small amount of mixtures to yolks, stirring constantly, then add yolks to rest of mixture. Cook another 3 – 5 minutes until thickened. Remove from
heat and add butter and vanilla.
5. (Pour small amount into baked pie shell) then arrange banana slices over it, alternating banana slices with mixture, ending with mixture covering bananas.
Top with whipped cream and chill.
While The Howler itself is not known for publishing
“breaking news” we are particularly late with this
review for a book that appeared five years ago.
Having said that, the author herself allowed the
subject matter to mature for about forty years be-
fore committing her story to paper.
The book chronicles the year she spent in Santa
Elena village (referred to as Rio Blanco throughout
the book) in 1962. She was newly married to a
post-graduate student of anthropology. During the
year in Santa Elena her husband was off visiting
and interviewing people in almost every Mopan
and Kek’chi Mayan community in the district while
the author stayed home, became an entirely un-
trained primary school teacher and slowly forged
friendships and became part of the village commu-
nity. By the end of the year she had probably
learnt far more than her anthropologist husband
despite his copious note-taking.
As the anthropologist, her husband was allowed to
set the rules of behavior and he was anxious not to
stand out in the community. So he imposed a no
smoking rule on his wife, which she flaunted regu-
larly when frustrated, and no hand holding or pub-
lic expressions of affection. He might have over-
looked the fact that they might stand out for other
more obvious reasons.
Each chapter of the book ends with a recipe from
her time there and these get increasingly sophisti-
cated as she learns to cook herself. Her first offer-
ing is described as “Convict Soup”. This consisted
of one pack of Knorr dried soup mix with the ad-
vice to check that the cockroaches have not got to
the soup before you and to make sure to boil it
hard for twenty minutes to kill anything in the wa-
ter. At the end of the book she is making a Chile
Verde pork caldo for feast days. And yes, on one
occasion she is offered tapir meat and cooks a
little of it having been starved of red meat for
months but the critical reader should remember
that this is more than fifty years ago. The recipes
have been put together in more recent years with
the assistance of Francisca Bardalez, Don Owen-
Lewis’s daughter who runs Big Falls Cottages (see
Howler 8.1) and include escabeche, calaloo, pump-
kin soup and sesame coconut crunch among many
others.
For a book without too much drama, apart from
almost being swept away in a flood, it is a compel-
ling read populated by a cast of dozens of villagers
who pass through her house to sit and stare or talk
and listen while she slowly gets used to their
ways, practices some recipes and learns that
privacy is an unknown concept in Santa
Elena. Another familiar presence throughout
the narrative is Don Owen-Lewis (see Part II
of The Howler’s Interview with Don on page
1) who becomes a mentor and friend to
them both and who she visits to celebrate
her twenty-first birthday during her husband
absence to register for PhD studies in Guate-
mala City in order to defer the prospect of
being drafted to fight in Vietnam.
She is a perceptive observer and fairly non-
judgmental except where it comes to her
husband, and the imminent demise of their
new marriage is telegraphed by her wry
asides and accounts of their clashes.
She explains at the end the impact her time
there had on her and why it took her so long
to commit it to paper. “…Yes, it changed me,
but I wrestled with the question for almost
fifty years before I could answer it. I brought my
idealism to the Maya - my willingness to fall in
love, and my desire to help - and they repaid me
with their friendship. A fair trade all things consid-
ered.
“But then I think about Cirila and Lucia and
Maxiana and all the other women who accepted a
white stranger into their lives and taught her how
to cook, and I have to confess I got the best of the
bargain.”
Ref: ISBN 978-0-8032-1903-8
University of Nebraska Press 2009
Review “How To Cook A Tapir”
15
Zedoary - Curcuma Zedoaria Zedoary, also known as white turmeric, is a
member of the Ginger Family (Zingiberaceae).
Other common names include Aruru, Zedoary
Root, and Angustura. It is a ginger-like root
with a thin brown skin and a hard, yellowish
interior. The aroma is similar to that of yellow
ginger, warm-spicy-woody-camphoraceous.
Known publically as merely Turmeric. It is a
perennial herb. The large green oval leaves can
be 1 to 2 feet long and have a purple-colored
streak down their center.
Zedoary grows naturally in wet forest areas
with tropical or sub-tropical climate conditions
like Belize. Being similar to ginger and turmer-
ic, Zedoary is also a rhizome (underground
stem). The rhizome of Zedoary is large as well
as tuberous having numerous branches. The
leaves of this herb are long and aromatic, while the
seeds are oval or spear shaped. Zedoary produces
yellow hued blooms having green and red bracts.
The herb is propagated by planting small pieces of
its rhizome. It takes about two years for the plant
to be ready for harvesting. Though it grows abun-
dantly in Toledo Belize, it is native to India and In-
donesia, where it is used as anti-venom for the In-
dian Cobra. Commercially, Zedoary is used in the
manufacturing of liquors, stomach essences,
bitters, perfumes and cosmetics. But it is primarily
an aromatic intestinal stimulant used to treat flatu-
lence, colic, and for strengthening the digestive
system. Traditional healers prescribe a bitter tinc-
ture of Zedoary to prevent ulcers, as a gastro-
intestinal stimulant to calm flatulence, colic, and
vomiting. The bitter tincture can be taken daily
(used prophylactically) to build the immune system
and prevent digestive disease recurrence; as it
tones the digestive track and all its organs.
Zedoary has many properties that warrant men-
tion. It is known by natural healers as an anti-
inflammatory. A paste can be made from the
shredded root and used in a poultice to re-
lieve inflammation, skin rashes, muscle
pain, and to dress wounds. The freshly
shredded root can also be applied directly
to the scalp to get rid of head lice.
A tea made from the roots serves as a body
stimulant and purifies blood. The tea can
also be used to improve digestion, improve
liver condition and normalize body temper-
ature in cases of cold and fever. The tea is
very effective in treating respiratory disor-
ders. Capsules made from Zedoary root
powder are used to
help regulate men-
struation, alleviate
amenorrhea, ab-
dominal pain, and
rheumatic pain. The
juice expressed
from the root is tak-
en to treat urine-
related disorders,
bladder stones, and
urinary tract infec-
tions.
Zedoary does not
only heal the human
body but it also
heals the earth in
more or less the
same ways. A Zedo-
ary plant in the
ground provides
good medicine for
the land, especially
for food gardens and farmland. It is considered a
good “dynamic accumulator”: plants that accumu-
late nutrients necessary for plant growth and fruit
development. They provide a friendly environment
for microbes that nourish the soil. Not to mention
the fact that the blooming flowers are extremely
decorative, pleasing to the eye, and lift the human
spirit. No farm or garden should be without a dy-
namic accumulator like Zedoary or White Turmeric
or Aruru or Zedoary Root or Angustura or …it
matters not what you call it as long as you plant it.
Contributed by Arzu Mountain Spirit.
www.arzumountainspirit.com
600-3873
16
17
The Way We Lived Then: Part 2
Continued from pg 1
built in four months as headquarters for Don as
the Maya Liaison Office.
“It was when I was still down in Crique Sarco
that the governor Sir Colin Thornley flew in to
visit and he stayed the night in my little bush
house. That evening I was swinging in my ham-
mock and he was marching up and down and
suddenly exclaimed, “This is not good enough! I
have nowhere to sit.”
I said, “Sir, take my hammock.”
“No, no, no. I’ll get you some furniture.”
“But sir, there is nowhere to put it.”
“Oh, you want a better house do you?”
“Well it might be a good idea.”
“I’ll get you one.” He replied. So next time he
flew in with an architectural drawing rolled up
under his arm and told me he had the money.
But it wasn’t just a house it was a compound
with five buildings and my own house that was
forty foot wide and sixty foot long; two storeys
and made of concrete, an office building and
separate clerk’s and visitors’ quarters. I just
needed to find a location more central in the
district and I saw Tony Thriff who was the head
of forestry and said, “Tony I need to build a
house. Give me a piece of land.” And
he told me to get lost and go and
bug someone else. I said, “Tony, lis-
ten. I only have three years of my
contract to go and when I leave you
will inherit it.” “Oh,” he paused.
“Build it wherever you want.”
I looked at the map of Toledo. There
was no Southern Highway but
Machaca was half way along the San
Antonio Road and seemed quite cen-
tral so that was where we built it. It
was probably the best building in
Toledo at the time and was designat-
ed a hurricane shelter.
I went on leave to the UK for five
months and when I came back the building was
up. We did not build all the other buildings in
the original plan but I was allowed to use the
money saved to push a road from San Pedro
Columbia to San Miguel. We opened it, cam-
bered it, put up a hog fence and built the con-
crete bridge over the Columbia branch. We also
used a bulldozer from the Phillips oil company
close by to open a road all the way down to La-
guna. The village did not exist then but was
founded a short while later by families who
moved from San Miguel. San Felipe was found-
ed by other families from the same village.
During my time at Machaca we also put in a
telephone line from PG to Machaca and on-
wards to San Antonio.
1963 Moving to Big Falls
After working for the government for ten years I
thought it would be difficult to go back to civili-
zation again. I bought myself a piece of land up
in Big Falls; the road of course wasn’t built then.
The only people living in Big Falls were four
Spanish families who had come from Honduras.
No Maya at all. I bought the piece of land from
the Palmas a little bit further downstream from
where Big Falls is now. It was all high bush; full
of animals but no people and I invited three or
four families from Crique Sarco who I got on
well with to come and keep me company.
They came, they prospered and half of Crique
Sarco followed. Many of the Maya families here
in Big Falls were originally from Crique Sarco. I
used to take whatever I grew down to Punta
Gorda to sell on a trailer pulled by my Massey
Ferguson tractor. It would take three hours
each way at no more than ten miles an hour.
I met a man named Jackie Vasquez who had a
somewhat controversial history and mothers
with small children who misbehaved would tell
them that Jackie Vasquez would get them. Any-
way he had a jaguar caller that he showed me
and I was able to copy. It was a long calabash
with a three inch diameter hole at each end and
across one end was pinned a piece of deerskin
with a small hole in the centre through which
he had threaded some long horse hairs he had
plaited together
Medicinal Healing
These days there is a lot of competition for a
bush doctor with antibiotics and malaria drugs
and things like that. There was once an old lady
lying in a hammock in Santa Teresa.
I said “How are you feeling?” And she replied
“Oh, I want to die, I want to die.”
I said “We can take you to PG. We’ll get a ham-
mock to carry you”.
“Oh, no. I want to die in my village”
The local bush doctor said he could not do any-
thing more so I went to Punta Gorda and spoke
to the doctor who was a friend of mine and de-
scribed the symptoms. He gave me half a dozen
medicines for hook worm and malaria and I
bought a bottle of a patent medicine called Par-
rishes Food that was an iron supplement for
anaemia. I gave all this to the bush doctor in the
village with instructions and told the old lady
that she would be dancing when he next saw
her.
And the next time I called by the village she had
indeed been dancing and she was in fact just
thirty-five although she had looked like an old
lady. And the other women in the village
mobbed me and demanded the same medicine.
But the lesson was that in this instance the bush
medicine had no cure. In those days anaemia,
hookworm and, malaria were three big killers.
Infant mortality was horrendous.
I was once on leave in England in the late fifties
just after San Miguel village had been founded
by a migration of the whole village of Santa Te-
resa with the exception of the bush doctor. The
rains began and the villagers were drinking wa-
ter from the river and the children got sick with
diarrhoea and dehydration and forty-two chil-
dren of pre-school age died in that
one village: all totally preventable
these days with the right medi-
cines.
What Has Been Lost?
Honesty seems to have been lost
with creeping civilization. One did
not need a padlock in those days.
To me it was golden age.
The other thing that has been lost
is the soil fertility because the soil
was not over-cultivated and the
bush wasn’t cut too often. When
you did cut the bush you got a
crop: now because the bush is de-
pleted you can’t. I farmed my land for forty
years. It was high bush, big trees, some of them
mahogany. I cut it and made pasture and initial-
ly the soil was strong and fertile but little by
little it lost it and the cattle lost condition and I
had to give up on cattle after about fifteen
years.
I was just lucky that that was the time they had
cold weather in Florida and citrus became
profitable. But you can’t even grow citrus now
because the fertility has gone and you can’t re-
place it except by letting the trees come back.
That’s what I see as the future. The future of
Toledo is trees.
18
Handmade products represent the earth, the
natural materials and the mind of a country´s
people. They connect the visitors with a place
and allow them to take a tangible remem-
brance of their experience. Handicrafts are life
expressions and belonging, geographic spaces
and history.
In today´s global world, the need to make these
appealing enough to visitors from all over the
world while retaining their cultural values and
interest is a challenge that needs to be ad-
dressed through professional design and prod-
uct development.
During 2013 to 2014 “Making Tourism Benefit
Communities Adjacent to Archaeological Sites
(MTBCAAS)” project (co-financed by the Euro-
pean Union, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB)
and the National Institute of Culture and Histo-
ry (NICH)) worked with thirty artisans from all
over Belize to develop their handmade prod-
ucts.
The challenge was to keep their cultural identi-
ty and at the same time make them current
and appealing for a global market. This was
done through product development with pro-
fessional design guidance provided by a Crafts
Specialist, Daniela Viscarra from Bolivia and a
Local Coordinator, artisan Sharondale Humes.
In Toledo the work was developed with three
women’s groups Ixchel, Yum Kax and Fajina
who produce basketry, embroidery and cala-
bash works, the Chiac family from the Living
Maya Experience and also with individual lime-
stone carvers. The final products were the first
step for the Belizean artisans to raise the quali-
ty and perceived value of their work.
The training also provided some tools for them
to be innovative always bearing in mind the
target market interests and to inspire them-
selves in their culture and use of natural re-
sources. The training also offered important
concepts for costing and pricing business devel-
opment and sales. The Brand “Unique Belize”
was created during the project to further sup-
port the artisans’ sales.Due to the talent and
enthusiasm of the artisans the project exceed-
ed expectations. The launch event and exhibi-
tion presented 227 new handmade authentic
Belizean products from four districts.
Developing Local Artisans in Toledo
Association of Tour Guides In Toledo New Members 2015
Name Address
Ananstacio Sho Blue Creek
Anselmo Cholom Indian Creek
Dolores Ack San Miguel
Evarlina Coy San Pedro Columbia
Edwin Sho Blue Creek
Francisco Chub Jr. Blue Creek
Francisco Sho Blue Creek
Harry Lee Jones Punta Gorda
Jose Vellos Forest Home
Maria Ack San Miguel
Marlon Cal San Pedro Columbia
Petrona Chiac Blue Creek
Rousana Romero San Pedro Columbia
Vicente Ack San Miguel
The Association of Tour Guides in Toledo would like to inform its members that we will be having our next meeting
on May 29, 2015 and every two months after being August 28, 2015 and November 27, 2015.
19
Robert Pennell
Robert Pennell is a
born Belizean and he is
the seventh of twelve
kids. His dad was an
agent for Maya Air-
ways and his mom was
a full time mother.
Robert grew up in Pun-
ta Gorda and has built
his life here. After fin-
ishing school he start-
ed working as an agent
for Maya Airways and
later on transferred to
Tropic Air where he has been the manager of the
Punta Gorda station for fourteen years. While do-
ing his regular duties Robert became involved in
BTIA as a member and treasurer for three years.
He served on the board of BTB as the southern
representative and sat on the finance committee
for two years.
While on the board for BTIA, he is one of the
founding members of the Chocolate Festival of
Belize. He worked along with BTB to get the lease
on a property that now brings income to the BTIA
Toledo Chapter. After his position as treasurer for
BTIA he focused on other things in life and has
now decided that he would again like to be a part
of BTIA Toledo and help to improve the growth of
tourism within Southern Belize.
When asked what he would like to see
happen for Toledo, he said “Tourism is
growing in the country but not as fast
in Toledo, so I would like to see more
investments in restaurants, hotels,
tours and properties etc. which will
help the growth of tourism in the
south. We also need more investment
in marketing and more training of the
sector's human resources. We should
also become more cognizant of the
National Sustainable Tourism Master
Plan and develop our own strategic
plans off it.” Welcome Mr. Robert
Pennell!
Marigold Women’s Co-operative
The Marigold Women’s Co-operative is one of
several similar groups in Indian Creek village on
the Southern Highway. The group was established
in 2011 by Ms Mariana Shol who with six other
neighbors began selling home-made bread
and cakes around Indian Creek village itself.
The group is housed in nice new building
painted green and yellow and set back but
visible from the main southern highway that
passes through Indian Creek. This building was
made possible by a grant from a north Ameri-
can Presbyterian Mission “Self Development
of People” While Indian Creek village still lacks
electricity the house is powered by an array of
solar panels.
Following this the group has also received assis-
tance from the Belize Rural Development Fund
administered by the YWCA and with this have
bought two delivery bicycles and other kitchen
equipment. The group can also do catering upon
request and make tamales, caldo, bollos, shoot,
cacao drinks and other items.
They have entertained groups from local NGOs,
demonstrating their craft making skills and Mayan
cultural dances to the accompaniment of the ma-
rimba and Mayan harp. Their cultural presenta-
tions include demonstrations of making corn tor-
tillas on a comal (cast iron hot plate) on their open
fire hearth, using the metate (grinding stone) for
grinding corn or cocoa beans and demonstrations
of basket and cuxtal making (woven shoulder
bags).
To arrange a visit call 620-6084 and speak to Sa-
rah Shol or e-mail [email protected].
Welcome to BTIA New Members!
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