7 News Belize

Bandits Prey On El Pilar
posted (January 21, 2019)
El Pilar is a Maya site in the Cayo District that runs right along the Belize Guatemala border. And for years it has been a security risk - because bandits from Guatemala slip across to the Belize side - rob tourists and then escape to the other side. It looks like that's what happened on Sunday afternoon. The Head of National Crimes Investigation told us more:...

ACP Joseph Myvette, Head, NCIB
"On yesterday's date sometime around 12:20PM `San Ignacio police received a call and proceeded to the El Pilar Mayan Site which is located some 7 miles southwest of Bullet Tree Village. Where upon arrival they met one Teddy Waight, 39 years old tour guide who at the time was accompanied by 4 tourists; 2 Americans and 2 Canadians. He reported to the police that sometime during the course of him doing his tour, he then visited a shed which is on the compound of the Site where 2 hispanic males were seen sitting. As a result they were approached by these 2 hispanic males, one of whom was armed with appears to be a shotgun, whilst the other was armed with a handgun. Those persons demanded money and a result the tourists were robbed of monies and other personal belongings. Thereafter the 2 hispanic male persons then made good their escape in a trial that leads towards the Belize/Guatemalan border."

Reporter
"Is it believe that the perpetrators of this particular crime are from across the border in Guatemala?"

ACP Joseph Myvette, Head, NCIB
"I would not venture to say that, other to say that was the direction they left."

Now, this is not the first time this has happened at El Pilar - in fact, in 2014, tour guides begged us to visit so that they could bring attention to this flaring security risk. Here's what two of them said:..

Patrick Bradley, Cayo Tour Guide
"We are in one of the main temple in El Pilar, the site that have Belize right here. Right beyond the site across the building is Guatemala and we have the same situation when we come to do a tour in Belize without any security, without any kind of access without any help in the area. We are always on our won with the tourists and Guatemala is next door and at any time poachers could come in and have a way with us."

Joe Awe - President, Cayo Tour Guides Association
"We have conceded El Pilar to the banditos, nobody goes to El Pilar because we are very scared of going to El Pilar."

In recent years, a cross border peace park has been proposed for El Pilar.

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