The destruction of the Noh Mul Archaeological Site in Orange Walk, a monument dating back more than two millennia—as many as 2,363 years—continues to attract both local and international attention.
However, no charges have yet been levied with respect to allegations that Demar’s Contracting Company—owned by Orange Walk Central UDP caretaker Denny Grijalva, who the Opposition People’s United Party has said is a favorite for receiving Government contracts for road repairs in both the Orange Walk and Corozal Districts—mauled what had been described as the tallest structure in the district, for road repairs in Douglas Village, in the constituency of Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega, UDP area representative for Orange Walk North.
Although the monument is located on private property, it has official protected status as an archaeological site, under the Laws of Belize.
A joint press release issued by the Government of Belize, the National Institute of Culture and History and the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) said, “The Ministry of Tourism and Culture, along with relevant agencies, has commissioned a vigorous investigation to determine all the facts.”
Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Tracy Taegar-Panton, held a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon.
“We have given an initial report today. We’re hoping that by the end of this week that the report will be complete and will be passed on to the relevant authorities for action to be taken,” Panton added.
She told us at the time of the briefing that Minister of Tourism and Culture Manuel Heredia, Jr. was at the same time giving a report to Cabinet on the matter, and she is expecting “some intervention at the very highest level.”
She said that a formal report needs to be filed with the Ministry and Cabinet.
The penalty under law is $10,000, which could never rectify the damage that has been done, Panton commented.
“Maybe we can strengthen our laws, strengthen the systems that we have in place, but for now we will have to use what is in place,” said the CEO.
As for concerns that the destruction of Noh Mul will erode the confidence of donors in Belize and threaten the nation’s potential to get funds for further archaeological works, Panton is optimistic that “…the way we move forward, the steps that we will take will hopefully assure donors that it is worth investing in Belize.”
Panton also recognized that Belize has been getting a lot of negative international press over the incident, with major news agencies in the US and Europe picking up the story of Noh Mul.
The CEO said, “…we will learn by hindsight and we need to see what charges based on the report and based on advice we get legally, what charges we can levy against the persons involved.”
That advice, she indicated, would be coming via the Attorney General’s Ministry.
Whereas blame has also been ascribed to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Agriculture Gaspar Vega, area representative of Orange Walk North constituency, for allegedly sanctioning the destruction of Noh Mul, Vega issued a statement Tuesday, also condemning the destruction of Noh Mul and refuting those allegations.
Vega went on to say that he “…emphatically repudiates the allegation and or perception that he was involved in any way with the destruction of the Noh Mul.”
He said that his ministry, which is responsible for issuing mining permits, did not issue any such permits to mine materials from the Noh Mul archaeological site.
“Along with the Cabinet, Minister Vega calls for a full investigation into this incident, to determine the circumstances that led to the destruction of this site. Subsequently, all those found responsible for the destruction of this site should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” the Minister’s release added.