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In January, we spoke to Raphael Manzanero from the Friends for Conservation and Development about Guatemalans cutting logs right along the Caracol Road - which was cause for great alarm just eight months ago.

Rafael Manzanero
"The Guatemalans cutting down the Mahogany and Cedar right along the road which is use as access to the Caracol Archaeological Reserve. The most aspect of the concern is because it is very close. In fact the trees that were cut less than 2 weeks ago they actually were dropped right over the highway; over the road. We are actually talking about no more than 1.5 miles from the Caracol center."

Jules Vasquez
"Hearing it - it requires such gall, it's such blatant outlaw behavior right now in the heart of what we should exert control and authority of - the archaeological park."

Rafael Manzanero
"That's correct and what we have done really is to inform and I would assume that NICH would be able to meet and discuss on what they would need to do. Certainly being so close to the reserve, it basically means that the rangers there, the park warden would be required to do more monitoring and surveillance around that zone."

Again, that was January, and yesterday 20 year old Danny Conorquie got caught right in the middle of that outlaw behavior - except that, yesterday, the Guatemalans weren't 1.5 kilometers away from the Caracol Center - as they had been in January; yesterday - they were in the center right near the main plaza with 12 tourists and a guide on the site. There are credible reports which suggest that Danny Conorquie was trying to protect them when he lost his life. There is also information, which says that the horses had been seen by law enforcement from the day before - and that they were involved in logging activity.

Now, there are two important breakdowns in standard operating procedure which contributed to this tragedy. First, BDF soldiers must accompany al tourists into Caracol because of the dangers posed by Guatemalan bandits - this was brought into sharp focus in May of 2006 when 9 tourists were held up at gunpoint and robbed. But yesterday, the BDF transport was not working so there was no BDF escort - had they been there, all this might not have happened. Secondly, whenever horses are captured by law enforcement, they must be removed form the area immediately because the outlaws who are always lurking in the bushes will want them back. This was not done yesterday - and the horses were left at the Caracol site.

It is disturbing on so many levels and today the opposition sent out a release saying, quote, "the PUP is outraged at this brazen, daylight killing of a young Belizean special constable in the line of duty by what appears to be Guatemalan intruders."

It continues, "every attempt must be made to bring Danny Conorquie's murderers to justice as quickly as possible. We demand…that the Government…lodge an immediate and vigorous protest of this crime and affront to our national security and sovereignty, with counterparts in Guatemala, at the highest level, once we can confirm that this abhorrent act was committed by Guatemalan nationals trespassing in our national reserve." End quote.

The release then goes unto chastise Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington who appeared on 7News yesterday urging restraint in labeling the culprits as Guatemalan.

The PUP says, quote, "We condemn the timid, almost cowering reaction, of Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington…We absolute(ly) reject any stance which does not recognize that the Special Constable paid the ultimate price for his country…"

The opposition statement says, quote, "we stand ready to meet with the Government of Belize to find practical, workable solutions to this evolving security crisis." End quote.

The NTUCB issued its own statement this evening, saying, quote, "the cost of modern day invasion on Belizean territory has gone up too high!"