Indian Creek Village Faces Growing Unrest Over Leadership Dispute

Uncertainties in Indian Creek Village, Toledo District, continue to mount as the villagers are being divided to a change in leadership.  You may recall that back in January it was gazette to have the appointments revoked for Jose Choc as Alcalde and Felipe Sam as Deputy Alcalde.  Through the Office of the Attorney General, Manuel Ack became the newly appointed Alcalde with Nicolas Choc as his deputy.  The former set, however, did not stand for it and an injunction was sought and granted in the court.  The matter has since brought about a deeper division as the Attorney General’s office has directed that the newly appointed leaders still maintain some degree of authority in the village whilst complying with a court order.  It is a live issue in the Belize High Court with no set timeline for a resolution.  Today, however, villagers attended a meeting where they spoke on the importance and urgency of a resolution, adding with certainty that they do not want the involvement of the Toledo Alcalde Association or the Maya Leaders Alliance.  Senior Correspondent Paul Mahung was at the meeting and spoke with the Treasurer, Anselmo Choc.

Anselmo Cholom, Treasurer: “Definitely having a great division that will affect the community because who are they going to turn to? Now we have Mr. Manuel Ak that remains to be the local magistrate in our community.”

Reporter: Mr. Ak is the former alcalde? 

Anselmo Cholom, Treasurer: “Mr. Ak is the new alcalde.” 

Reporter: What about the former alcalde? 

Anselmo Cholom, Treasurer: “The former alcalde which is Jose Choc and Felipe Sam will go into practice the customary duty.”

Reporter:  Who decided that ? 

Anselmo Cholom, Treasurer: “I’m not sure who decided that but we got a letter from the Attorney General Ministry stating that purpose. “

Reporter: The villagers obviously do not agree with that. 

Anselmo Cholom, Treasurer: “The villagers do not agree with that. They want to keep TAA and the Maya leaders away from the community, solely to decide within our community. The people’s voice must be heard, must be respected. That’s what they’re demanding today.”

Reporter: So am I correct in saying that the villagers here in Indian Creek do not want MLA, Maya Leaders Alliance, or TAA, Toledo Alcaldes Association ? Comment on that. 

Anselmo Cholom, Treasurer: “Yes, they don’t want the Maya Leaders Alliance and they don’t want the TAA to interfere in our community as well because it’s not mandatory for an alcalde under the Toledo Alcalde Association. It’s not mandatory. It’s you, it’s the alcalde themselves chooses to go there without the permission of the entire community.”

Reporter: This was a village level meeting. Who called in this meeting? 

Anselmo Cholom, Treasurer: “The meeting was called by the elders and the concerned residents of Indian Creek.”

Reporter:  I noticed the former alcalde and the second alcalde are not here. Any reason?

Anselmo Cholom, Treasurer: “Because they won’t be here. They wouldn’t want to listen to what we have. All what they feel about is that, OK, we’re making a decision through the Maya leaders and through their attorney.”

Reporter: Do you know if they were invited? 

Anselmo Cholom, Treasurer: “No, there was no invitation.”

Reporter: OK. What’s next now? What’s the way forward? 

Anselmo Cholom, Treasurer: “OK, the way forward is that Mr. Manuel Ack and Mr. Nicolas Choc is now seeking for a lawsuit. They’re going to challenge the matter in court..”

The newly appointed alcalde, Manuel Ack, also gave an interview indicating that he has the support of many of the villagers who have cited issues they experienced with the old alcaldes.

Manuel Ack, New Alcalde: “I’m happy to see that this special day that we are here to have the decision with the people, the people had turned out and I’m happy to see that they have spoke what they have spoke and they had mentioned what they didn’t like with the problem from the previous leaders of past. Yes, we have. many challenges with these previous alcalde. That is where the villagers have made a concern to a change for these people because they are not cooperating with the community and the village council.”

Reporter: Now, how long have you been elected as alcalde ?

Manuel Ack, New Alcalde: “So I had been elected 6th of November, 2023. I became a new leader of the village people of Indian Creek.”

Reporter: Can you go back and tell us how that election was held? 

Manuel Ack, New Alcalde: “The election was held by the people of Indian Creek. We had a turnout, the same amount of people like today, when the election was happening. So there is where I became an alcalde. The people had chose me and appointed me but I never knew that I will be the one, a leader in the village. But I happy to listen to my people. And I told them that I can work for them, although that we are not paid. We don’t have anything that we give. I like to work with my people and see changes for my people. We cannot sit down from one corner to remain as the way it should be like before. I’m happy to see my people that they are coming out, that they are having development, people are changing and they are happy to work with them, and they are happy to work with me.”

The gazette appointment was retroactive to November 2023.  According to Ack, it was an election with the participation of villagers, and not a direct appointment.  We will have more on this issue in tomorrow’s newscast.