Last week we told you about the press release that SATIIM and the communities of the Sarstoon Temash Region issued out expressing their condemnation of US Capital Energy’s decision to reject their request for the company to suspend its activities in the Sarstoon Temash National Park until the hearing of the application for an injunction which was schedule for September 19th of this year. SATIIM along with the leaders of the communities of the Sarstoon Temash Region were in court this morning. According to the Executive Director for SATIIM, Greg Choc, SATIIM instructed its legal counsel to adjourn their injunction. Choc explained why.
GREG CHOC
“We found out that US Capital would not drill before November. We felt that we needed to ensure that we got an earlier date for the more substantive case and that is what we did today. We adjourned the injunction without prejudice to our right to come back to court should US Capital proceed with drilling inside the park.”
LOCAL REPORTER
“Knowing that they will be drilling come November, that they intend to start drilling in November, what does that do to your plans to continue protecting the Sarstoon Temash?”
GREG CHOC
“Well nothing will change. We have been patrolling, monitoring that area, as a matter of fact we are going into that area next week. The alcaldes and the chairman will be participating in the monitoring and patrol of that area as they have a right to do; so, nothing has changed. We are not going to abandon our responsibility to the resources of that area. Our intent today is to try to expedite that hearing, get an early date which I think we were able to achieve. I think it is likely that we could have gotten a date well into next year which we didn’t want; we wanted it before, hopefully before November 1.”
After the adjournment, Choc met SATIIM’s legal counsel Eamon Courtenay along with thirty five leaders of the communities of the Sarstoon Temash Region. Choc explained the purpose of the private meeting.
GREG CHOC
“It is important for the leaders of the four communities to fully understand the nature of the conversation that occurs in court this morning and also to present the leaders of the four communities to the legal team and have that rapport; have that understanding and ask questions, which I think lasted for about an hour, there was a lot of questions. I think in that way we are trying to help to empower the community to better understand and appreciate the nature of sometimes, for example, the hearing today; some of them like Graham Creek had to walk two hours to get to Crique Sarco before the y come to Punta Gorda, before they overnight in Punta Gorda. So, it’s a lot of sacrifice they are making; so, when they begin to appreciate and get a better understanding of the legal process. I am hoping that they will understanding when we call on them, to be at these hearings and no doubt they will make the sacrifice but generating that better understanding is really important for them. That was the purpose for the legal meeting with them.”
Executive Director of SATIIM Greg Cho’c
