PCV: Paid Caribbean Vacation

Believe it or not, Belize has made it all the way to CNN! Not really in the best light but its there regardless.

It all started last sunday when 2 kids went from their village in San Marcos to Punta Gorda Town to sell lime and craboo. They never made it back. Some say they were kidnapped but the bottom line is the kids are still missing and no one knows what happened to them.

As you can imagine, the public was outraged. The police did nothing. This is very usual. I could never imagine a police department more worthless than is the one in Belize. More specifically just the enforcement in general.

Well when the police did nothing, the Mayan people did what they have always done. They went to the local oracle to ask for guidance. This may seem crazy to you but this is the custom and how things are done here. It was done this way for thousands of years before police were around and when the police fail to do their job, it still has a place in the community.

Well this oracle told the villages that these white people who own a crocodile sanctuary ate the hearts of their children and then fed the rest of their bodies to the crocodiles. As you can imagine, this outraged the village. They chartered a bus and went to the sanctuary and burnt down the compound while carrying rifles and machetes.

Luckily the owner and his wife were not there, but all of their property was destroyed. The fire department says they are "looking into the matter further" but I can almost guarantee that no arrests will be made. This is life here and life will go on.

I have included a few links that will show the difference in news coverage you are used to and stories from places like CNN and then from our local Channel 7 here in Belize. Enjoy!

Belize News Sources

CNN version