If you have been on the local scene for 37 years and represented the interests of the marginalized masses of the people, as this newspaper has, then you would have known that when they came after Greg Choc, they would bring one of his own to undermine and discredit him. It was a masterpiece of the anti-Christ. The local representatives of US Capital Energy flew the Kekchi Indian chairlady of Crique Sarco, a lady named Beatriz Canelo, from Punta Gorda to Belize City, so that she could do the tour of the media houses which Greg Choc had done last week. Beatriz Canelo was brave, sincere, and persuasive. After she appeared on national television from studios in Belize City earlier this week, a group of indigenous people from five villages in the Sarstoon Temash national park area, were bused into Punta Gorda Town to demonstrate in front of SATIIM headquarters on Wednesday morning, May 31. Beatriz Canelo and the demonstrators said that the people needed jobs, and US Capital Energy would provide same. So, Greg Choc and SATIIM were not speaking for them! Beatriz Canelo and her demonstrators attacked Greg Choc in the most sensitive of areas ? his credibility.

The hand of the ruling PUP is somewhere in the Beatriz Canelo initiative. We are sure of that, even though the evidence of PUP involvement in the anti-Choc movement is not yet visible. It followed, as the night follows the day, that the PUP would be involved in anti-Choc retaliation, as soon as Greg Choc and SATIIM retained the legal services of the Hon. Dean Barrow, UDP Opposition Leader, to represent them in a Supreme Court action seeking judicial review to prevent US Capital Energy from commencing seismic oil exploration. The PUP, apart from the usual knee jerk anti-Barrow reaction, had to come to the rescue, at all costs, of their National Resources Minister, Deputy Prime Minister John Brice?o. Brice?o was on a hot seat, because he was being directly, publicly accused of treachery and dissimulation by Greg Choc.

We know little of Greg Choc where the personal level is concerned. What we know is that the situation is classic. It is a situation we have been experiencing for 37 years. When you represent poor people, and the rich people believe you are threatening their interests, then they seek out the most credible person they can find who looks like you and talks like you, and then they finance that person to simulate and sabotage you. This is the masterpiece of the anti-Christ. Money is no object, no problem for the rich oligarchy. But that same money which is no problem in any amount for the oligarchy, that money is irresistible to some elements of the poor. In the words of the great Smokey: money talks; bulls? walks.

After 37 years of struggle, it may seem to some of our supporters that Kremandala is on top of its game, that Kremandala is safe and secure, that we don?t need you, the people, any more. But things are not the way they seem. When you represent the people and are faithful to the interests of the people, then you are never safe and secure.

The legendary Robert Nesta Marley sang, ?Your best friend could be your worst enemy. Only he knows your secret, so only he can reveal it.? On the public affairs level, what that means is that it is your best friends who will receive the highest offers to betray you. There are different reasons people betray other people. It doesn?t have to be just money. In the case of Fredo Corleone, he betrayed his own brother, Michael, because he felt he wasn?t being respected enough in Michael?s family organization. Treachery is something which happens all the time.

When your best friends betray you, they will rationalize their betrayal on the grounds that they and their loved ones have needs and wants. The public solidarity of the Kekchi Mayan people of Toledo has been broken by Beatriz Canelo. If it seems that we are sympathetic to Greg Choc, it is because we have been in his situation many times before. We cannot swear to you that Greg Choc is a saint on earth. All we can say to you is that the people who are financing the attacks on him represent the same white supremacy we have fought against for 37 years. For that reason, we feel that, ultimately, Greg Choc will stand stronger for Belize and Belizeans than will Beatriz Canelo.

We have heard reports that Mr. Choc will end up as a UDP general election candidate. If and when he declares for the UDP, then Greg Choc will sacrifice some of his credibility. As we have said, we know little of Greg Choc on the personal level. We do know, however, that Beatriz Canelo has declared for US Capital Energy. In the world in which Kremandala lives, that destroys all of her credibility.

Power to the people.