San Pablo Village, Belize
| San Pablo | |
|---|---|
| Village | |
|
A view of San Pablo village from the mountains near Red Bank village. | |
  San Pablo | |
| Coordinates: 16°36′42.5″N 88°34′48.5″W / 16.611806°N 88.580139°W | |
| Country |
 Belize |
| District | Stann Creek |
| Constituency | Stann Creek West |
| Population (2014) | |
| • Total | 280 (est) |
| Time zone | Central No DST (UTC-6) |
| Climate | Am |
San Pablo is a small village located in the Stann Creek District of Belize.
History
Officially settled on January 2, 1997 . Mr. Cruz Cal and about five others set to work on January 2, 1997, to clear the land and began the establishment of San Pablo Village. On February 8, 1997, they brought their families and twenty five school children from Corazon Village to begin a new village at San Pablo. The Police and the Belize Defense Force (BDF) went to the village to try to discourage the settlement and threatened to burn down the entire village as was done by the B.D.F. in Santiago Jalacte, Toledo in 1991. Mr. Cruz Cal told the B.D.F. that they would also have to burn everybody in the village alive. The B.D.F. thought that this was a group from Guatemala about to invade Belize, but was taken aback with the Alcalde’s fluent English, as he was a former teacher in Toledo. The villagers decided to stand their ground and to push on through to establish the village. Finding strength and courage from St. Paul's dedication towards God, they withstood the multiple threats and intimidations shown by the BDF, ultimately leading up to the legal establishment of San Pablo.
Location and geographic setting
Located in the Stann Creek District, San Pablo is nestled in between jungle foothills, the Swasey River, and hundred of acres of banana farms.
Demographics
According to 2000 census, the village is home to 300 permanent residents. 2014 population estimate of San Pablo Village is 280. The residents compromise mainly of Q'eqchi Mayan origin, who all speak the Q'eqchi language and some Spanish. Though not fluent, almost everyone understands Creole English. The people of San Pablo are Q’eqchi Belizeans who were born in Belize and had lived in the villages of Otoxha, Crique Sarco, Dolores, Machkilha and Corazon in southern Toledo District. The village had sixteen families and 30 school children when first starting out.
Gallery
References
See also
Coordinates: 16°30′50″N 88°22′00″W / 16.51389°N 88.36667°W