And one man who knows too well the grip of Guatemalan military is Greg Choc. In October of 2007, the former SATIIM Executive Director was on patrol in the Sarstoon when he and his rangers were stopped and prevented from doing their work. IT caused a huge incident at the time - and on Sunday he was there again. He compared that 2007 experience to what he saw on Sunday on the Sarstoon River:
Greg Ch'oc, Former Executive Director, SATIIM
"For over almost 2 decades I have work in this area, both accompanying my rangers and board members, with the exception of one incident in October of 2007 where we encounter hostile navy of Guatemala, but we have generally patrol the island incomprehensible that Guatemala now have initiated asserting its sovereignty over the island. The communities on the other side, about 5-6 of them in proximity to each other recognize that the island is Belize. Our boat was intercepted, they came in front of us and we had to stop to avoid a collision and at that time like what they have been doing, from what I have heard from the news that they ask the boat captain and boat to give them the reason for being in the area and when the Belizeans that were on the boat refused, they ask for the rope to be handed over or to accompany them to the base. That's pretty much what they did and told them that we manage the park and that we were on a routine patrol of the park. I think for about 20 minute or more, we kept on the water and we strayed into Belize water because of the tide and we said to them we have commitment in one of the communities up the stream and that it is imperative for us to move and they said well when you return back, please stop at the military base. We came back about 4 o' clock and we didn't stop."
Choc is currently on vacation from studying law, and returns to Barbados this week.
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